The tip of the iceberg is just breaking the surface.
With announcements from the likes of Verizon, AT&T, SBC, et al still generating ripples of buzz, Covad Communications splashed into the party with yesterday’s news that they will begin offering business-class VoIP services in 42 markets around the nation. And the constant stream of carriers announcing VoIP service offerings is not going to slow down any time soon.
Covad acquired VoIP services provider GoBeam back in March and what we’re seeing today is clearly a result of that investment.
Covad’s VoIP services are available in the following markets:
Allentown, PA; Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD;Boston, MA; Boulder, CO; Camden, NJ; Chicago, IL; Chico, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; Danbury, CT; Denver, CO; Dallas, TX; Fort Worth, TX; Fresno, CA; Gary, IN; Los Angeles, CA; Manchester, NH; Nashua, NH; Newark and Northern NJ; New York, NY; Oakland, CA; Olympia, WA; Orange County, CA; Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ; Providence, RI; Riverside, CA; Sacramento, CA; Santa Barbara, CA; San Diego, CA; San Jose, CA; San Luis Obispo, CA; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; Stamford, CT; Stockton, CA; Tacoma, WA; Trenton, NJ; Ventura, CA; Washington, DC; Wilmington, DE; and Worcester, MA.
Covad plans to roll out the service to all 113 major metropolitan statistical areas served by their nationwide broadband network by the end of the year.
Analysts, too, have a positive view of the news. Patrick Hurley, Director of Research at TeleChoice, Inc., had this to say: “When businesses are considering voice over IP services they shouldn't expect today’s consumer VoIP services to keep up with their needs. However, when a provider like Covad adds voice over IP services onto their nationwide broadband network, they can provide these business customers a truly integrated voice and data service that provides customers the quality and reliability they need."
Covad currently provides two services for VoIP — Covad vPBX and Covad PBXi. Covad PBXi is designed to work seamlessly with existing PBX equipment. Covad vPBX is designed as a full PBX alternative.
Covad’s Dashboard brings an array of capabilities into one common user interface including local and long-distance services, visual fax and voice mail, Instant Messaging, audio and Web conferencing, call logs, directory services, “Find me/Follow me” and other features, all managed from one place using one phone number. Covad currently offers several VoIP products custom-tailored small- to medium-sized businesses, and for enterprises needing a virtual Private Branch Exchange (PBX).
Features of Covad's VoIP services include:
• Local and Long Distance telephone service.
• Voice Optimized Access (VOA) - the ability to prioritize voice traffic over the network to ensure impeccable quality of voice service through Covad's network.
• Nationwide coverage.
• Automated provisioning capabilities.
• Service backed by comprehensive service level agreements (SLAs).
• Covad Dashboard an easy-to-use, award winning Web based user interface.
• Call logs.
• Find Me, Follow Me functionality that allows a user to receive calls on multiple devices from the user's VoIP phone number.
• Unified visual voice and fax mail.
• Voice and Web conferencing.
• Automated Attendant.
