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| Peter Radizeski of RAD-INFO, Inc. talking telecom, Cloud, VoIP, CLEC, and The Channel.

December 2011

You are browsing the archive for December 2011.

3 Things Agents Need to Look at in 2012

December 30, 2011

It will be a busy year in 2012 as all the carriers try to synergize their mega-mergers and get their back-office in order so that we can actually place orders.

Besides selling the traditional circuits - POTS, T1, SIP, PRI - there are some interesting things for an Agent to look at in 2012.

M2M is growing. We are seeing that the 3G/4G system is creeping in everywhere - from broadband backup systems to surveillance systems to fleet management to home healthcare monitoring to security monitoring. There are an unlimited number of ways that devices and the wireless network can interact.



Verizon's Bad Month

December 30, 2011

Agents Have to Transform in 2012 (or So I'm Told)

December 28, 2011

It seems that the channel execs - including master agents - are betting on VAR's to be the salvation for sales in the future. I can see a piece of that perspective. The tradition agent is transactional and slow to adopt new services. The VAR's are used to selling solutions - or so the view goes.

One thing that VAR's like is control.

Are You Going to ITEXPO?

December 28, 2011

It's just about a month away from  ITEXPO East 2012 that starts January 29, 2012. The Lowes Hotel is already sold out in Miami Beach. 

I am moderating 4 sessions this time.

Why Berkeley Chose Google over Microsoft

December 24, 2011

Birch is Scooping up AstroTel

December 23, 2011

AstroTel, a Sarasota, FL based CLEC,sued Verizon for anti-trust in March this year (2011). Apparently, this case is going as well as its management predicted, because AstroTel just announced:

"AstroTel has entered into a definitive agreement with Birch Communications, Inc for Birch to acquire AstroTel's operating assets, including our state-wide Florida network. You'll be receiving a formal announcement in the coming months from the two companies as we progress with regulatory approvals.

Lying Will Kill the Sale

December 22, 2011

One of my coaching clients asked me how to dig deep into a service providers knowledge base to insure that they can actually deliver on what they say. I had to chuckle.

In most cases, only a few people at any service provider really know what is under the hood in any detail.  Two examples for you follow.

I ordered a PRI from a CLEC. I asked numerous times if it was TDM PRI or not.



4G is in Trouble

December 20, 2011

AT&T had to give up the acquisition of T-Mobile.

LightSquared is almost out of money, says Reuters

Clearwire needs money - not only to build out the two 4G networks it has promised to Sprint (WIMAX and LTE), but to continue operating.

VZW has been quietly buying up all the AWS and other spectrum it can get, which - if it gets through the DOJ and the FCC - would be devastating to everyone but VZW. If the cablecos actually start bundling VZW with their triple-play, as Forbes is betting, Clearwire - and subsequently Sprint - could be in trouble. 





What is Wrong with AT&T

December 19, 2011

In recent weeks, AT&T has been hit with a blizzard of bad news.

It's 3Q2011 earnings were off estimates. It's merger with T-Mobile is looking less and less likely with the FCC report, its own smoking gun and the DOJ trial. It received horrible ratings for customer service - again. It was caught up in the CarrierIQ rootkit mess. 

11 Top Stories in Telecom in 2011

December 15, 2011

Here's my take on the Top 11 stories in telecom of 2011.

1. Shane McNamara being named VP of the Indirect Channel at XO. It was a shock pick for many in the industry.

The Advice Column

December 15, 2011

LightSquare, GPS, ADTRAN and West

December 12, 2011

ADTRAN "announced today that it plans to acquire, through an asset sale and purchase agreement, the Nokia Siemens Networks fixed line Broadband Access business (BBA), and associated professional services and network management solutions. The planned acquisition would include the Broadband Access intellectual properties, technologies and the established customer base." This gets ADTRAN some revenue and a foot into International customers.

IN other acquisition news, HyberCube is being bought by West Corp.

"West Corporation, a leading provider of technology-driven, voice and data solutions, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire HyperCube LLC, a premier provider of tandem switching services to telecommunications providers.

Sprint's Spending on Marketing

December 12, 2011

According to Adage, Sprint has a new CMO, Bill Moyer, who fired the old agency for a new agency to handle the $1.4 Billion ad spend of Sprint. I looked at that number and my jaw dropped. Sprint spends more than 1 billion in marketing dollars?

Surely there is a better way to spend that money than more black and white ads of Dan Hesse.

A Final Note on ATT-T-Mobile

December 12, 2011

How Good is BYOB VoIP?

December 12, 2011

One of my coaching clients has had some issues with BYOB (bring your own broadband) ITSP's (VoIP providers) over the last couple of months. I have too. My Aastra IP phone died and I moved to an ATA, which has added an incredible amount of echo and tin to the line. He says that he has one way calls and the two of us have experienced garbled calls. 

Why I Was Going to Run for Congress

December 10, 2011

This is kind of a political rant, so fair warning and I apologize if I offend you in advance.

Voter Suppressionmedia green zones like in Baghdad (and here), indefinite detention of Americans by military, the revolving door between lobbyists and governmentSOPACongressional insider trading, shorting on the debt ceiling, re-districting to keep power - aren't we tired of this crap yet? I am. Very tired.

MicroCorp Acquires Another

December 7, 2011

Master Agent MicroCorp announced yesterday another acquisition (following the purchase of 5 Star Communications in June).

Combined the Company will be the largest Telecom Agency on the East Coast.

MicroCorp will also expand its portfolio by signing a strategic partnership agreement with Premier Solutions Group, LLC to provide Technology Solutions throughout the United States.

Atlanta, GA & Lancaster, PA - December 7th 2011 - MicroCorp, Inc., the Nation's leading Telecom Master Agency, announces today the signing of a definitive agreement under which they have acquired the assets of Premier Management Group (PMG) of Lancaster Pennsylvania.

Mergers Cost Jobs

December 7, 2011

In the wake of AT&T getting caught misleading the federal agencies about the benefits of its merger with T-Mobile (FCC report here), we see that the merger of PAETEC and Windstream has already resulted in job losses.

Windstream cuts 58 jobs at Palm Harbor office is just the start of at least 280 jobs being cut from its combined workforce of 14,500. Synergies require job cuts. Richmond is losing 70.

Sprint Deals With Clearwire

December 5, 2011

The best details of the Sprint-Clearwire deal is at Marketwatch, but Tammy Wolf at TMC did a good job, too. Clearwire gets "up to $1.6 billion over the next four years in payments for WiMAX services, possible pre-payments for LTE services and potential equity investments" from Sprint. "Sprint will pay Clearwire a total of $926 million, approximately two-thirds of which will be paid in 2012, for unlimited 4G WiMAX retail services during 2012 and 2013, subject to certain conditions." So Clearwire is stuck with WiMAX until like 2015 while also building an LTE network. The speculation begins: is $1.6B enough for Clearwire?

Lots of News (I Can't Cover in Detail)

December 5, 2011

Dag Peak explains the difference between BroadTouch and BroadCloud by BSFT.

That Carrier IQ key logging software has Sprint and AT&T caught in lawsuits. This privacy issue reminds me of the cigarette suits -- keep suing and when you win one, you crack the whole thing open and huge sweeping change must follow.

Is All Broadband Going Metered?

December 5, 2011

Many rural fixed wireless ISP's meter their service for network management and costs reasons. The spectrum is finite, which means that wireless ISP subscribers can only get a set amount of bandwidth from that tower. The backhaul from the tower would be the other limiting factor.

In cable systems, the backhaul to the neighborhood is the bottleneck.

A Lesson From Netflix for You

December 4, 2011

Netflix lost 800K customers last quarter. In this article, Netflix explains that it made some errors in communication and branding. Netflix did a poor job of communicating the price increase to its customers. It did a poor job of explaining its value proposition as well.

Letter to EMS Financial Customers

December 4, 2011

From: EMS Financial Services [mailto:[email protected]]

Sent: December-03-11 6:17 PM

Dear EMS Customers and Friends,

You are undoubtedly aware of the difficult situation EMS finds itself in. However you may or may not be aware that a forensic examination of EMS accounts has revealed evidence that the Original Founder, Principal and Managing Member of EMS, Mr. James Nicholson, has misappropriated and mismanaged substantial amounts of EMS funds, having sole and complete access and control of all financial banking throughout the period.

Well That Was Unsatisfying

December 2, 2011

Tuesday night was kind of the last straw. While watching CinemaNow through my LG Blu-Ray player, the movie - 30 Minutes or Less - must have stopped to buffer 10 times and actually stopped 3 times - in 90 minutes!

I called my ISP, BHN of Tampa Bay, which is always interesting. First, they remotely re-boot the modem.

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