Bail Outs for Telecom Giants

America has heard the words “Bail-out” all too often in the past two years. The idea of a bail out sounds more like a friendly gesture (now that we’ve heard it so much) rather than the crisis state it actually is. Some one or entity does something they probably shouldn’t have and someone else needs to get them out of that situation. And WE the people have to pay for it? Do you think big businesses should be bailed out? Vote here.

Deeper Into The Digital Age In Telecommunications

And it is happening again….Verizon Pennsylvania Inc. will discontinue delivering 11.9 million of its white pages phone books to its residential and business customers. The state Public Utility Commission okayed Verizon’s request to stop its routine delivery of white pages, unless a customer specifically requests one. The new policy takes effect in January. This is an ongoing process and before long will be the policy nationwide. Another major change in telecommunications–saving paper and moving deeper into the digital age.

A Virtual Office Could Be What You’ve Been Looking For

When starting a new company, there are many decisions to be made on communications, advertising, marketing, and customer service. Toll free phone service combined with virtual office systems streamlines management needs and reduces communications costs. With a toll free phone system that mimics corporate phone set-ups, any small business can have comprehensive telephone connections without having to install any new equipment or purchase new set-ups. We are finding that virtual office systems are becoming more and more popular, especially as companies attempt to keep their staff costs down.

855 Taking Telecommunications World By Storm

The newly released 855 area code telephone numbers are taking the toll free world by storm. Demand is higher than expected. We anticipate the same response when the 844 numbers are released sometime within the next 18 months.

Toll Free and Texting

Can’t help but have noticed how many businesses and not-for-profits are using toll free telephone numbers in conjunction with text messages. For instance, customers can text to a toll free number for many promotional purposes. And non-profits are using texts to raise money. Most recently for example, Stand Up To Cancer is asking donors to text to their 1-800 number to pledge $10 to the cause. Another great way to use toll free in the ever-changing world of telecommunications.

Increased Reports of Virtual Office Becoming The Norm.

With office downsizing becoming more and more common we are hearing increasing reports of virtual offices becoming the norm. Toll free phone service combined with virtual office systems streamlines management needs and reduces communications costs. With a toll free phone system that mimics corporate phone set-ups, any small business can have comprehensive telephone connections without having to install any new equipment or purchase new set-ups. We are finding that virtual office systems are becoming more and more popular, especially as companies attempt to keep their staff costs down.

The T.A.C. Breaks Down CALEA in Detail

Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA)

Assistance capability requirements for wireline, cellular, and PCS telecommunications carriers

1. (a) Definitions.
1. Call identifying information. Call identifying information means dialing or signaling information that identifies the origin, direction, destination, or termination of each communication generated or received by a subscriber by means of any equipment, facility, or service of a telecommunications carrier. Call identifying information is “reasonably available” to a carrier if it is present at an intercept access point and can be made available without the carrier being unduly burdened with network modifications.
2. Collection function. The location where lawfully authorized intercepted communications and call-identifying information is collected by a law enforcement agency (LEA).
3. Content of subject-initiated conference calls. Capability that permits a LEA to monitor the content of conversations by all parties connected via a conference call when the facilities under surveillance maintain a circuit connection to the call.
4. Destination. A party or place to which a call is being made (e.g., the called party).
5. Dialed digit extraction. Capability that permits a LEA to receive on the call data channel a digits dialed by a subject after a call is connected to another carrier’s service for processing and routing.
6. Direction. A party or place to which a call is re-directed or the party or place from which it came, either incoming or outgoing (e.g., a redirected-to party or redirected-from party).
7. IAP. Intercept access point is a point within a carrier’s system where some of the communications or call-identifying information of an intercept subject’s equipment, facilities, and services are accessed.
8. In-band and out-of-band signaling. Capability that permits a LEA to be informed when a network message that provides call identifying information (e.g., ringing, busy, call waiting signal, message light) is generated or sent by the IAP switch to a subject using the facilities under surveillance. Excludes signals generated by customer premises equipment when no network signal is generated.
9. J-STD-025. The standard, including the latest version, developed by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) for wireline, cellular, and broadband PCS carriers. This standard defines services and features to support lawfully authorized electronic surveillance, and specifies interfaces necessary to deliver intercepted communications and call-identifying information to a LEA. Subsequently, TIA and ATIS published J-STD-025-A and J-STD-025-B.
10. Origin. A party initiating a call (e.g., a calling party), or a place from which a call is initiated.
11. Party hold, join, drop on conference calls. Capability that permits a LEA to identify the parties to a conference call conversation at all times.
12. Subject-initiated dialing and signaling information. Capability that permits a LEA to be informed when a subject using the facilities under surveillance uses services that provide call identifying information, such as call forwarding, call waiting, call hold, and three-way calling. Excludes signals generated by customer premises equipment when no network signal is generated.
13. Termination. A party or place at the end of a communication path (e.g. the called or call-receiving party, or the switch of a party that has placed another party on hold).
14. Timing information. Capability that permits a LEA to associate call-identifying information with the content of a call. A call-identifying message must be sent from the carrier’s IAP to the LEA’s Collection Function within eight seconds of receipt of that message by the IAP at least 95% of the time, and with the call event time-stamped to an accuracy of at least 200 milliseconds.

1. In addition to the requirements in section 1.20006, wireline, cellular, and PCS telecommunications carriers shall provide to a LEA the assistance capability requirements regarding wire and electronic communications and call identifying information covered by J-STD-025 (current version), and, subject to the definitions in this section, may satisfy these requirements by complying with J-STD-025 (current version), or by another means of their own choosing. These carriers also shall provide to a LEA the following capabilities:
1. Content of subject-initiated conference calls;
2. Party hold, join, drop on conference calls;
3. Subject-initiated dialing and signaling information;
4. In-band and out-of-band signaling;
5. Timing information;
6. Dialed digit extraction, with a toggle feature that can activate/deactivate this capability

Recession Lingers. Battle it With Toll Free

The federal government this week officially declared the recession over. Based on the public reaction to that statement, many people are not too sure about that. But for however long the recession lingers, there are ways to battle it. Here in the telecommunications industry have long known—that the value of a 1-800 number cannot be underestimated. A toll free number lends credibility to any business, enhances customer service, and increases customer confidence. Studies show that sales can double and word of mouth referrals can increase by as much as 200% making toll free service indispensible for all types of business.

Telecoms Turning Away from VoIP in Favor of Fiber Optics

Hearing more and more about fiber optics lately. Fiber optics used for telecommunications is still considered more reliable than VoIP, particularly for long distance calls, because it allows for longer intervals of signal transmission without interruptions. Fiber optics provides a quality connection that ensures clarity in every call. With this technology, optical fibers are used instead of metal, reducing lost connections from electromagnetic interference. Fiber optics is also considered more secure. It is difficult, if not impossible, to detect motion through the fibers. This reduces concerns over phone calls being improperly monitored.

Carriers Need To Notify/Educate About Toll Free Transfers

It is important to keep in mind that when subscribers transfer a toll free phone number from one carrier to another there should be no–or very limited–interruption in service. Carriers need to make sure subscribers understand that in most instances service can be transferred without any down time. If working with quality companies, the subscriber should fine the transfer to be seamless. The bulk of the work is completed before the new phone company forwards a transfer request and this process should take just a few days. To educate the consumer, toll free providers should discuss the transfer process with potential subscribers who may be suffering with poor quality toll free service because they fear costly interruptions if they transfer.