We offer telecom voice and data services from over 25 different providers to provide the exact type of service that best fits client’s requirements. So let’s take a look at service and some of the key players.History
Telephone and internet service has changed so much in the last 10 years. Prior to 1996, there were only the LECs (Local Exchange Carriers) such as AT&T to provide dial tone. High speed internet was limited to dialup over phone lines or costly ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) circuits and was not yet widely accepted as a viable medium for information and communication.
The types of services offered were pretty simple. You had analog or POTS lines (Plain Old Telephone Service) and digital or T-1 lines which were VERY expensive and only the large companies could afford them.
In 1996, the telecom act allowed for CLECs (Competitive Local Exchange Carriers) to access the LECs backbone and provide services to clients to create competition. These services are traditionally over T-1 but some still just resell the LECs POTS services. This brought the cost of T-1s down and added the benefit of cheap broadband or high speed internet services.
Services
As mentioned above, there are basically 2 types of services. You have Analog and Digital. Let’s break those down, hold on, this can get confusing but we will sort it all out.
Analog lines are just regular telephone lines. You have one line, one number associated with it. No more, no less. It now can be delivered over regular copper or via a T-1 which we will discuss in a moment. This was the preferred services for 90% of business since most telephone systems were too costly to add digital service connectivity. With copper lines, you could also add DSL onto that line and with filters installed could now share a line and have decent internet access.
Digital service, which comes in 2 flavors, trunks or PRI (Prime Rate Interface), was reserved for the enterprise companies since it was very costly to install, the phone systems were very expensive, and it took a very specialized vendor to maintain the systems. The advantage of this service is that you could have multiple phone numbers on a limited number of channels. Now, departments, executives, sales teams and the like could have their own dedicated DID (Direct Inward Dial) number so that clients could reach them directly. This also has been changed with the inclusion of cheaper phone system technology and the introduction of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology.
T-1 Architecture
Now let’s talk about the T-1. Prior to 1996, the T-1 was dedicated to either Trunk/PRI service or Data Connections. After 1996, companies developed methods to bring both services together on the same T-1 circuit. They could now provide analog lines and high speed data in dedicated increments to their clients.
What exactly is a T-1 and how does it work? A T-1 is a digital circuit with 24 channels assigned to it. Those channels are configured for either voice, analog or digital, or data. Each channel is equal to 64 Kbps which could give a company up to 1.54 Mbps worth of bandwidth or 24 voice lines.
In 2005, everything changed for T-1 service again. With the inclusion of VoIP technology, T-1 providers were able to provide a dynamic T-1 product to their clients. A dynamic T-1 is a flexible circuit that is primarily data. Voice services are then added onto the circuit with a higher priority so as a phone call is made, it decreases the data available. For example: A client gets a dynamic T-1 which gives them up to 1.54 Mbps on bandwidth. They also have 6 voice lines. The provider allows for 32 Kbps (half of a channel we discussed earlier) for the voice traffic. Each call then reduces the bandwidth by 32 Kbps. So in this scenario, a customer would actually only consume 3 channels for the 6 voice lines in use. Now, we have a great solution for larger customers that used to require 2 T-1s for voice and data. With a dynamic circuit, they can have 24 voice channels and still get up to 12 channels, or 768 Kbps, for data traffic, therefore reducing their monthly costs.
Finally the ability to bond these circuits together became a reality. Now clients can double or even quadruple their data bandwidth giving them more flexible services, more data access and still reducing costs.
So, if we haven’t completely confused the situation, we can throw in ITSP (Internet Telephony Service Providers) into the mix. They offer very low cost and effective voice services. All a client needs is a good broadband connection, a device to connect to the provider with such as an IP phone or the TVS and that is it. It can reduce hardware purchase costs as well as provide them with certain features that POTS lines cannot.
Telecom Providers
Who are some of the providers we work with? There are about 25 different providers that we can work with throughout the US. Regionally, we will discuss the providers that we feel, based on experience and service, are the best to deal with.
Nuvox Communications is our top pick for local providers of voice and data services. Their customer service is one of the highest ranked in the industry and their prices are very competitive. They have initiated some of the leading technology changes here in the southeast by offering a dynamic T-1, VoIP technology and roll over minutes on their long distance.
If you are looking for an enterprise solution for a larger customer, then XO Communications is who we would recommend. With their nationwide footprint, great customer service for the larger customer and dedication to service and product delivery, they are a clear leader.
Deltacom is another company we frequently recommend as they have some of the most competitive pricing today. Their solutions give clients the affordability they are looking for.
Paetec has a niche in that they will offer leasing credits toward the purchase of new phone systems with a service agreement. This sets them apart from the competition in this area. Their pricing is a little on the higher side but their service is reliable and they have good customer service.
AT&T is the LEC. For the smaller client that needs one or two lines and DSL, this is one recommendation.
Comcast is a new provider for voice services in our market. They bring VoIP technology to the forefront with their voice offering. Currently, they only offer analog voice services but their bandwidth surpasses DSL by leaps and bounds.
So how does CCSG fit into the overall picture? As consultants, we take the client’s best interest at heart and put their services out for bid based on their needs and criteria. Then, we present the client with several solutions and the pros/cons for each. This provides them a valued service since it frees up their time to concentrate on their business.
Also, with our TVS VoIP Phone System, we can interface with all providers and technologies giving them a complete communication solution.

It was only recently that I could say not to open suspicious attachments, or go to websites you’re not supposed to be going to at work (such as porn sites, gambling sites, or even social networking sites).  These days, I can’t say that anymore.  To add further insult to injury, I can’t say that your anti-virus or firewall software is going to provide you with the full protection.

Well, why?

The answer isn’t simple.  Much of it has to do with the ever-evolving tactics malware writers use, along with good old-fashioned user behavior.

Most new infections now come across from infected sites, malicious advertising, and bait sites (sites that look legit in regards to what you are looking for at the time, but as soon as you click on the link within the search result, you’re infected).

For instance, you’re doing a search on the hottest item on the web.  Using a recent example, we’ll say the video of that ESPN sports reporter who was videotaped in her hotel room.  Well, guys are going to want to see it, so they’ll search for it.  Among the top results, you’ll see innocent-looking links to the video.  However, you click on the link, and you’re now getting a warning that you’re infected, along with a legit-looking anti-virus program that runs, then asks you to pay $40 or $50 to remove the items.  You not only have a drive-by download (where software immediately downloads and installs upon visiting a web page), but you also have a case where social engineering succeeded… preying on the behavior of guys who are searching for video of a naked sports reporter to wreak havoc.  That is where anti-virus software fails… the human factor.

Well, how can we prevent ourselves from getting infected?

• Use current anti-virus software, one that not only helps detect and remove viruses, but also spyware and rootkits.  We recommend AVG Anti-Virus (or AVG Anti-Virus Business Edition for networks with servers), both of which are available from us, since we are an Authorized AVG reseller.  Contact us for a quote for your PCs — available in one or two year licenses for as little as one PC or multiple computers.
• DO NOT use any free anti-virus software, including AVG Free, Avast!, Avira, or PC Tools Anti-Virus.  For one, it is illegal to use in business environments.  Second, they only provide basic protection, and don’t prevent infection as well as the paid versions.  That is because they are designed for those who may get on the Internet once in a blue moon for a few minutes.  Furthermore, we cannot support free anti-virus software… if we have to remove it for some reason, we can’t reinstall it.
• Keep your computer up-to-date with the latest security patches from Microsoft.  One of the things I hear is that “it’s bad to update your computer” and blah blah blah.  An update that causes problems may be easy to roll back.  A virus may not be.  Plus, the reality is that Windows updates cause problems in only a tiny fraction of the computers that install them.  The rest have no issues, and may even run better than before.
• If you have a Mac or are running Linux… you’re still vulnerable.  Virus writers, fully knowing how Mac users run without any kind of protection, are starting to write viruses that are either Mac-specific, or will run on any computer (taking advantage of security flaws in programs such as Adobe Flash).
• Update your other pieces of software.  This includes, but isn’t limited to… Adobe Flash, Adobe Reader, iTunes, Quicktime, Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome browser, and other software and plugins.
• In addition to having good Anti-Virus software, use some of the browser security add-ons available…
  • For Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Google Chrome (as beta): Web of Trust – a free add-on where users rate sites and provide a clear idea of how good or bad a site may be, and allows you to contribute feedback on how much you trust a website.  I use this both at work and at home.
  • For all major browsers: Check and see if your anti-virus provides an integration with your browser to help prevent surfing to malicious sites.  AVG provides a safe-search plug-in, along with an optional toolbar.
  • Consider ad-blocking software or add-ons.  For Firefox, there’s Adblock Plus.  If you have Internet Explorer 8, you can use InPrivate filtering to help accomplish this to some extent.
• Most of all, and this is something for which I can’t recommend any software… use common sense and caution when surfing the web.  The worst thing anyone can do is rely on technology to keep us safe.  You can ask yourself whether or not you really need to see the hottest thing on the web, play games on the web, and so on.  In other words, don’t use your business PC as you would  your home PC.  Keep it business-oriented.  Now, if you’re going to get last night’s sports score, check your email very quickly, or catch up on the news, that’s one thing.  If you’re playing games, trying to dig up the latest dirt on Tiger Woods, hanging out on MySpace or Facebook (not just bringing it up for a minute), or need to look at that forward your relative sent you, do it at home.  If you can’t do that, just don’t do any personal stuff at all.

If you happen to be on a business site (like a vendor’s site), and that is the only site you are on.  Yet,  you get infected… be sure to contact them and let them know they need to clean up their website.

Also, if you do get infected, be sure to either shut down the computer, or at the very least, disconnect it from the network.  Not only will it make it easier to clean up, but it decreases the risk that other computers will get infected, and that your own infection won’t get worse.  More than likely, you’ll have to have an IT person remove it (such as myself).  If the above steps are followed, you’ll be making my job, along with other techs, a lot easier.

http://www.goccsg.com/system.php

The first cost is the usual one…i.e. the cost of the service. Reduce the cost of equal or better service and you have a winner. All businesses should, and many do, monitor their telecom costs and make changes when a savings is obvious. Some do not however. For whatever reason…the chaos of day-to-day survival, nobody assigned to look into it, not knowing there are choices…etc. many businesses overlook this sometime hidden cost and “bleed” “leak” “spew”…fill in the blank…revenue unnecessarily by paying too much for telecom and Internet. Prices have come down in the past several years. If you haven’t checked your rates against all the competing carriers recently you should do so at once. I’ve seen many businesses paying 20%-30% more than the going rate without even knowing there were competing carriers and better deals available.

There are “Dealers” around who can shop your service to ALL the available carriers and get you the lowest and best bid available for your location(s) You can also call the carriers directly yourself for quotes…if you have the time and/or personnel to spend on this. Going with a dealer gets you the same or better rate however and saves you the trouble and time.

The other “cost” associated with Telecom is what you are NOT doing. Technology you are not taking advantage of is probably costing you money each and every month and quarter. Here’s an example: Small business with 20-30 employees has a basic phone system but does not have an “Auto-Attendant” feature. A receptionist or rotating employees answer the phone for the business and route and handle the calls. Many of these calls are routine inquiries or requests to talk to a specific employee, get directions to your office, ask for your fax number etc. etc. The man-hours wasted by having a salaried or hourly employee do these tasks is costing this small business $400-$500 per month. Many small business owners cling to the idea that having a live person answer the phone communicates a higher level or higher quality of service to their customers. In actual fact, in today’s world it is more likely a negative message to the client base. An efficient “auto-attendant” built into the phone system can say more about your commitment to the latest innovations as well communicate the value of your time. A good system will get the caller to the right person faster too.

Having the phone system “follow” you when you’re away from the office…if you so choose. Being on an extension to your office phone when at home or traveling…setting up remote workers (http://www.goccsg.com/virtualoffice.php). Sending and receiving fax’s from your desktop and direct line. Being able to record calls either on-demand or globally. (handy for sales training, monitoring customer service, legal issues…etc.). These are just a few examples of how today’s phone systems can reduce “costs” by taking advantage of technology.

A good office systems consultant can help you understand these capabilities and their ROI. Educating yourself online is another way to begin the process of understanding where and how you can Lower your Overhead!

David LaCroix is a Nashville based Telecom and Marketing Consultant

david@goccsg.com

www.goccsg.com/blog

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/david_lacroix

Plaxo:  http://www.plaxo.com/profile/show/206159364466?ppk=eb5d09e47ba0037cfe2a3bd79ae611ef5fcc05e2

My name is Gary, managing partner of CCSG, Inc.  and we are a voice and data services company located in Nashville, TN.

Keep checking back for more great posts!  If you have anything you wish to add, please comment!

Have a great day!