Archive for the ‘Verizon’ Category

Verizon Strike is Over but New Deal Negotiations Are Not

The Verizon Communications strike that began on August 6th has ended almost as quickly as it began – and without any major resolution. The duo of labor unions that represent 45,000 Verizon employees, the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, have called off the strike after two weeks, even though they have not yet ironed out a new contract, leaving many workers confused, upset, and wondering what all the hubbub was for.

Throughout the strike, Verizon has stated that the negotiations were on-going, and now both sides agree that enough progress has been made to remove employees from the picket lines and put them back at their desks (or out in the field) by this Tuesday morning. While enough common ground was reached in regards to job security, benefits, expense structure, etc. there are still some big hot-button issues left up in the air at the moment that will require delicate compromise from both sides of the table, it’s a positive sign that both are actively seeking a fair resolution.

For the time being, Verizon’s union employees will go back to work under the same expired contract that was up earlier this month until the new contract is put in place. Due to the fact that the negotiations are on-going, there is no specific time limit for instituting a new cooperative bargaining agreement.

Both the unions and Verizon are declaring a win on their side; however some union employees see it as a stalemate. A Verizon cable splicer, Jeff Rafos, recently told the Wall Street Journal, “What was the point of all this? Why give up our paychecks just to start talks all over again?” The truth is, until the new deal is reached and agreed upon by both parties, it’s hard to tell what the point of all this really was.

Verizon Communication’s executive VP of human resources, Marc Reed, stated that the company decided to end the strike “because we believe that is in the best interest of our customers and our employees,” and went on to say that Verizon will “look forward to negotiating the important issues that are integral to the future health of Verizon’s wireline business.”

Meanwhile, Verizon customers have arguably suffered as much as anyone after it was reported that acts of “sabotage” by union workers have not only increased call center support wait times and service repair wait times, but the deliberate attacks on their network have affected paramedics, law enforcement, hospitals, and other first responders.

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Verizon Reports Acts of Sabotage by Strikers

The Verizon strike, which began when Verizon Communications could not reach an agreement with roughly 45,000 of its union employees over healthcare premiums, retirement benefits, and pensions, has turned ugly.

Due to striker’s actions, Verizon Communications has successfully acquired preliminary injunctions in Delaware, New York, and Pennsylvania, and was recently in court to obtain two more for New Jersey and Massachusetts. The injunctions prevent strikers from illegally blocking Verizon facilities as well as using intimidation tactics on non-striking employees that show up for work at picketed locations.

Since August 6th, (just prior to 45,000 union members going on strike after their contract expired) Verizon Communications has reported almost 100 acts of “sabotage” against its network facilities. Aside from intimidating drivers, Maryland has cited 8 picketers being arrested; 2 in Salisbury for blocking employees that were not on strike from entering work, and 6 in Randallstown for illegally blocking an entrance to the facility there. Verizon refuses to accept such uncouth acts as these, and Mike Mason, Verizon’s Chief Security Officer, stated that it will not be tolerated. Furthermore, he noted that it is “a federal offense to damage or destroy critical communications equipment.”

One of the most shocking complaints was that Verizon reported the acts of “sabotage” had “temporarily affected service to thousands of customers across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, including police stations and other emergency responders.”

Verizon maintains that they are simply trying to stay competitive in a dying landline business, while union members keep pushing the idea of corporate greed. The CWA claims that, despite the fact that over the past four years Verizon made $19.5 million in profits – with $258 million going to the top five execs – they still want $1 billion in annual concessions, or approximately $20,000 a year per worker.

Moreover, the strikers believe that Verizon is refusing to cooperatively reach a deal. James Wagner, President of the CWA Local 1122, which represents almost 600 employees in the Buffalo, NY area, said that Verizon has not moved away from any of their “regressive demands,” adding that “Verizon’s way of negotiating is their way or the highway.”

In one of the many Channel Partners blogs on this hot topic, commenter Mike Jones makes a valid argument, citing that “the portion of the company that turned a serious profit last year – the wireless business – is almost entirely NOT union. Why should Verizon NON union employees’ hard work go to fund the union employees’ outrageous salaries and benefits packages?”

We’d like to know what you think! Who are you siding with?

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Attention Verizon Customers, Verizon Workers are on Strike

After unsuccessful negotiations, Verizon union workers say they have had enough, and are now on strike. Approximately 45,000 Northeast wireline unit workers of the two unions involved – the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Communications Workers of America – believe that Verizon Communications wants too many concessions, and have refused the company’s proposals to make employees pay more for healthcare, change work rules, and cut benefits and pensions.

Workers say that in this economy they cannot afford to contribute more for their health benefits. Verizon claims that the wireline business has been waning for the past decade, and that it is merely trying to keep costs in check and stay competitive as more customers decide to cut-the-cord and move to wireless services by having union workers pay for healthcare upfront as other non-union employees do.

The Communications Workers of America however, isn’t falling for the ‘poor Verizon is only trying to save money’ bit, blaming it on corporate greed and noting that over the past four years the company paid out $258 million to its top five executives after raking in $19.5 billion in profits. Edward Mooney, VP of CWA District 2-13 has said that his union workers “are determined to fight back against Verizon’s corporate greed and bargain a fair contract.”

In regards to negotiations, legislative and political director for the CWA, Bob Master stated in a recent interview that Verizon is adamant about “gutting health care,” and that he has “never seen bargaining this unproductive in 25 years.”

The Communications Workers of America and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers represent just about 45,000 and 13,000 workers in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, respectfully. As a result of the strike, the burden now falls on non-union workers that are called on from other states, such as North Carolina. With the least amount of Verizon employees that are represented by a union, newsobserver.com reported that North Carolina has roughly 200 of its 1,800 workers at one location on standby to travel to New York as well as other states affected by the strike in order to pick up the slack. The non-union workers will fill in a number of various positions for the time being.

Although the last time they voted to authorize a strike was in 2008, the last time CWA actually went through with it was back in 2000. And while it’s clear all sides are looking for a resolution, as of now it is difficult to determine just what the end result will be.

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Sprint Actively Opposes AT&T Acquisition of T-Mobile USA

Earlier this week, Kansas-based Sprint Nextel Corp. filed a 337 page petition with the Federal Communications Commission opposing the $39 billion AT&T/T-Mobile USA merger. According to Sprint, simply requiring divestitures or imposing conditions will not solve the acquisition’s detrimental effects on competition.

If the merger is approved, AT&T and Verizon Wireless would control most of the nation’s wireless market. In the public filing, Sprint stated that the acquisition would make AT&T the biggest wireless carrier in the United States with 43% of the postpaid market and 118 million subscribers. Sprint went on to say that alongside Verizon Wireless’s 39% of the postpaid market and over 94 million subscribers, it would produce “a Twin Bell monopoly” with more than 78% of all wireless revenues, 82 percent of post-paid subscribers, and 88 percent of all wireless operating profits.

Currently the nation’s third-largest wireless provider, Sprint finds it difficult to believe one of AT&T’s chief justifications for the merger – the need for spectrum – declaring that among all carriers AT&T holds the largest licensed spectrum holdings and does not face network capacity restraints for existing and future escalating demand. Moreover, Sprint says that AT&T has the same opportunity as any other carrier to meet customer’s demand for spectrum, but they simply just made the conscious decision not to.

AT&T defended the acquisition in a series of blog posts, one of them addressing the spectrum issue specifically. AT&T disputed Sprint’s claims that AT&T is the industry leader in regards to spectrum, calling it “odd” considering the fact that Dan Hesse, the CEO of Sprint has continuously bragged that his company “has the best spectrum position in the industry.”

Claiming the acquisition would suppress innovation, Sprint argued that it would give AT&T and Verizon “far greater leverage to demand exclusive arrangements or rights of first refusal” in regards to handset manufacturers partnering with other wireless providers.

The Federal Communications Commission will examine the merger to ensure it is in the public’s best interest. Sprint is confident it won’t pass that test, saying that the proposed takeover would do more than fail to fabricate any cognizable benefits in the public’s interest – it would give rise to severe anticompetitive problems that could not be resolved via conditions or divestitures.

Additional Resources
To find out more about Sprint and AT&T services that can save your company money while increasing productivity, give one of our professional account managers a call today!

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AT&T/T-Mobile Merger – What it means for SMBs

Since 2007 AT&T’s mobile data volumes have increased an astonishing 8000% – more than any other wireless provider. In addition to adding thousands of cell sites, purchasing spectrum in the open market, and a number of other measures, AT&T acquired T-Mobile USA in a heavily debated $39 billion cash and stock deal earlier this year in order to keep up with the astronomical demand on its mobile networks.

The FCC filing that sought permission for AT&T to purchase T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom reported, “The network synergies of this transaction will free up new capacity – the functional equivalent of new spectrum – in the many urban, suburban, and rural wireless markets where escalating broadband usage is fast consuming existing capacity.”

AT&T defended the merger, stating reporting that if the capacity constraints for both AT&T and T-Mobile USA are left “unaddressed, [it] would translate into more dropped and blocked calls, slower speeds, and access to fewer and less advanced applications.” In addition, the acquisition enables AT&T to deploy fourth-generation LTE mobile services to approximately 55 million people – roughly 97% of Americans.

Great news! The multi-billion dollar merger will strengthen AT&T’s position in the small and medium-sized business market. According to AMI-Partners, (which specializes in Internet, IT, telecom, and business services strategy, venture capital and market intelligence) T-Mobile will help AT&T – specifically among businesses in particular vertical industries, such as construction, and companies that employ less than 10 staff members.

Those who opposed the merger believe that it will create a dualopoly in the mobile operators market. According to AMI-Partners, AT&T and Verizon Wireless currently control three out of four customers in the SMB market. Prior to the merger, AT&T had control over 28% of the market, T-Mobile controlled 8%, and Verizon Wireless came in with the largest share at 32%.

AMI-Partner’s manager of SMB Cloud Services, Brian Galgay, says the acquisition “creates differentiated SMB sales for AT&T and has an enormous upside potential… Compared to AT&T or Verizon, these T-Mobile SMB customers reported greater interest in adopting hosted services from a service provider, as well as indicating greater interest in purchasing multiple, adjacent SaaS applications.”

Galgay explained that what initially attracted significant sectors of the SMB market to AT&T were the specialized mobile workers and early adopters of technology that benefited from iPhone technology. Annually, AT&T and Verizon Wireless SMB customers spend around the same amount; however, AT&T SMB customers are said to be more “IT-savvy, focusing more budget on newer technologies beyond smartphones, such as … tablets.”

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Another Customer Switches to Verizon Small Business DSL

Not long ago, our team at EasyT1.net was contacted by a successful local business. They were looking to lower the cost of their Internet services without sacrificing essential features or security. After discussing their requirements and desires, our professional account managers suggested they employ Verizon Small Business Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) service.

DSL technology divides your phone line’s bandwidth into two parts – voice is carried over the low-frequency band and Internet data over the high-frequency band. This allows you and your colleagues to conduct calls while browsing and doing business on the web.

Features include:

  • Easy installation
  • Verizon Internet Security Suite
  • Technical support available 24/7
  • 10 email accounts @Verizon.net
  • Verizon Online Sharing and Backup
  • 1000s of hotspots with free nationwide Wi-Fi access

Simple installation
Getting Verizon Small Business DSL up and running for your business is as easy as a phone call.

Verizon Internet Security Suite
The Verizon Internet Security Suite shields your confidential data from malicious network traffic while providing protection from “Trojan” programs, worms, and viruses. Verizon’s all-in-one package packs all the protective punch needed to keep you and your company safe 24/7 while conducting business online, including automatic malware updates, pop-up blocker, firewall, anti-virus, content management, and anti-spyware services.

Technical support available 24/7 – because the Internet doesn’t close
Verizon understands that despite all the preparations and precautions you might take, sometimes things just don’t happen the way they were planned. Any time you experience an issue the Verizon’s small business technical support team is available 24/7 to help you get back on track and running at full speed.

10 email accounts @Verizon.net
As soon as your business has a secure connection to the Internet, you can communicate and conduct business with partners, employees, and customers over the web via your 10 allotted Verizon.net email accounts for you and your staff

Verizon Online Sharing and Backup
If you’ve ever experienced a computer crash then I’m sure you know how devastating it can be to a business. To combat this, Verizon Online Sharing and Backup keeps your files safe by storing copies of your data online. So in the event of a crash, your business can get back up and running in a flash.

1000s of hotspots with free nationwide Wi-Fi access
With access to countless nationwide Verizon Wi-Fi hot spots Verizon keeps you connected wherever you are – airports, hotels, libraries, you name it – so you can conduct business outside of your office as well.

 

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Verizon Wireless Home Phone Connect

Verizon Wireless provides their Home Phone Connect service as an alternative to conventional landline telephone service. For roughly $20 per month, customers can make and receive unlimited calls throughout the U.S. by simply plugging their existing telephone into their Home Phone Connect.

Home Phone Connect is offered throughout Verizon Wireless’ coverage area, and features include caller ID, voice mail, call waiting, 911, 411, and 611, call forwarding, account balance, and International dialing. Debra Lewis, a spokeswoman for Verizon Wireless, has said that Verizon’s Home Phone Connect is an option for “any customer looking to ‘cut the cord’ [without] giving up their home phone number.”

Customers looking to cut costs even further can employ Verizon Wireless’s Home Phone Connect FamilyShare Plan service for under $10 a month. This plan offers unlimited nights and weekend ‘anytime minutes,’ mobile to mobile calling with other Verizon customers, and the ability to share a pool of wireless minutes.

With millions of Americans making the switch from conventional landline services to Internet and wireless based calling, Verizon has parted from a considerable portion of its wireline assets.

Todd Day, an analyst for Frost & Sullivan believes their Home Phone Connect service will not only increase their profit margins, but also increase their customer base where co-parent Verizon Communications does not offer traditional landline telephone service. Day attributes this to the fact that for $20 per month for every device in-use, Verizon Wireless will avoid having to incur “the costs associated with building out a wireless network.”

There are, however, some downsides to the service. For example, although Home Phone Connect is compatible with your existing landline telephones, it is not compatible with fax machines, DSL or dial-up Internet service, credit card machines, DVR services, medical alert services like Life Alert, or home security systems. Another downfall is that if – for any reason – Verizon Wireless’ network were to go down, (for instance, in the event of a natural disaster or a hacker attack) you would not have home phone service – including 911.

Based in New York, Verizon Wireless offers the majority of their services in the Northeast as well as areas of Texas and California. The Verizon Wireless website indicates where customers can purchase services on their coverage map, but adds a disclaimer stating that just because it’s on the map, doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to be covered; “Even within a coverage area, many factors, including your equipment, terrain, proximity to buildings, foliage, and weather, may impact service.”

T1 Speed T1 connection

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AT&T/T-Mobile vs. Verizon/Sprint?

There’s been a lot of talk lately about the possible merger of AT&T and T-Mobile. At the end of 2010, the two companies had served a combined 129+ million wireless customers; T-Mobile with over 33.7 million and AT&T with over 95.5 million. Alongside them, Verizon reported serving 94.1 million wireless customers; and according to their earnings statements, the three combined companies serve well over 220 million customers.

Coming in 4th place with 49.9 million customers reported at the end of 2010, it’s easy to see why the smaller rival, Sprint, would formally oppose the merger of AT&T and T-Mobile USA. If the acquisition were to happen, an estimated four out of five cell subscribers would belong to either Verizon Wireless or the new AT&T/T-Mobile company; Chris Kissel, In-Stat analyst had even gone so far as to say “the term ‘Oligopoly’ comes to mind.”

But does it mean we’ll see Sprint merge with Verizon?

If the $39 billion mega-merger between AT&T and T-Mobile USA were to materialize, Verizon Wireless might start feeling serious pressure to make an equally big move. But that doesn’t necessarily mean Sprint will be involved; Daniel Mead, Verizon Wireless’s CEO has no desire to have the most customers, he’s interested in having the biggest U.S. profits. Mead even went as far as saying that Verizon Wireless is “not interested in Sprint… we don’t need them.”

And that may be true. Regardless of the expected AT&T – T-Mobile union, Verizon Wireless could be sitting pretty. They currently have the most U.S. Android offerings, and more customers are expected to sign up as a result of breaking AT&T’s three and a half year strong hold on the iPhone. Even as the second seed – in respect to subscriber numbers, Mead does not seemed to be phased.

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Sprint – the number three seed – which is said to be more interested in being acquired by Verizon Wireless than Verizon is. Sprint has had a decline in numbers and taken a hit for their lack of smartphone options and relying on WiMAX as opposed to LTE in the 4G network race.

Meanwhile, AT&T’s CEO, Randall Stephenson, top executive is certain one thing won’t change as a result of his company’s $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA: that there will always be plenty of competition. The top executive told the Wall Street Journal that “this industry is anything but a duopoly… the industry is intensely competitive now, and will be intensively competitive after the deal.”

T1 Speed T1 Connection

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Verizon Business Adds Global Ethernet to Managed Services

Verizon Business has added Global Managed Ethernet to its’ continuously evolving managed services portfolio in order to meet the increasing popularity of Carrier Ethernet. Now, international enterprises can combine Verizon Ethernet services with additional network services or put it in an organized network environment that contains solely those services for a comprehensive end-to-end worldwide network solution.

The latest managed services include, Ethernet Virtual Private Line Service, Virtual Private Local Area Network Service, and Ethernet Private Line Service, and support a variety of applications, such as large file transfers, content delivery, distance learning, unified communications, VoIP, and business and storage continuity. Consumers that utilize Private IP Layer 2 will be allowed to select a managed service as well.

The combination of Verizon Business’ Private IP and Ethernet services supply the perfect enterprise communications platform capable of managing large bandwidth applications in a similar manner – regardless of their location. Verizon Business’ vice president of networking and communications solutions, Anthony Recine, stated this is the “first time our customers can combine the power of MPLS and Ethernet in a fully managed end-end-to-end global networking solution.”

Verizon’s Global Managed Ethernet provides Verizon’s secure infrastructure and worldwide support, and is an economic alternative when compared to consumers taking on the hassle of managing an intricate worldwide network alone. The group vice president of global telecommunications for the market research firm IDC, has said that Verizon Business’s Global Managed Ether is an essential development for international corporations that are looking for a worldwide managed solution for Carrier Ethernet services. In addition, Verizon Business’s Global Managed Ethernet also offers an eco-friendly paperless bill format that customers can select to further decrease their carbon footprint.

Consumers of the Managed Network Services have the added benefit of a highly developed, sophisticated self-service platform that allows business consumers to safely monitor the service performance of their network, pay and review bills, check the status of their orders, open trouble tickets, and request new services – Verizon’s Enterprise Center. Available 24/7 and in 11 different languages, including Chinese, German, Dutch, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese and Swedish, Verizon’s Enterprise Center enables customers around the globe remotely and securely accomplish their day-to-day business. The Verizon Enterprise Center also has a Mobile service that allows customers to access and receive information on a mobile device in near-real time.

Contact an EasyT1 account manager today to see what Verizon services can do for your business!

T1 Fractional ||  T1  Cost

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Verizon Internet

One thing average direct Internet access solutions have always lacked is full control over what goes into the connection and how it works. Verizon’s Internet service lets you chose the kind of service that is right for your business. In today’s fast-paced online marketing and e-commerce arena, having an economical solution custom-fitted to meet your needs is the edge you can use to gain leverage over your competitors.

Verizon allows you to configure your entire network, from protocol to circuitry. They offer a large variety of things you can customize on your line and guarantee the best service available– all with just a simple tweak of a few settings in your line. It’s that simple; and the rewards that you reap are the fruits of a system that works seamlessly with you to bring in maximum results.

A world of various choices

When you ask Verizon to help you set up a dedicated Internet connection, Verizon’s representatives will sit down with you and go over everything you’ll need. This means, for example, they will ask you what kind of dedicated access service you will need. If you’re looking for a low-end solution for your network, they will demonstrate how a T1 or a multilink frame relay service will do the job for you. On the other hand, if you’d rather go with a non-traditional connection method, they will help you set up an Ethernet connection for your system.

Should problems occur with the line at any time during the day, Verizon makes sure you are fully aware of how you can keep your connection alive – circuit redundancy is one way of ensuring your connection stays intact after a system fluctuation.

Connection rescue options

Verizon recommends you choose from three unique circuitry setup options for your connection. As before, the choices would depend greatly on what your business needs – if you can survive system downtimes once in a while, you can opt for a double circuit solution for your bandwidth. This is the simplest and most cost-effective way of transferring data.

A diverse circuit configuration supplies a redundant connection that reroutes traffic through another channel if your main line breaks up.

The best solution, however, is the shadow circuit, wherein a second line with speed equal to your main line is assigned to function as a backup solution when your network crashes. If this is what your business is looking for, then Verizon’s Internet solutions is what you need. Sit down with one of their customer support agents and find out just how much they can do for you.

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