Choose ISP Blog

Verizon FiOS Offers January 2012

2012-01-11T16:34:00.000-08:00

Verizon announced their new FiOS Triple Play offer, which is $89.99/month for 2 years and includes a $300 Visa prepaid card (2 year contract required). This offer will be valid through 3.17.12.
Also their FiOS Double Play for $74.99/month for 1 year with no term contract is available through 3.17.12.
Details are below.

FiOS TV+FiOS Internet+Phone
$89.99/month for 2 years
2 year contract required
$300 Visa prepaid card*
A wireless router at no cost
No activation fee with online orders
Requires new FiOS TV and/or new FiOS Internet and a bundle (*Visa prepaid card requires both new FiOS TV and FiOS Internet and a bundle)
1.8.12 through 3.17.12

Ends 3.17.2012 - Verizon FiOS Triple Play $89.99/month for 2 years +$300 Visa prepaid card w/2-yr agreement

Verizon FiOS March 2011 Updates

2011-03-13T07:33:00.000-07:00

FiOS Triple Play is now $84.99/month with a multi-room DVR FREE for 12 months! And there is no term contract required.

2.20.11 through 4.16.11

FiOS TV+FiOS Internet+Phone

$89.99/month for 1 year

No term contract

$480 in total savings

A wireless router at no cost

No activation fee with online orders

Requires new FiOS TV or FiOS Internet and a bundle

Free multi-room DVR for 12 months

Verizon FiOS Triple Play $84.99/month for 1 year-no contract and no activation fee

AT&T UVerse - Price decrease to $29/month

2011-01-05T22:10:00.000-08:00

Changes for AT&T Uverse TV Consumer Offer

AT&T Uverse TV Consumer Offer was updated for January 3, 2011. The offer switched from $39 a month to $29 a month for the first 6 months. Professional standard installation included and plus 30-day money back guarantee. This is great news considering AT&T increased the price of their 3.0 Mbps DSL just few days ago. Click on the links below for more Uverse details.

AT&T DSL 3.0Mbps - Price Increase

2011-01-01T21:53:00.000-08:00

AT&T DSL Consumer Offer is changing from January 1st 2011

AT&T High Speed Internet up to 3.0Mbps - price increase from $14.99/month to $19.99/month on a 12 months term. High Speed Internet for $19.95 for 12 months.

Phone.com Named Communications Company of Year in NJ

2010-11-14T22:32:00.000-08:00

The New Jersey Technology Council (NJTC) has named Phone.com their Communications Company of the Year. Phone.com will be honored at the annual NJTC Awards Gala on November 17th.

Phone.com coupon: Want New Phone Service with Tons of Features and Affordable Cost? 15% off Basic Plan for 6 months. Use Coupon Code: 15OFF

Verizon Updated FiOS Offer $69.99

2010-09-18T00:46:00.000-07:00

Verizon's current offer for FiOS TV+FiOS Internet for $69.99/month for 6 months with no term contract is being extended until 11.23.2010.

Please note that this also includes some great content outlined below.

Offer
FiOS TV+FiOS Internet
$69.99/month for months 1-6. $79.99/month for months 7-12.
FiOS TV Movie Package, HBO, Cinemax, and EPIX™ FREE for 3 months;
No term contract;
A wireless router at no cost;
No activation fee with online orders;
Requires new FiOS TV or FiOS Internet and a bundle.

Best price online! Verizon FiOS TV+Internet for $69.99/mo for 6 mo w/ no term contract + wireless router and no activation fee til 11.23.2010

Offer for new FiOS TV and Movie Package + EPIX + HBO + MAX residential customers only. Promotional rate applied via $35 bill credit for first 6 months and $25 bill credit for months 7-12; beginning month 13 standard monthly rates apply. Movie Package + EPIX + HBO + MAX discount applied via bill credit for 3 months; beginning month 4 [standard equipment charges/programming rates] apply. other fees, taxes, equipment charges & terms apply. Subject to credit approval & may require a deposit. FiOS available in select areas. Actual speeds may vary. Battery backup for standard fiber-based voice service, FiOS Digital Voice & E911 (but not other voice services) for up to 8 hours. Must sign up by 11/23/10 & install by 1/23/11.

Feel free to reach out with any questions by leaving a comment below.

UPDATE 10/01/2010: The Verizon FiOS bundle offers with no term contract required have been a big success and are being extended by Verizon through 11.23.10. Please note that the free multi-room DVR for 6 months is no longer available with the FiOS Triple Play offer. Also see below the updated links for Verizon FiOS Double Play offer for $69.99/month for 6 months and no term contract.

Get our best price online! Verizon FiOS TV+Internet for $69.99/mo for 6 mos w/ no term contract, router and no activation fee

Charter High Speed Internet, TV and Voice

2009-11-05T23:47:00.000-08:00

Charter services:

Charter High Speed Internet with scorching speeds through a connection that's always on;
Charter Digital Cable and High-Definition with channels of crystal clear digital picture and sound, with sharp HD pictures;
Charter Digital Voice with unlimited local and long distance phone over your broadband connection, for one flat monthly rate.

Internet from $19.99/mo and no contract? Charter says yes!

Charter promotions:

JoiPhone DSL Bundle. Unlimited Telephone + Unlimited DSL $34.95

2009-10-13T22:07:00.000-07:00

Customers throughout the USA can now get JoiPhone Unlimited phone line with Unlimited calls to USA & 9 countries PLUS Joi Internet DSL for $34.95/month.

Verizon Free DSL Modem

2009-05-16T20:50:00.000-07:00

New Verizon Promotion Starting Sunday May 17th

Verizon is rolling out their Free Modem offer that was a great sucess in the past.
This offer goes live on Sunday May 17th

Please note: This promotion applies to the $17.99 2 year plan and the 1 year bundle plan. This does not apply to the the one year $19.99 plan.

Click on the link below to active the "free modem" offer.

Get a Free Modem when you order Verizon Consumer High Speed Internet product Valid only for $17.99/mo 2 yr plan and 1 yr bundle offer

MegaPath T1 for $299/month plus 1 FREE month offer. Exp. 3/31/09

2009-03-23T21:39:00.000-07:00

MegaPath has an amazing offer on full T1 1.5/1.5 Mbps starting at $299/month and a FREE month. Offer expires 3/31/2009.

If you want more details, please visit our the Choose ISP website and click on Contact Us.

Verizon offer: DVR free for 12 months for new customers ordering FIOS TV and HD DVR

2008-10-03T21:29:00.000-07:00

FiOS TV: DVR free for 12 months: Customers ordering new FiOS TV service and an HD DVR will get it free for 12 months. This applies only to the 1st DVR purchased. Good through 10-31.

We say now it's the time!

If FIOS is not for you but you are interested in DSL, here's a direct link:

AT&T decreased the price on their DSL packages. Limited time.

2008-09-22T23:00:00.000-07:00

Great news: AT&T has decreased the price on the DSL 768K in 22 states (IL, IN, OH, MI, WI, AR, KS, MO, OK, TX, CT, CA, NV, AL, MI, LS, KY, TN, GA, FL, NC, and SC)! Also DSL Basic will cost $14.99/month through 12/31/08 in 13 states (IL, IN, OH, MI, WI, AR, KS, MO, OK, TX, CT, CA and NV) and FastAccess DSL Lite will cost $14.99/month through 10/31/08 in 9 states (AL, MI, LS, KY, TN, GA, FL, NC, and SC)!
Read more on our DSL page on ChooseISP.net website or simply click the banner below.

All AT&T Internet plans include Firewall software, anti-virus software, SpamGuard, Pop-up blocker, Webmail and Dial-up account. Complimentary Wi-Fi at thousands of hot spots, including most Starbucks. 24 month price guarantee with no term contract. Some plans qualify for $100 Cash Back when ordered online and Free Gateway or Modem.

Thank you for reading ChooseISP Blog.

BellSouth FastAccess DSL

2008-09-14T16:37:00.000-07:00

ChooseISP.net has been dealing with all Internet Service Providers for a long time now but it only happen this week that we started listing BellSouth and mainly, their FastAccess(r) DSL.

BellSouth Fast Access DSL plans:

FastAccess DSL Lite
*From 14.95/month *Up to 5x fast than standard dial-up *Great for frequent web surfing

FastAccess DSL Ultra
* $32.95/month * Up to 25x faster than standard dial-up * Great for downloading photos and music

FastAccess DSL
*$37.95/month *Up to 50x faster than standard dial-up *Great for online gaming and streaming video *Free HomeNetworking Plus ($5/month value)

FastAccess DSL Xtreme 6.0
* Now only $42.95/month (was $46.95/month) * Up to 100x faster than standard dial-up, our fastest Internet connection * HomeNetworking Plus and BellSouth® Premium Internet Security Suite are FREE ($10/mo value) * Free HomeNetworking Plus: 4PCs can surf wirelessly in home, enjoy online gaming, send pictures/video from PC to TV (with TiVo) * Free BellSouth Premium Internet Security Suite: ensures safe and secure Internet experience (anti-virus, firewall and anti-spyware)

Visit the brand new webpage: http://chooseisp.net/html/bellsouth.htm or click on the banner below to go directly to the hot FastAccess DSL promotions page.

Thank you!

AT&T High Speed Internet (DSL) for Business starting at $25/month

2008-07-28T16:22:00.000-07:00

AT&T High Speed Internet (DSL) for Business starting at $25/month

Read more about AT&T

iPower & iPowerWeb: 50% off weekend sale!

2008-06-15T14:25:00.000-07:00

iPower & iPowerWeb: 50% off weekend sale!

IPOWER’s normally priced $7.95/month web hosting is now only $3.98/month.
Their lowest price ever! Hurry, this sale won’t last long!

iPower link:

iPowerWeb link:

Phone Power - VoIP provider

2008-04-29T19:33:00.000-07:00

Phone Power is a new generation telephone company that uses your broadband internet connection. They offer flat-rate calling packages that include all your local and long distance calling saving customers 60-70% on their phone bills. Phone Power includes dozens of calling features for free. Click on the banner below for more details.

If you have an experience good or bad with Phone Power, please share here using Comments.
Thank you!

Verizon Broadband FIOS promotion

2008-04-29T13:25:00.000-07:00

Verizon Broadband has a new promotion on ALL FiOS products:
All Verizon FiOS services FREE for the first month when you order online – Expires 6/30

If you were considering FIOS, this is the time to order.
Please place comments if this blog was usefull to you! Thank you!

One.com - Free Hosting and Free Domain in UK, Germany, India, Austria, Poland, Switzerland and Chech Republic

2008-03-17T00:19:00.000-07:00

Great news from the webhosting world:

One.com are now offering Free Hosting and Free Domain to all internet users in the following countries: United Kingdom UK, Germany, INDIA, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic and Poland.

The offer only applies to internet users situated in these countries and cover most top level domains.

Speakeasy 1.5 T1 starts at $359 a month and Speakeasy Bonded 3.0 T1 starts at $749.95

2008-03-07T22:57:00.000-08:00

For a Limited Time, Speakeasy is offering Double and Triple Commissions on Full T1 and Bonded T1 Service to their agents/partners like ChooseISP.net...

Depending on speed and contract term, Speakeasy Referral partners can earn some good money so now it's the time when everyone would go the extra mile to get your business at best price for you.

If you would like to find out more without even reading further, dial now 714.333.0360 or send an email to Speakeasy@ChooseISP.net and we'll help you!

Speakeasy 1.5 T1 starts at $359 a month and Speakeasy Bonded 3.0 T1 starts at $749.95.

Speakeasy is also offering an attractive T1 and voice promotion. For a limited time customers can enjoy a special low promotion of $279/month (for the first six months, normal price afterwards) on a full T1 when they choose our business Voice Services: Select either 5 Integrated Voice business lines (analog replacement) or 5 Hosted Voice seats. Both start at $19.95/month!

For more info on Speakeasy click on this link: http://chooseisp.net/html/speakeasy.htm
To contact ChooseISP.net in order to get Speakeasy service go to http://chooseisp.net/html/contact_us.php

Verizon FiOS TV just got better!

2008-03-07T22:40:00.000-08:00

Verizon FiOS TV just got better!

Here's the latest offer:
Get the 1st month free and 3 months of free HBO AND free activation when you order Verizon FiOS TV online.

The price has changed to $47.99 a month.

Package details:
- FiOS TV Premier
$47.99/month Special Online Offer: Order FiOS TV Premier and receive First Month Free and No Activation Fee
- La Conexión
$37.99/month
Special Online Offer: No Activation Fee

Current legal copy:
First month free via bill credit.

Verizon FiOS TV Service is provided by Verizon and Verizon Online and is not available in all areas. Service availability subject to final confirmation by Verizon. Verizon installation required. Programming and prices are subject to change. Not all programming will be available at all times. Price is for FiOS TV Premier. Other packages extra. Activation Fee charge of up to $29.99 applies. Set Top box is required for all digital programming services. Acceptance of Verizon FiOS TV Terms of Service is required. Such Terms of Service are subject to change. Uninterrupted use of the service is not guaranteed. The customer is financially responsible for any damage to, or misuse of, any equipment, or for the failure to return any equipment if service is terminated. Applicable franchise fees, regulatory fees and taxes apply. Other terms and conditions apply.

FiOS TV customers purchasing Verizon voice service receive both services over fiber. Includes up to 8 hours battery back up (for non-IP voice service only). Power for services provided on the Verizon FiOS network must be supplied by the customer. Customer is responsible for back-up battery replacement. Backup battery does not supply power for Online or Video services. Certain telephones, answering machines and other telephone equipment not meeting industry standards may not work with service provided on the Verizon FiOS network. ©2008 Verizon. All Rights Reserved.

The Aviator © 2004 Miramax Films.The Incredibles © 2004 Buena Vista Pictures. Meet the Fockers © 2004 Universal Pictures. Starz and related channels and service marks are property of Starz Entertainment Group LLC.

AT&T DSL Price increase in 13 states

2008-03-05T21:52:00.000-08:00

AT&T annouces:

Effective February 16, 2008, a pricing increase will take affect across a 13 state region.

Currently, AT&T's 13 State Region includes Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Connecticut, California and Nevada.

Pricing updates are reflected below
Basic from $14.99 to $19.95
Express (1.5) from $19.99 to $25.00
Pro (3M) from $24.99 to $30.00
Elite (6M) from $34.99 to $35.00

For a limited time AT&T offers a $50 rebate.

ChooseISP.net website update: Comcast Communication

2008-02-17T18:09:00.000-08:00

Site Update:
02/17/2008: New page created for Comcast Communication

ChooseISP.net Site Update: Time Warner Cable

2008-01-26T13:31:00.000-08:00

Site Update:
01/26/2008: New page created for Time Warner Cable.

"Business Lines" by Speakeasy

2008-01-17T19:56:00.000-08:00

Speakeasy will be releasing a new service soon called Business Lines.
Business Lines is their replacement solution for small businesses using analog lines.

Link to a PDF that is showing how it works. (coming soon)

Business Lines can be offered over a 1.5 T1 (Jan. promotion for $359) or ADSL2 which offers speeds of 8.0/1.0 ($149.95), 10.0/1.0 ($179.95) or 15.0/1.0 ($189.95). The connection will provide dynamic bandwidth for Voice and Data. Each Business Line is $19.95 (2 year contract) which includes unlimited local calling. Bundles of LD minutes start at $64.95 for 2500 minutes and International Bundles (includes 22 countries) of minutes start at $44.95 for 1000 minutes.

Speakeasy is the VoIP provider who has the best customer service in the industry.

I welcome your emails and phone calls anytime with additional questions you may have, and I look forward to building a Voice and Data Solution with you.

Best Regards,
ChooseISP.net Team

Phone: 714.333.0360
Email: Speakeasy@chooseISP.net
Website: www.ChooseISP.net

!

ChooseISP.net and Speakeasy are recommaning the Linksys SPA942 phone. See details below.

OutletPC - discount computer parts and systems

2007-12-31T14:45:00.000-08:00

I went crazy these days looking for a AC adapter for a Acer Travelmate 2400 laptop.
Who do you think has it and at very good price? OutletPC

Acer Compatible 90W AC Laptop Power Adapter for Aspire, Ferrari, and Travelmate Series Laptops (AAC90A)Regular: $25.86Sale Price: $19.98
The link above is an affiliate link.

ChooseISP.net wishes you
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

webhostingpad deal $3.96 - unlimited disk space, unlimited domains

2007-12-29T17:43:00.001-08:00

Los Angeles area: T1 from Speakeasy for only $359/month on 1 year term

2007-09-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

Now through October 31, your customers who reside in the LA area have the opportunity
to buy a T1 for only $359 on a 1 year term. Customers outside of this region can sign up
for a 3-year term for $359/month, a 2-year term for $379/month or a 1-year term for
$399/month. Also through October 31, Bonded T1s are available for all customers at the
low rate of $749 on a three year term.

Speakeasy’s T1s offer customers access to our private nationwide network for maximum security and reliability. Our T1 SLAs guarantee 99.99% uptime, and customers have 24/7 support from our experienced Seattle-based technicians.

Visit http://www.speakeasy.net/promos/fatpipe/?p=p for full details or call me at 714-333-0360. Some restrictions apply.

Comcast is incresing your online storage to 1GB at no additional cost

2007-09-26T14:27:00.000-07:00

COMCAST. An Official email was sent out these days:

"Comcast is upgrading the Personal Web Pages product to include up to 40 times more online storage than before! As part of the product upgrade, your online storage will automatically increase from 25 MB up to 1,000 MB per Comcast.net e-mail address - that's a full gigabyte - at no additional cost. And if you have opened secondary Comcast.net e-mail addresses for your account you will get 1 GB of online storage for each of them."

For more info, visit my website www.chooseisp.net or click on the link below:

iPowerWeb are extending their $5.95/month sale for one more week!

2007-09-25T01:10:00.000-07:00

iPowerWeb are extending their $5.95/month sale for one more week!

This sale offers normally-priced $7.95/month Business Pro hosting package, their most popular plan, to customers at the extremely low price of $5.95/month. This discount is available on both 12-month and 24-month plans! Additional bonuses include a FREE Site Design Consultation as well as a FREE Search Engine Optimization Consultation! Combined, these bonuses are valued at $280. Hosting account pricing is based on the initial term and will renew at regular rates.

Please be advised this is a limited-time offer, expiring October 1st at Noon (PDT) and the banner below is an affiliate link.

More about iPowerWeb on my website.

HostMonster - Professional Web Hosting for $4.95/month for a limited time

2007-09-22T18:56:00.000-07:00

HostMonster
Professional Web Hosting for
$4.95/month for a limited time

HostMonster has been providing hosting solutions to thousands of business and personal web sites since 1996. Our internet hosting package helps businesses and individuals get high-powered service at a fraction of the cost.
300 Gigabytes of Hosting Space
Host UNLIMITED Domains!!
Unlimited Pop/Imap Email Accounts
SSH Access (Secure Shell)
3,000 Gigs of Transfer
SSL, FTP, Stats
CGI, Ruby (RoR), Perl, PHP, MYSQL
Front Page Extensions
Free Domain Forever
Free Site Builder
Best Support in the Industry
Bonus: Free domain included with 12 and 24 month subscriptions.

For a limited time, this awesome hosting package is in sale for only $4.95/month. This makes HostMonster the best deal of the moment and chooseISP.net Top Pick.

Go to the website to read more.

Enjoy! And don't forget to leave us feedback!

Verizon DSL $14.99/month only on 2 year agreement from now on

2007-09-19T10:37:00.001-07:00

The $14.99 price point for DSL service is still in effect but the customer must now pick a two year contract.

With this 2 year agreement and $14.99 price point, Verizon is guaranteeing price for life (as long as you stay an active Verizon DSL customer).

Verizon Broadband Services

DealDotCom is UP!

2007-09-18T21:03:00.000-07:00

Don't hesitate any second. Click on the banner below and join the intended to be the greatest "one deal a day" website!

Linksys VoIP Router RT31P2 not accepting latest firmware

2007-09-18T18:59:00.000-07:00

I just noticed this today. I wonder if many out there have the same problem. Linksys forum doesn't say much so i will try to contact Linksys to find out more.
RT31P2_NA_v1.30.07_000_VM_3.1.09_LId_combin_code is the name of the firmware file 1.30.07.
The old firmware on my router is 1.30.02.
An error appears sometime at a third of the file copy process.

More updates soon.

Comments welcomed!

Internet Downloads May Cost More

2007-09-08T16:03:00.000-07:00

Internet Downloads May Cost More
If you thought that you had signed up for an unlimited internet connection and so you could download all you wanted,you could soon be in for a shock.The US Justice Department has said Internet Service Providers (ISP's) should be allowed to charge for priority traffic, which in effect would allow a two-tier internet system to be put in place.The agency said that it was 'opposed to network neutrality,' the idea that all data on the net is treated equally.The agency submitted its comments to the Federal Communications Commission, which is investigating net access.

Part of the problem can be traced to the rapid growth of online videos,music movies and games.Some people are simply using it too much.These internet hogs download excessively slowing down the internet for other users.

Comcast is the first off the block and it has started suspending services to those who are using too much bandwidth.So if you thought you had unlimited service you have another guess coming.

Cable companies argue that they have spent a huge $90 billion over the last few years to improve their networks.They are simply looking to recover their investments as fast as possible.In spite of the investments made hundreds of subscribers share a single internet connection.One high traffic user can slow down an entire neighborhood. Often unscrupulous neighbors may use up your capacity through unsecured wireless routers.But the biggest culprits are people running small businesses from home. These people usually set up small servers which can slow down everybody who shares that connection.

But Comcast is not willing to disclose how much usage will invite suspension.This is because it fears that all users will adjust their usage just below the maximum limit which will slow down the network further.

It is in this context that the comments of the US Justice Department assume significance.This would allow ISP's to charge for certain content.The idea is opposed by Google and Microsoft who have called for equal access to the net. However companies like AT&T and Verizon seem to favor the idea.

The Justice Department says that imposing net neutrality regulations would hinder development of the internet as ISP's would not upgrade networks, and that the entire burden of costly improvements would be shifted on to the average consumer rather than the person who uses it the most.

But this stance is contrary to most of the internet community who believe that such a two-tier system would allow ISP's to become the gatekeepers to the web's content.It is also feared that institutions such as universities and charities will suffer in such a scenario.

It is not yet a crisis and it is hoped that investments in network capacity, switching over to fiber-optic technology and digital -only programming will ensure that bandwidth is not a problem in the future.

Chopping up the web into two may not be a good idea.

This article is from Netscape.com.

PlayStation 3 Firmware 1.92

2007-09-05T01:13:00.000-07:00

Original URL: http://www.psxextreme.com/ps3-news-print/1794.html

-------------------------------------------
PlayStation 3 Firmware 1.92
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So if you're a PlayStation 3 owner, by now you may have downloaded the newest firmware for the console, Firmware 1.92. As far as what changes have been made to this update, your guess is as good as ours. Sony's official announcement is absurdly bleak and unclear. All it mentions is improved PlayStation 2 software support, and increased Bluetooth performance.

Now, some of the first comments from gamers came regarding Lair and how its motion controls feel tighter as a result of this update. At first I chalked it up to hyperbole, but after testing the game out myself, the claims do hold credence. I didn't think much bad of Lair's controls before, as I got used to them fairly quick, but hey, having them enhanced and tightened up is never a bad thing.

Other reports claim improved efficiency for various features such as web-browsing, which does seem to be correct, as well. Now, I don't recall how I updated my last firmware, but 1.92 didn't require me to connect the USB cord to the SixAxis controller. Unfortunately, not much else can be seen from this update. It is, after all, a minor .2 jump over the last firmware. The next huge update will be 2.0, as it will feature Home support among a whole bunch of other awesome updates, one of which should be custom soundtracks.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9/4/2007 Arnold Katayev

Independent Telecom Agents - The Top 10 Reasons Companies Use Them

2007-08-30T10:28:00.000-07:00

Independent Telecom Agents - The Top 10 Reasons Companies Use Them
Steve Norris

1. Mergers and Acquisitions
Sales is already known as a high turnover profession, but the recent rash of mergers and acquisitions in telecom make it highly unlikely the representative who signed you to your term agreement will still be there to assist you within a year. After making it past the phase of bankruptcies following deregulation, the next phase is mergers and acquisitions. In the past couple of years, a few of the major mergers include Level3/Broadwing (Focal), XO/Allegiance, ATT/SBC/Bell South, MCI/Verizon, Paetec/US Lec, and Time Warner/Xspedius among many others. By using an Independent Telecom Agent, you can be sure that regardless of continued merger activity or bankruptcies, your Independent Telecom Agent will continue to have the same contact phone number and email address. He/She will not be laid off or fired, and will continue to supply you all of the options you need.

2. Single Point of Contact
Regardless of whether your Independent Telecom Agent recommends a single carrier solution or a multi-carrier solution, you still have a single point of contact to deal with the person who knows your account best. During the pricing and evaluation process for a new carrier, it is typical to get at least 3 bids and have at least two appointments with at least three carriers. The number of appointments you have to schedule could easily reach up to a dozen before an educated decision is made on your company's communications. If you use a qualified Independent Telecom Agent, you can spend one appointment determining the best course of action, and just one more evaluating the best options available in your market. Having a single point of contact is a huge time saver!

3. Person who understands your company, how you make decisions, and why.
Your Independent Telecom Agent acts as an assistant buyer once he/she understands your business needs and preferences. He/she gets to know your organization, your goals and long range needs, and how you make decisions and why. Why would you want to repeat that process every couple of years?

4. You get to hear the truth!
Perhaps this should be ranked #1! When you use an experienced Independent Telecom Agent, you tap into a wealth of knowledge and experience of someone who has been in the field for many years-and most likely with multiple carriers. Your agent will typically have experience dealing with multiple carriers in your market, and can tell you how they really perform. Not the rosy picture they all want to paint for you. Who has the most reliable network? Who has billing problems? Who is going bankrupt? Who can make the desired install date? When using an Independent agent, you don’t have to listen to "The Company Story" for each carrier, as they always tend to dress up their deficiencies. You get to hear the truth.

5. Unbiased opinion of multiple carriers and their product lines
Based on where your business is heading, whether that be expanding, streamlining, or contracting, your Independent Telecom Agent can put you in the right situation. Just like buying an inexpensive phone system that can't grow with you, and can create the need for a forklift upgrade sooner than expected, getting stuck with a carrier that can't meet your future expectations can be crippling to your operation. Since most carriers have gone to term agreements in the T-1 age of communications, it's key to get set up with a carrier that can move with your needs. Do they have MPLS? Do they do SIP trunking? Can they offer an IP-VPN solution for your remote sites? Your Independent Telecom Agent knows the carriers’ products and limitations, and can put you in the right solution for your company.

6. Agents are invested in your success long term
This is an incredibly important concept to understand when choosing to use an Independent Telecom Agent! When you work with a direct sales representative for a telecom company, one that may be here and gone tomorrow (rep or company), they are paid only to bring in the sale. As we all know in the world of corporate sales, comp plans drive behavior, and sales reps are specifically told, "If the customer has a problem, send them to the Help Desk. Do not get involved. You are paid ONLY to bring in new business." There is absolutely no motivation, despite the direct representative's best intentions, for them to ever speak to you again after you sign the dotted line. It's sad but true. On the flip side, because Independent Telecom Agents are commission only and residual based, earning a small percentage of the monthly bill, it takes them, in many cases, up to 24 months to get paid what the direct representative will get paid in month number one after the sale. The entire motivation for someone even becoming an Independent Telecom Agent is to build a book of business of happy customers that don't have to find someone new every couple of years to deal with. This relationship only makes sense for the agent if you stay with them for over 24 months, so they have EVERY motivation to assist you in solving any service issues that you may ever have. A good Independent Telecom Agent isn't just another business associate; they become part of your team.

7. They don't have a quota to make
One of the biggest issues I have with local RBOC/ILEC, is that if you call in to the call center to order new service, you will only be told about what THEY want to sell you. NOT what is best for you. Everyone LOVES to sell bundles in telecom, but let me ask you this. Why do you need Centrex calling features or voice mail on your alarm or elevator lines? Do you need call transfer or remote access to call forwarding on every line in your hunt group and on your fax lines? Do you have mysterious items in the back of your bill for web hosting or other items you are afraid to disconnect in case you actually use it? When I call the ILEC/RBOC directly from the agent channel, I get offered different packages, and more attractive packages, than I get over the phone through the call center. It is very common for Independent Telecom Agents to uncover up to 10-20% of pure fluff on your bill during the auditing process. Why does this happen? Simple. The direct representatives you buy from have a quota to make and will often sell you what is good for them, not what is good for you. They are directed to sell what is profitable for the carrier they work for, and are paid accordingly based on their ability to do so. Top Independent Telecom Agents, almost without exception; do not carry quotas with any carriers. Because they do not carry quotas, you will not find them pushing you towards a solution that doesn't feel quite right just to meet their numbers. Be frank and ask your Independent Telecom Agent if they carry quotas with the carriers proposed. If they do carry a quota, be sure to ask enough questions about the solution they are suggesting to make sure it is right for you.

8. Extra Incentives and Promotions
The Telecom Industry is moving increasingly towards the Independent Agent Channel. In fact, last year, a local ATT/SBC agent manager said the Agent channel gained more business through their agent Winback program than they did their direct Winback program. Even they were shocked! There are several reasons for this. Independent Telecom Agents are typically more knowledgeable, better trained, set proper expectations with the clients, their clients tend to remain clients longer (since they were sold the right program), and it is more cost effective for the carriers to deal with Agents. They do not pay base salaries or benefits, in addition to commissions. Strangely enough, where I have seen this benefit the customer most, is in the form of special incentives and promotions offered only through the Agent Channel. It is not uncommon for agents to compete head to head with a direct representative for one of the carriers they are presenting. It is also not uncommon for the agent channel to have promotions or incentives that the direct representative has not been given for the customer, and the agent will typically win the customer because of that fact. If the direct representatives have promotions available, they are often compensated extra if they do not use them. Independent Telecom Agents will pull out any available promotions available in an effort to gain your business for the long haul, as they are typically not incented or penalized for use of promotions.

9. Same Pricing
The exact same standard pricing is used in the Agent Channel and the direct channel. In spite of all of the additional knowledge you can tap into with Independent Agents, you can be sure you are not charged any extra for it. For large projects, special pricing is available to both Agent and direct channels at the same amounts. It's an incredible model that helps the customer and agent win, and insures all clients are treated equally.

10. They understand Next Generation Technology Independent Telecom Agents will typically be better versed in MPLS, IP-VPN, VOIP, hosted solutions, call center applications, and SIP technologies since they need to understand multiple carriers' offerings and have attended their trainings. Direct representatives will often know a few tweaks to their individual limited product line a little better than agents that do not exclusively sell their product, but they will not have the overall understanding of all that is coming with new technology. No carrier can be the master of all technologies and master of all niches. It's a business impossibility. So it follows that it is nearly impossible for a direct representative to have the same breadth and width of exposure to the applications you are facing decisions on. Business is fiercely competitive, and implementation of some of the new technologies correctly can literally save larger companies hundreds of thousands of dollars. That may be the exact edge your company needs to gain the competitive advantage in your marketplace for security, marketing, recruiting, or even retention. Likewise, implementing a bleeding edge technology that is not ready for prime time may cost you the same. Using an experienced Independent Telecom Agent who is looking out for your best interests may make all the difference.

About The Author
Steve Norris is a Texas based Energy Efficient Electrical Contractor and Independent Telecom Broker for over 80 carriers nationwide, and specializes in multi-location businesses with advanced infrastructure needs. Over 90% of his clients are able to implement new technology at little or no cost with his proprietary TeleTAP solution. Visit him on the web at http://www.allamericancommunications.com and http://www.telephoneguru.net and http://www.energyretrofitters.com.

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2007-08-25T00:16:00.000-07:00

UPDATE:
New and "smarter" News page. We solved the write permission issues.
Two new additions to the VoIP page: Skype and VoIP.com.
August 28, 2007 10:06 PM
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UPDATE:
I found out how to make the site backgroud theme applied to the Home page as well. Now, if i could just get the News made to work properly...
August 28, 2007 2:00 PM
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INITIAL POST:
We did major updates to the site today (2007/08/24). See redesigned buttons, new page for New Edge Networks, and... our pride: new and improved FAQ page.
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