"We believe that applications including video collaboration and cloud computing will become realities in the mobile space because of [LTE] performance."
I asked Jim Tyrrell, VP of Marketing for Global Business Voice Solutions at Verizon some questions:1. Regarding Verizon wireless enterprise customers--you stated that Verizon is looking to provide converged cell services for enterprise in the 2nd half of 2010 via LTE. Can you elaborate on what Enterprise customers can expect in the way of lowered cell costs, UC features (if any) and manageability?
A: Verizon is aggressively deploying LTE, with plans to commercially launch the service in up to 30 markets in 2010, covering 100 million people. In subsequent years, an equally aggressive growth plan will result in full nationwide coverage in 2013. LTE's bandwidth and latency performance will allow Enterprises to mobilize applications that to date, have been reserved for a wired environment. We believe that applications including video collaboration and cloud computing will become realities in the mobile space because of that performance. The company's LTE network ultimately will connect a full range of electronics devices and machines to each other. And Verizon's Open Development approach is designed to spur innovation in applications as well as devices that can be tailored to meet Enterprise requirements.
2. With the ADTRAN 6310 and Verizon services (one of many cited)--can customers retain existing CPE--TDM, IP...basically whatever they have, and retain their existing PRIs, T1s and gain "unlimited On-net calling"? (Provided they have the bandwidth--overflow type of routing where one site is too busy or not enough bandwidth then the call will routes (SIP REFER) to another call center or site?)
A. Yes, customers can retain their current desk phones because with Verizon IP Integrated Access, we have IP-enabled their traditional key system or PBX. Our BEST (Burstable Enterprise Shared Trunks) capability then allows idle capacity to be used at another location. In addition, the customer will get unlimited site-to-site calling. SIP REFER, already supported on our VoIP Inbound products, will be an option for our Outbound VoIP capability next year.
3. For customers adopting this solution--say they want to use compression G.729a for the 41 channels vs. G.711u--are there extra costs? If the customer changes compression from G.711u over to G.729a, are there any costs and or changes on Verizon's part, or is it simply transparent?
A: There are no extra costs for using G.729 rather than G.711 and changing between the codecs is simply transparent. Compression will work over any IP access. 4. Assuming I can pack more calls on the pipes, get unlimited on-net calling (and have the bandwidth) and re-route calls from busy or full pipes to other call centers or sites, these are the cited reasons for cost benefits including customers being able to retain what they have in place?
A: Yes, in addition customers can transform their business operations through a centralized design and utilize failover and load sharing capabilities that aren't available in a TDM environment.
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As for some technical attributes, Verizon is offering SIP Refer for their contact center suite and re-introducing T.38 fax. The timing of LTE coincides with Verizon having awarded 4G contracts to Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson with an estimated worth of $3billion-$5billion during the next five years of initial Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless infrastructure. I also asked about the "unlimited on-net calling" and of course this is dictated by available bandwidth. The failover for these customers is still the PSTN and that's the same failover that most if not all of you employ whether or not you are willing to admit. Thus my argument that most won't end up with an all IP network--the PSTN is "the failover" and in cases of access it's the de facto standard."We believe that applications including video collaboration and cloud computing will become realities in the mobile space because of [LTE] performance."
