By Dan Baldwin, Editor
951-251-5155 email
I had the pleasure of attending World Telecom Group's 15th Annual Agent Partner Holiday Event on December 7th and can
report that I learned a few hot tips (see below) from WTG's top vendors about what they'll be rolling out in 2013.
Nancy and I also golfed, dined, danced and caroused in Vince's VIP suite until way too late - but that'll be another blog post entirely!
Following is some of what I saw, learned and listened to during the vendor presentations. To learn more about the benefits of WTG's master agency program, click here to view the 21-page program handout that was provided to WTG agents and guests.
To get information about becoming a WTG partner visit WTGcom.com or email.
CLEAR Professional - The same company that owns the Clearwire 4G nationwide wireless networks that resells services to many top consumer wireless brands appears to be getting ready to roll out a wireless broadband business solution that "lets you deploy internet service that is faster than DSL or T1 service ... in days, not weeks or months".
Doug Smith and Greg Smith spent an hour telling us how great the service is. They shared with all the WTG agents in the audience information including case studies and prospective price points before telling us that the whole solution is still in Beta and would not be available to retail businesses through agents before March 2012.
(After noticing my "Press" badge they also asked me not to spill any product or price beans. So please, don't try to buy any of the photos I snapped of their presentation.)
Hot 2013 Tip: Get ready to pitch all your DSL & cable customers a "wireless T-1" in 2013.
Contact: Greg Smith, Channel Manager, email, 208-323-3588
Doug Smith, email, 503-705-5829
1475 120th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98005
MegaPath - Lewis Hill & Janeen Fisher shared an engaging presentation that illustrated how MegaPath Corporation operates one of the largest end-to-end communications networks in the country, providing a full range of data (Ethernet, T1, DSL, wireless and more) voice (hosted and integrated), security (UTM, MPLS, SSL) and Hosted IT (Exchange, Sharepoint, data back-up) services for small, medium and enterprise businesses nationwide. Listen to audio of presentation.
Hot 2013 Tip: Rolling out Ethernet over DS1 in 2013. MegaPath is a great "upgraded" home for all your Cbeyond customers and prospects.
Contact: Lewis Hill, Channel manager, email, 310-683-2640
555 anton Blvd., Suite 200, costa Mesa, CA 92626
Windstream - Frank Stepczyk, Samantha Spencer, Hyla Vick and Peter Orosco shared the story about how Windstream is a nationwide, enterprise-focused communications and technology service provider with a commitment to be their customers' trusted adviser and how they deliver the right combination of smart solutions and personalized service.
Presentation highlights included: S&P 500 company with $6 billion in annual revenue; 450,000 business customers nationwide, 150 US offices, 14,500 employees, 100,000 fiber miles, 6 NOCs & enterprise class data centers. Listen to audio of presentation.
Hot 2013 Tip: In addition to Allworx, you can access Mitel, Avaya, Cisco & Shoretel business phone system equipment solutions through Windstream next year.
Contact: Samantha Spencer, Channel Manager, email, 310-733-2227
15260 Ventura Blvd., Suite 1410, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
XO Communications - Brent Lacho, Jaime Zarate, Joann Amaral and Frank Reyes shared how XO is one of the nation's leaders in providing advanced VoIP, internet, managed network and hosted IT solutions. XO offers an award-winning partner program with outstanding benefits for XO Business Partners and offers customers the right network, the right solutions and an unrivalled focus on delivering the best customer experience.
Hot 2013 Tip: XO's new "Concentric" division will aggressively compete against the likes of MegaPath, Cbeyond, Telesphere and others for any and all "cloud business". In 2013 you'll also see XO competing for content acceleration deals (think Netflix or YouTube) and in cloud voice deals with a hosted call center that includes predictive dialing. Listen to audio of presentation.
Contact: Brent Lacho, Partner Business Development Manager, email, 805-499-2111
818 7th St. Suite 920, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Jaime Zarate, Concentric Partner Manager, email, 214-235-5700
5700 Highlands Parkway SE, Smyrna, GA 30082
Time Warner Cable Business Class - Robert Czech and Mike Jacobsen shared how TWCBC, a $1.4 billion division of Time Warner Cable, offers a suite of data, video and voice services to businesses of all sizes and, through its NaviSite subsidiary, managed and outsourced information technology solutions and cloud services. TWCBC was founded in 1998, offering high-speed internet to small businesses. Today, it serves approximately 450,000 business customers throughout Time Warner Cable's markets. Listen to presentation of audio.
Meryl Charles of TWCBS's NaviSite division also gave a quick overview of their application management solutions for enterprise customers. Listen to audio of presentation.
Hot 2013 Tip: TWCBC completely bypasses the LEC with their fiber and cable (DOCSIS) internet solutions for business. They don't provide MPLS but they do provide point-to-point circuits.
Contact: Robert Czech, Partner Channel Manager, email, 303-324-3212
5081 5th Street, Boulder, CO 80304
Meryl Charles, Channels Director, email, 408-643-9470
2119 242nd Street SE, Bothell, WA 98021
Level 3 Communications - Rodney Nesbit, Matt Winterburn & Christopher Smith shared how L3 is a premier global provider of data, voice, video and managed services. They combine their reliable, secure network and flexibility to adapt to local requirements to provide stronger connections around the globe. They focus on understanding customers' challenges and delivering industry-leading customer service. Listen to partial audio of presentation.
Hot 2013 Tip: Level 3 is positioning itself as the "goto vendor" for global MPLS.
Contact: Rodney Nesbit, National Channel Manager, email, 213-996-5548
818 West 7th Street, Suite 510, Los Angeles, CA 90017
tw telecom - Greg Bean and Steve Jacknow shared how tw telecom provides industry leading data & IP services, metro Ethernet, IP networks, VoIP and managed quality of service in over 27,000 route miles of fiber in 16,000 commercial buildings in 75 markets. Listen to audio of presentation.
Hot 2013 Tip: twt expects to eclipse competitors by showcasing how their "Intelligent Network" enables enhanced management, dynamic capacity and applications aware networking.
Contact: Greg Bean, Channel Sales Manager, email, 502-992-1106
10475 Park Meadows Drive, Littleton, CO 80124
WTG/Energent - Vince Bradley, Tem Wu, Mark Sondergaard and Susan Penalvolpe shared how WTG is the #1 master agent in the US and a CRN 5 Star Vendor for Connectivity Services with the most diverse portfolio in the industry with over 100 providers in voice, data, managed services, and cloud products and services.
Specialty Divisions with dedicated extra support include Cloudology, award winning wireless/mobility, equipment, international, wholesale, cost containment (TEM, logistics and all other cost containment) and its energy division, Energent (electricity, natural gas, revenue recovery, DSM and LED lighting).
WTG agents have the ability to sell without revenue commitments or quotas. WTG is 100% partner driven and pays top commissions. Listen to audio of presentation.
Hot 2013 Tip: WTG expects to continue as the top mobile wireless master agency in 2013. During 2012, one WTG subagent earned $127,000 in up front wireless commissions while another agent earned $70,000 on just one wireless deal.
Contact: Email, 310-456-2200 x2, 22761 Pacific coast Highway, Suite 101, Malibu, CA 90265
Telesphere - Jeff Savage and Rob McCarthy shared how Telesphere is the leading provider of unified communications and leads the market by delivering a simple, flexible and powerful voice and data solution to enterprises while specializing in the convergence of multiple services including: IP communications, video, private SIP trunking and internet services over its private MPLS network. Listen to audio of presentation.
Hot 2013 Tip: Hosted VoIP agents can get Telesphere hosted VoIP service free for their offices.
Contact: Rob McCarthy, Regional Channel manager, email, 415-962-2666
9237 East Via de Ventura, Suite 250, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Integra Telecom - Julie Dzubay, Paul Merritt, Stan Durst and Jack Chavira shared how Integra is one of the largest facilities-based providers of communication and networking services in the western United States. They connect businesses of all sizes with advanced technology solutions in 35 metropolitan markets. Integra owns and operates an enterprise class network consisting of a 5,000-mile long-haul fiber-optic network, 3,000-miles of metropolitan fiber and a nationwide ip/MPLS network. Their fiber connects directly to more than 2,000 commercial buildings and data centers. Through their expansive Ethernet footprint they can deliver high-bandwidth services to more than 400,000 businesses. Listen to audio of presentation.
Hot 2013 Tip: In addition to network services, Integra also supports NEC and Mitel business phone system solutions.
Contact: Paul Merritt, Director Indirect Sales - West, email, 425-970-7145
700 SW 39th Street, Suite 200, Renton, WA 98057
Masergy - Josh Garland, Dan McGarry and Randy Clark shared how Masergy provides managed, secure global network and cloud communications services to enterprises across multiple locations. Masergy's integrated network and software solutions enable customers to seamlessly deploy and manage unified communications on a global basis. Listen to audio of the presentation.
Hot 2013 Tip: Average Masergy deals in 2013 are expected to bill between $15,000 and $25,000 per month. To learn the "6 Screening Questions" to ask your existing customers to learn if they're Masergy prospects listen to 7:10 in this audio presentation or review this screen shot.
Contact: Dan McGarry, Director - Channel Development, email, 415-671-6325
601 Mongomery St. Suite 2010, San Francisco, CA 94111
Telx - Kirk Horton, Alina Adamian and Mark Jiannino shared how Telx is a leading provider of interconnection and data center services in strategic, high demand North American markets. With 17 premier C3 Cloud Connection Centers, Telx increases speed to market and reduces connectivity costs by providing direct connections to a community of the industry's highest performance networks and access to 1,000+ customers. Listen to audio of the presentation.
Hot 2013 Tip: Telx is opening the Seattle market in April 2013. Presell agreements earn a 1x MRC spiff for a 12 month agreement and a 2x MRC spiff for a 36 month contract.
Contact: Kirk Horton, VP Channels, email, 415-466-0554
2820 Northwestern Parkway, Santa Clara, CA 95051
Mark Jiannino, channel Sales Director - West, email, 562-896-9373
600 West 7th Street, 1st Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Comcast Business Class - Charlie Rodriguez & Nick Tornetta shared how Comcast Business Class offers internet, Ethernet, voice and TV for business with internet speeds up to 66 times faster than standard DSL and T1, Ethernet up to 10 GBPS, a variety of voice options and TA. Listen to audio of the presentation.
Comcast sponsored the big Ciena truck to showcase their network. Listen to the audio tour of the Ciena truck.
Hot 2013 Tip: While Comcast offers plays in the 10 meg to 10 gig customer bandwidth range, it's in the 10 meg range where they feel their pricing can't be beat.
Contact: Charlie Rodriguez, Partner Channel Manager, email, 925-371-3523
3055 Comcast Place, Livermore, CA 94551
Recent Comments