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Telephony :: Data Communications

The Economist: Telecommunications

Tech.view: Tossing the phone
Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:22:32 -0000
Though a great alternative, Skype is open to abuseLATE last year, your correspondent decided he was paying too much for long-distance telephone calls, and vowed to switch to one of the new VOIP (“voice over internet protocol”) services, which offer calls to most places in the world for a few pennies a minute at most. At the time, his land-line carrier (Verizon) was charging him five cents a minute for local calls, 11 cents for long-distance, and around 16 cents for international calls. With lots of contacts in Britain and Japan, over half his monthly phone bill was for international calls.Many PC users got their first taste of VOIP in the 1990s when a product called VocalTec first hit the market. But because of the technical hassles involved, making calls between two PCs connected to the internet wasn’t for the faint of heart. ...
Alcatel-Lucent: Bring down the barriers
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:30:35 -0000
Ben Verwaayen’s talents will be sorely tested in his new roleAFTER Alcatel SA merged with Lucent Technologies Inc two years ago, almost the last thing the new company could afford to worry about was balancing the interests of its French and American parts. But although less than half of the combined group’s turnover comes from its home countries, Alcatel-Lucent failed to transcend its national origins. Two small, weak telecoms-equipment firms became one big, weak one, beset by low-cost competition from new Chinese rivals and struggling in a business that internet technology was changing beyond recognition. Worse, demand has been weakening across the industry. Appointing people on the basis of nationality rather than ability is never a good idea; in conditions like these, it spelled disaster.Cost savings either failed to materialise or were swallowed by falling prices; despite hacking 16,500 jobs from a workforce of 88,000, Alcatel-Lucent made losses for six consecutive quarters and its share price fell by more than half. At the end of July it said that Serge Tchuruk, its French chairman, and Patricia Russo, its American chief executive, would depart. This week their replacements were named: a French chairman, who lives in America, and a Dutch chief executive, who will be based in Paris. Both Philippe Camus and Ben Verwaayen have the personality and experience that could iron out the beleaguered telecoms group’s problems. ...
Alcatel-Lucent: Goodbye and adieu
Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:10:21 -0000
The architects of a big telecoms-equipment merger decide to hang upWHEN Alcatel, a French maker of telecoms equipment, announced its plan in 2006 to merge with Lucent, an American rival, reactions were mixed. There was general agreement that bigger was better and that the combined firm would benefit from greater geographical reach. But there was also scepticism that its French and American managers would be able to get along. With good reason, it seems: on July 29th Alcatel-Lucent announced its sixth consecutive quarterly loss and the resignations of Serge Tchuruk, its French chairman, and Patricia Russo, its American chief executive. Their firm’s troubles stem in large part from its internal clash of cultures.This clash was an unhelpful distraction, given that the entire telecoms-equipment industry is suffering. The bonanza of 2000-05, when European operators upgraded their mobile-phone networks to new “third-generation” (3G) technology, is winding down. Sales growth is slowing, and even Ericsson, the industry leader, has seen its share price fall by 50% in the past year. Margins have also been squeezed by the rise of Huawei and ZTE, two Chinese firms. Their prices are sometimes 40-50% lower than those of Western vendors. ...
Tech.view: Home warriors
Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:24:51 -0000
Telecommuters need more than e-mail and a broadband connectionTHE best thing about being a foreign correspondent is not having to commute to the office every day, attend dreary meetings, dress soberly, and generally get distracted from the nitty-gritty of doing the job. The worst thing is being out of touch with colleagues at head office, with little say over how your stories are treated. But if you can handle the patchy feedback and total lack of control, the freedom pays dividends in productivity and sheer job satisfaction.Being one of the most portable jobs on the planet, journalism provides a daily reminder that work is something you do, not some place you go to. For the past quarter of a century, your correspondent has smirked about the time and energy he’s saved through not having to travel to work. ...
Telecoms in Mexico: Slim’s pickings
Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:30:55 -0000
More competition should help to drive down exorbitant phone chargesIT HAS become quaint, in the era of Skype and unlimited calling plans, to worry too much about the cost of phone calls. But it is a textbook case of the old saying: “Them as has, gets”. The well-connected executive can use any number of voice-over-internet services to make free calls; but the rural poor, if they have phones at all, must pay high rates. Perhaps nowhere is this more true than in Mexico, where Carlos Slim, by some estimates the world’s richest man, dominates the telecoms industry. He controls Telmex, which has 81% of the fixed-line market, and Telcel, which has 72% of the mobile market. In the first quarter of 2008 Telmex had a profit margin before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation of 48.7%; for Telcel the figure was 52.1%.This is well above the global average for telecoms firms of 35%, says Martin Lara, an analyst at Vector Casa de Bolsa, a research firm. Base tariffs have fallen in Mexico in recent years, but they do not include things like international calls or calls to mobile phones. Competition has not helped much, because smaller firms have been reluctant to undercut Mr Slim’s companies by very much—and high prices boost their profits, too. “No one wants to destroy these profits overnight,” says Mr Lara. ...

BBC News | Business | World Edition

Stock markets retreat after rally
Wed, 15 Oct 2008 07:33:17 -0000
After dramatic rises earlier in the week, most European and Asian stock markets give up some ground.
Bank crisis to dominate EU talks
Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:55:52 -0000
EU leaders are to discuss multi-billion-euro rescue plans for Europe's ailing banks at a two-day summit in Brussels.
New York 'faces 165,000 job cuts'
Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:48:49 -0000
New York City could lose 165,000 jobs as a result of the crisis in the financial sector, the city's chief financial officer warns.

NYT > World Business

Bleak Numbers Stoke Fears of Recession in Europe
Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:12:57 -0000
With the financial sector’s problems weighing directly on the broader economy, many economists say Europe is already in recession and will be lucky to get out of it by summer.
Europe and Asia Fail to Sustain Rallies
Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:03:58 -0000
Stocks fell in Europe after a mixed session in Asia as investors began to face the likelihood that dislocations would plague the economy even if bailouts were to succeed.
Despite Big Rally, Grim Outlook on Profits and Jobs
Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:04:07 -0000
A day after the stock market staged one of its biggest rallies in history, investors retreated once again.

 

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Alston Tascom, Inc. - A comprehensive call center database information and network telephony system.
Meta Description: [ IVR services and IVR outsourcing. IVR systems available for ivr hosting of 800# services, IVR marketing research, and 800 number service plus inbound telemarketing services. ]

CCS, Inc. - Software which integrates existing telephone systems with host data to provide features such as screen pops, intelligent routing and auto-dialing.
Meta Description: [ Cothern Computer Systems offers Computer Telephony, Voice, and Conversion services and solutions ]

ChaseData Corporation - Sells predictive dialing systems and call center software for small and medium companies.
Meta Description: [ Predictive Dialers, Telemarketing Software and Autodialers including complete predictive dialer systems with computer telephony integration and call center software by Chase Data Corp. ]

Chrysalis Software - Chysalis focuses on providing custom and packaged solutions which augment the Nortel Call Center product line.
Meta Description: [ Leading provider of custom solutions for contact centers in the areas of IVR, speech applications, voice applications, computer telephony integration, and systems integration. ]

Citel Technologies - Makers of the CITELlink IP and SIP Handset Gateways that bridge legacy Digital and Analog telephone users to IP PBXs, IP Hosted/IP Centrex, and SIP services across multiple vendor platforms such as 3Com, BroadSoft, Mitel Networks, and Sylantro Systems.

Computer Talk Technology - A call center solutions company specializing in server based automatic call distributors (ACD) and interactive voice response (IVR).

Computer Telephony Solutions, Inc. - Offering interactive voice response, intelligent call routing and ACD software.

ComTek International - Design, development, implementation and support of distributed CTI and IVR software solutions.

Cytech Marketing Group, Inc. - PC based automatic and predictive dialers for lead generation and telemarketing.
Meta Description: [ Rebate check processing and rebate check mailing and fulfillment services. Product and literature fulfillment and distribution. ]

Dialogic Corporation - Dialogic designs and manufactures Computer Telephony components for voice FAX, Speech Recognition, IP Telephony, Telephone companies, wireless and Call Center applications
Meta Description: [ Dialogic - IP, Wireless, and Video ]

Dialpro Northwest, Inc. - Providing call center and other CTI products for North American businesses.

E3Net - Specialises in computer telephony solutions software, including voice and data verification and confirmation applicatons.

Eletech Enterprise Co. - Digital recorder that logs up to 64 channels of telephone calls. Record, store and manages telephone conversations.

Emerging Voice Technology, Inc. - Software development company specializing in voice applications development, call center automation and line quality testing.

EPOS Corporation - Interactive Voice Response and Web self service solutions for education, Human Resources, utilities and government.

Genesys Corporation Homepage - Enterprise Interaction Management software. Features open, scalable framework and integrated applications that enable call and contact center solutions for voice, Internet, and email.

404 Interactive Intelligence, Inc. - Computer telephony solutions for enterprises and call centers providing PBX, ACD, IVR and unified messaging functionality.

Interactive Telesis Inc. - Provide IVR services, automated consumer surveys for credit/prepaid calling cards, digital recording and playback services, store/dealer locators, automated shareholder communication.
Meta Description: [ Developing services and solutions that translate your business into advanced technology is what Interactive Telesis does for a living. Offering Live TPV, IVR software, Investor Relations Services, Speech Recognition Technology, and Computer Telephony Integration. Specializing in TPV Third Party... ]

IntraNext Systems - Offering the NextSys range of CTI client and server products.

IP5 Corporation - Computer telephony systems. Call center. VoIP VoATM. UnPBX, NT-PBX. CT software.

ISDN Technologies - Call center predictive dialers.
Meta Description: [ Dialogic and Brooktrout boards by ACE Ststem ]

Java (TM) Telephony API - Sun's JTAPI specifications website. Software provides various call center services.
Meta Description: [ The Java Telephony API (JTAPI) supports telephony call control. It is an extensible API designed to scale for use in a range of domains, from first-party call control in a consumer device to third-party call control in large distributed call centers. ]

Komtel, Inc. - Interactive voice response, web-based reporting applications and services for merchandisers and mystery shoppers.
Meta Description: [ IVR & Web reporting and administrative services for retail Demonstrators, Merchandisers, and Mystery Shoppers. ]

Line4, Inc. - Computer Telephony Integration software solutions for call centers.
Meta Description: [ Line4 Actionsuite CTI call center software solutions increase your agents productivity and increase your profits. ]

MarkeTel Systems - Providing predictive dialers to improve the productivity of outbound call centers.

MASTAR - Answering service software that integrates with DID, digital telephone switches and ISDN, and offers message management, paging and billing.
Meta Description: [ Live operator telephone answering service software and systems does every thing. We supports other caller identification DID,ISDN and telephone hardware systems ]

Maxxar Corporation - Full service provider of computer telephony integration and electronic data access solutions.

500 Micro Delta Corporation - Computer based autodialers for lead generation, emergency notification and school to home telecommunications.
Meta Description: [ IVR, voice recognition and telecommunication systems for voice over ip, autodialer and voice mail capabilties ]

NetCall Telecom - Intelligent telephony services for more efficient customer response, qualification and conversion.
Meta Description: [ We are the leading specialist in callback, auto-messaging and contact solutions. Our solutions enhance our clients businesses by improving their operational efficiency, enhancing their customer's experiences, increasing sales and productivity and improving their employees' morale. ]

Noble Systems Corporation - Offering predictive dialers and intelligent inbound call routing products to support blended call centers.
Meta Description: [ NSC - Provider of predictive dialer software and call center software with ACD systems and IVR systems from Noble Systems Corp. including CTI and CRM software with voice broadcasting. ]

Periphonics - Develops, markets and supports products and professional services for Computer Telephony Integration and Telecom Enhanced Network Services.
Meta Description: [ Nortel is a recognized leader in delivering communications capabilities that enhance the human experience, ignite and power global commerce, and secure and protect the world's most critical information. ]

Quality Call Solutions - QCS, a provider of call/contact center solutions since 1991, offers CTI and IVR products, computer telephony and services.
Meta Description: [ Quality Call Solutions professional team can provide Interactive Voice Response System, Computer Telephony Integration, and Call center customer practice services. ]

SynreVoice Technologies Inc. - Specializes in providing state-of-the-art computer telephone integration (CTI) and automated voice processing systems.

TALX Home Page - Providing services and software including interactive voice response (IVR) and CTI.

Telenet Solutions - Computer Telephony Integration consulting and systems installation specialists.
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U.S. InfoTel - Provides predictive dialing solutions for the call center industry.

Welltech Computer Co., Ltd - Offering CTI products. Located in Taiwan.
Meta Description: [ Welltech provide VOIP equipment include IP PBX , IP Phone ,FXO Gateway, FXS Gateway, SIP Proxy, Billing system ]

Windows to Technology - Solutions for business, telecommunication equipment.
Meta Description: [ Windows to Technology Offers Voice Recording, Voice Logging, Plantronics Headsets, Interalia, GN Netcom Headsets, Unex Headsets, Call Center Headsets For Sale. ]

XTEND Communications - Supply computer telephony integration (CTI) solutions for specialized vertical markets including healthcare, hospitality and public safety. Provides a listing of current distributors and development partners
Meta Description: [ XTEND Communications Corp. Is a Company on the forefront of Computer Telephony Integation (CTI) solutions industry. Xtend provides solutions for markets such as Healthcare, Hospitality, Public Safety, Education, Government and Corporate environments. ]