Finding the Best Business Broadband Internet Connection
By: Jim Green
Submitted: 2010-02-15 13:02:30 | Word Count: 526
In the last decade, many changes have taken place in the telecommunications sector, with increasing focus on the Internet, and as data and voice technologies continued to converge. One of the biggest forces affecting the industry is the increasing number of mergers and acquisitions. Another is the dazzling array of new products and services being introduced on a continuous basis. What is the best way to stay up to date with all the changes? In this article, we investigate and analyze some of these changes and provide ideas that will help in selecting the best business broadband internet service providers.
In recent years, many telecommunications entities have been affected by mergers and acquisitions. A few domestic examples include:
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* The acquisition of US West by Qwest Communications in 1999
* AT&T Inc. taking over BellSouth in 2006
* SBC (Southwestern Bell Corporation) Communications acquired Ameritech in 1999
* The merger of MCI Communications Corporation with Worldcom in 1998
* The merger of GTE with Bell Atlantic to form Verizon in 2000
* SBC acquired AT&T in 2005
* Verizon acquired MCI in 2005
In addition, many new products and services have been offered and continuously enhanced in recent years including:
* Voice over IP services (VoIP) - Beginning in 2004, VoIP services have been available over broadband DSL or business Internet T1 service, without using typical switched telephone services. Three main methods of providing VoIP services are using an analog telepone adapter with an existing analog phone, using dedicated VoIP phones, and using softphone (or software) on a personal computer.
* Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) - SIP is a signaling standard approved in 2000 and now available in software or hardware, as one method of "standard" VoIP service. Many companies provide SIP hardware and services, including both carriers and manufacturers of telephone systems such as Shoretel, Avaya, Nortel, Cisco, Polycom, and Snom.
* Skype - Skype is a proprietary system that delivers VoIP services. Skype provides one of the most accepted VoIP services and uses its own non-standards based method.
* Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) - MPLS is a way to define a protocol-based private network using DSL or business Internet T1 service and without the need for hardware devices at each location. The main advantage is a reduction in the number of points in the network that need to be configured and managed; resulting in less overhead.
The above are just a few examples of the many changes taking place in the telecommunications industry. Choosing the best business high speed internet connection may require some expert advice in order to make the best possible choices for MPLS, VoIP, SIP, business Internet T1 service and many more new technologies. A telecommunications broker that is up to date on latest industry trends can advise on the best services available from many industry souces to meet specific requirements.