Telecom Reseller / Technology Reseller News

“This is fraught with legal dangers,” says James Junkin, the President at Mariner-Gulf Consulting and Services and a Veriforce master trainer. Junkin stresses the unprecedented nature of a crises where, even within a single state, there might currently be conflicting mandates and directives. Organizations with operations across city, county, and state lines might be confronted with a set of variables that are then made even more complex by whether or which part of a company’s operations face the public rules regarding indoor and outdoor work and so on. In this podcast, Junkin first urges listeners to seek out competent legal advice. Next Junkin stresses the need to communicate, to be transparent with employees and to lead by example. While employers and managers may face mandates, Junkin urges a lighter touch as a better means to help employees make good decisions for themselves, their families, their fellow workers, the public and the organizations they serve. Junkin urges corporate leadership to communicate often and honestly. With a fluid changing situation, workers need to know why things have changed and need to understand how expectations are being set. Junkin urges a “give and take” position that stresses listening and accommodation where possible and through understanding that fair treatment is not necessarily the same treatment of each person and situation. This podcast contains vital information and advice for everyone who owns a company, manages an organization, heads up a team or plays the role of mentor or example maker within a team. “Just talk to each other as people,” says Junkin, urging company leaders to take a personal and involved approach to their team members as individuals.

Visit https://veriforce.com/ and https://marinergulf.com/

“Crushed,” is one of the words Michael Rothchild offers to describe the margins that cloud communications companies face as they sell their services, especially regarding voice. The race to the bottom of pricing on these very commodified services has created an opening for a new relative newcomer, RouteTrust, to offer the market an updated approach. “For us it’s the creation of a vision, the recognition that the status quo was no longer acceptable, we’ve been able to put our thought in to action by creating the RouteTrust platform,” says Rothchild. In this podcast we learn how the company has created a unique platform that takes into consideration a much wider approach than what has come before. Rothchild discusses how smart automation has been deployed to narrow, combine, and streamline separate time and labor consuming functions. Even though the company did not initially set out to find enterprise customers, companies have been finding, switching, and sticking with RouteTrust as they experience gains from having more functions occur under on roof. Rothchild outlines how the company’s founding DNA is based on the idea of customer driven technology.

Visit www.routetrust.com

With the departure of Panasonic from the UC field, Snom sees a future of enabling many people in the UC channel to make the successful migration from traditional reseller to cloud service provider. In this podcast, Chris Trittin, Account Manager of Cloud Service Providers, and Simon Bradbrook, Sales Engineer, both from Snom, discuss how Snom is offering companies that historically sold Panasonic, as well as other products, a fully integrated cloud approach that matches the needs of the customers that now need to be migrated from traditional approaches to something new. We learn about how Snom removes barriers to UC adoption and how the company helps its partners close more deals in the SMB and enterprise space. The Snom DECT soltion specifically fits well with places currently served by Panasonic TGP600. Tritton and Bradbrook take us through how Snom’s products deliver the functionality that legacy customers are used to while offering entrance to updated features most businesses need. Advanced replacement warranties, North American based support, and a team who understand channel promises, makes Snom’s partner base the logical heirs to an immense migration opportunity as 1.5 million SMBs cycle out of their reliable, but tired on-prem systems to cloud UC. “Every single telecom reseller can become a service provider,” says Chris Trittin, noting the unlimited opportunity that’s available for companies prepared to make the migration journey.

Visit www.snom.com

Communications Service Providers (CSP) are constantly being attacked by Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) evil forces. NEXUSGARD protects carriers, government, enterprise, and gaming organizations from these very destructive and costly internet attackers.

Andy Ng

Andy Ng, CEO of NEXUSGUARD, explains to Don Witt of The Channel Daily News, a TR publication, how they protect the carrier’s call infrastructure as well as help them productize the NEXUSGUARD DDoS solution for sale to the CSP’s customers. DDoS attacks may be the result of:

Unfriendly competition

Disgruntled employees

Political activism

The DDoS attacks are now shifting from the target itself to entire CSP spaces the target is using. NEXUSGUARD helps CSPs transition to the MSP profile where higher margin products can be sold to their current base such as DDoS protection services.

Nexusguard is focused on developing and providing the best cybersecurity solution for every client across a range of industries with specific business and technical requirements. Nexusguard also enables communication service providers to deliver DDoS protection solution as a service. Nexusguard delivers on its promise to provide you with peace of mind by countering threats and ensuring maximum uptime.

For more information, go to: https://www.nexusguard.com/

Nexusguard's meeting room at ITW

Branded Meeting Room 1002, Onsite exhibition hall

13:00 - 13:45 Leaders in Discussion: DDoS Challenges and Cybersecurity Strategies for Carriers, Woodrow Wilson A @ITW - Sep 1

Carriers and ISPs are undergoing a tectonic shift transforming from traditional models delivering data connectivity to becoming technology enablers. The ability to protect their core network and customers  from DDoS attacks is critical to their success. What cybersecurity challenges do they face? Why should carriers and service providers deliver managed security services?

Panellists:

Max Rottgermann, Senior Product Manager IP Transit & DDoS Defence, Deutsche Telekom Global Carrier

Avi Freedman, CEO & Co-Founder, Kentik

Xenophon Giannis, VP of Sales, Nexusguard

As of June 30th, carriers were required to have STIR/SHAKEN installed and operational to eliminate the robocall problem from mobile and stationary phones. The process has started, but it has not been completely installed across the board. Mike Tindall, Co-Founder and Chief Architect of thinQ explains to Don Witt of The Channel Daily News, what STIR/SHAKEN is and what it is trying to solve. He goes on to explain the current status of the STIR/SHAKEN implementation.

Michael Tindall

The goal of thinQ is to off load the STIR/SHAKEN installation requirements from the carriers and give them peace of mind that the installation will be done properly and meet all of the requirements for the government.

There are several phases of implementation. Phase one ended on June 30th. Now we are in phase two where carriers and MSPs can continue with their installations which may have only been partially implemented prior to June 30th.

To make the carriers aware of the requirements and to educate the public as well as telecommunication engineers around the world, thinQ created a 3-part webinar series about STIR/SHAKEN. Having listened to part-1, I can tell you that it is worth your time if you are involved with the STIR/SHAKEN implementation.

For more information, go to: https://www.thinq.com/  or  https://www.thinq.com/blog/thinq-stir-shaken-compliance/

I highly suggest registering for the next two webinars below:

STIR/SHAKEN is Live: What to Expect Going Forward

Ensure Your Company’s Compliance –

Join Our 3-Part Webinar Series for the Latest Updates

Part - 1:  https://www.thinq.com/blog/stir-shaken-is-live-what-to-expect-going-forward/

Part - 2: Wednesday, September 1, 2PM ET (11AM PT) Register Now

Part - 3: Wednesday, September 15, 2PM ET (11AM PT) Register Now

CoreDial Introduces New “Max” Channel Program to Meet Growing Partner Demand

“The whole reason we exist is to help the channel to succeed,” says Alan Rihm of CoreDial. This week, CoreDial launched a new program that straddles the usual option of either being an agent, selling another company’s product, and going white label. CoreDial Max is a retail channel program geared for a specific type of partner who is seeking something different to define their approach. The program is cobranded, permitting the partner to assert their own brand, and encourage them to build a close relationship as the “trusted advisor”. According to Rihm, CoreDial takes on the daunting and often more expensive administrative tasks, such as billing. The program also offers a Device-as-a-Service option, allowing for a more contemporary approach to customizing deals for customers. Critical video and collaboration or contact center services are also a key part of the picture. In this podcast, we learn about this program and how CoreDial sees this as an excellent fit for many of their partners. We learn that the program emerged from close attention to channel companies describing their evolving challenges. Rihm reports that the new program improves channel margins.

Visit www.coredial.com

“It’s more about being distinctive,” says Mark Roberts, Chief Marketing Officer of TPx. Surveying a crowded, competitive market, filled with look-a-like services, Roberts notes that many products can “be gotten anywhere.” According to Roberts, it’s the people, the level of expertise, the availability of certified people, team members with direct experience, the quality of advice and the level of trust. These human assets make the difference with what Roberts describes as a service wrapper. In this podcast, Roberts discusses the urgent need to offer distinctiveness along with a stepped-up security posture. Roberts discusses how we have left the “HQ fortress” for a distributed model, and with that model a bewildering array of new risks. We discuss new and emerging challenges, the way the hybrid approach to work challenges old assumptions and how to mitigate current threats. We learn about the advantages of outsourcing security issues, with the benefits of gaining from a broader set of experiences and preparedness for a wider range of scenarios. Roberts makes the case for TPx as a very strong choice in meeting these challenges. “You want to make sure that you’ve got it right,” adds Roberts. In an environment where once stable key team members may have simply, and suddenly, moved on, TPx has distinguished itself by delivering a predictable service people can trust and rely upon.

Visit www.tpx.com

TelcoBridges, YouMail host a webinar on the STIR/SHAKEN gap

“STIR/SHAKEN doesn’t know the intent of the caller,” says Alan Percy is the Chief Marketing Officer at TelcoBridges. According to Percy, “The piece that’s missing is knowing the intent of the caller, the pattern of the caller, and then dealing with a fraudulent caller. Knowing what to do with it.” And that, says Percy, has to do with analytics. In this podcast we learn how TelcoBridges and YouMail have teamed up to cover what Percy describes as the last step in putting together an illegal robocall strategy. YouMail comes to the table with direct experience in protecting consumers, specific classes of companies and carriers from robocall abuse.

Americans have received over 30 billion robocalls so far this year, averaging roughly 4.3 billion robocalls calls/month, and continuing on a pace to hit well over 50 billion robocalls for the year. These latest monthly figures are provided by YouMail, a free robocall blocking app and call protection service for mobile phones.

“We use AI and machine learning to evaluate…” the voice traffic of YouMail customers, says Gerry Christensen, VP of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at YouMail. Christensen describes how this process enables YouMail to mitigate actions from bad actors, even when those parties try to slip under the radar by making ultra-limited use of each number, while spreading their calls over thousands of numbers. Anyone still wondering why even the largest and most storied names in the carrier and service provider world are still seeing their customers endure illegal robocalling, will want to hear this discussion and learn about a partnership that offers a real time solution.

Visit www.telcobridges.com and www.youmail.com

Adam Day, Vice President, Head of Enterprise and Technology Sales in Americas with Telstra discusses with Don Witt, of The Channel Daily News, a TR publication, the key differentiating characteristics of Telstra for potential partners and agents that may be interested in expanding their reach. Asia-Pacific is a rapidly growing marketplace and Telstra carries 30% of the traffic there on any given day. There are many well-established countries with others investing in their infrastructure and already seeing expansion of their middle class based on new businesses.

Adam Day

While Telstra has an expansive and dense infrastructure throughout the Asia-Pacific market, it is not their biggest differentiator. They have feet on the ground in 20 plus countries that know the laws, regulations and licensing required to get things done. They can help get companies entering the market set up and established quickly. They should be looked at as an extension of a U.S. based domestic team in Asia-Pacific which can include the acquisition of hardware and infrastructure in the region.

Telstra looks to the digital transformation of many companies for new growth in the U.S. and the rest of the world. Telstra holds unique positions in capital markets as well as global media networks.

Telstra is Australia’s leading telecommunications and technology company, offering a full range of communications services and competing in all telecommunications markets. In Australia they provide 18.8 million retail mobile services, 3.8 million retail fixed bundles and standalone data services and 960,000 retail fixed standalone voice services.

They believe it’s people who give purpose to their technology. That's why their purpose is to build a connected future so everyone can thrive. That’s why they build technology and content solutions that are simple and easy to use, including Australia’s largest and fastest national mobile network.

For more information, go to: https://www.telstra.com/americas

Having a presence in the United States for the last 25 years, Telstra is very familiar with the U.S, Market. However, the shift in markets and manufacturing sources has enabled Telstra to provide key advantages to enterprise networks based on their owned subsea cabling in Asia and Australia.

Adam Day

Adam Day, Vice President, Head of Enterprise and Technology Sales in Americas with Telstra discusses with Don Witt, of The Channel Daily News, a TR publication, their network and their expansion into Canada embracing the entire North American market. Big bandwidth technology companies, gaming technology along with financial markets currently utilize Telstra as part of their infrastructure to take advantage of their #1 low latency and fast access to the Asia-Pac market as well as Telstra services around the world.

It is not just about their expansive network.   It is also about their channel which is totally, 100% agnostic supporting both direct and indirect sales partners. Listen in as this is a very interesting part of the conversation.

Telstra is a leading telecommunications and technology company with a proudly Australian heritage and a longstanding, growing international business. They have been operating in the Americas for over 25 years under the Telstra Enterprise division, which provides data and IP transit, internet connectivity, network application services such as unified communications and cloud, and managed services to over 500 businesses in 160 cities in the region. Their products and services are supported by one of the largest fiber optic submarine cable systems reaching Asia-Pacific and beyond, with licenses in Asia, Europe and the Americas, and access to more than 2,000 points-of-presence around the world.

For more information, go to: https://www.telstra.com/americas