XO Communications announced several significant enhancements to IP services offerings, including the launch of XO IP Flex, the nationwide availability of XO SIP, and the introduction of a bandwidth-based pricing offering for converged IP services. Highlights of the announcement include:
Bandwidth-based Pricing-- XO Communications claims to be the first major nationwide service provider to offer a pricing concept for converged IP services that eliminates pricing based on the number of voice lines. Unlike other approaches to IP pricing that still are based on traditional TDM services pricing models, XO's bandwidth-based pricing acknowledges that voice is simply another application on the IP port and offers rates based on the size of the port, not on the number of voice lines. Customers simply select an IP port speed from 1.5 to 45 Mbps, a calling plan and any additional features. Because voice is just another application on the IP port, customers pay nothing for incremental lines or voice channels provisioned within the port speed they have with their service. XO is offering this bandwidth-based pricing with its XO IP Flex, XO IP Flex with VPN and XO SIP services.
XO IP Flex --a new converged IP services bundle that upgrades and replaces XOptions Flex, XO's VoIP services bundle. XO IP Flex extends XO's VoIP services to larger business customers by offering new higher-speed bandwidth options including 4.5 Mbps and 10 Mbps, leveraging XO's robust Ethernet capabilities.
XO SIP Nationwide Launch -- the service delivers converged voice and data services to businesses with IP-PBX systems over a single, high-speed IP connection. SIP uses a native IP-based facility to manage all traffic between a customer's IP-PBX system, the XO IP network, and the Public Switched Telephone Network. XO SIP features include:
- Dedicated Internet Access with Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation
- Unlimited local calling
- Unlimited site-to-site calling for multi-location customers with IP Flex, IP Flex with VPN and XO SIP locations
- Long distance calling with choice of calling plans
- Optional Voice Compression
- Online Feature Management through the XO Business Center
XO SIP is currently interoperable with Avaya IP Office, Cisco Call Manager, Cisco Call Manager Express and Digium Asterisk Appliance. XO SIP also utilizes the BroadSoft BroadWorks VoIP platform to provide customers additional advanced IP-PBX features, including auto attendant, call center and voice VPN.http://www.xo.com
