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Archive for January, 2011

Breaking The Monopoly With InterLATA

Before the breakup of the AT&T monopoly in 1983, individuals only had one choice for their phone service. Now, new options are available for individuals to employ for local and long distance phone calls. This decreased the total cost of calls. A bit of confusion does still around, however, especially for individuals not comprehend telecom structures. To gain a comprehensive understanding that will assist in phone bill management, it is vital to understand what are a LATA, IntraLATA, and InterLATA.

Local Access and Transport Area is shortened into LATA. It is geographic region transfixed around different markets. LATAs are not defined by area codes or states as some LATAs include more than one state. LATAs are overseen by regional bell operating companies.

Any phone calls made in the LATA boundary are known as IntraLATA calls. Most individuals know them as a local or local toll calls. Due to the wide belief that calls made a close proximity should be less expensive than calls made to farther distances, many phone carriers have IntraLATA calls at a similar price as local phone calls.

InterLATA calls, however, are calls made between two different LATA regions. Most phone companies consider these calls a long distance call. An InterXchange Carrier is required for these phone calls because of the crossing of LATA boundaries.

For individuals making a majority of long distance calls, they should inquire about a cheap IntraLATA package. Prices on interstate phone calls have also decreased. This is, in part, due to the increase of the necessity in the marketplace.

Once an individual is able to identify where a majority of their calls made are going to, they can choose between an IntraLATA or InterLATA phone package. A telecom consultant can be very beneficial in figuring these details out. The package should provide individuals with the ability to make necessary calls at the best price possible.

Gigabit Ethernet Operates At Data Rates Of 1 GBit/sec

Ethernet encompasses a number of technologies which are used in LANs, or local area networks. Originally a 10 MBit/s standard, the speeds of the latest Gigabit Ethernet networks now exceed 1000 MBit/s.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE) are responsible for maintaining the Ethernet standards. The relevant standard (IEEE 802.5) ensures that components from different manufacturers are fully interoperable. For most systems data transmission in the physical media is via either fiber-optic cables, or copper twisted wire pairs. Complete systems also require more complex devices such as hubs, routers and bridges.

IEEE 802.5 systems are one of the most common types of LAN, or local area network, in use today. When the specifications were first developed in 1980 the data transfer rate was only 10 MBits/s. Later enhancements defined Fast Ethernet, which operated at 100 MBit/s, and Gigabit Ethernet, which encompasses all speeds above 1 GBit/s, or 1000 MBit/s.

1 GBit/s and 10 GBit/s systems are already quite widely used in applications. Faster 40 GBit/s and 100 GBit/s technologies are being developed, and the standard specifying these completed the ratification process in June 2010.

In most modern systems the data transmission through the physical media is via either fiber optic cabling, or copper twisted wire pairs. Fiber optics benefit from greater range, higher data rates, and superior immunity to electrical interference. High-performance networks nowadays will often have copper twisted wire forming the connection to each user’s computer, while the main site backbone is implemented in fiber optics.

LAN systems also have other devices, such as hubs, routers and bridges. Although hubs have been largely obsoleted, they may be seen in older systems, and may be still available commercially to support those systems. Newer systems often include more complex devices than hubs, such as bridges and routers. Bridges connect segments together forming a network, while routers are used to connect networks together.

What Is Ethernet Over Copper? Here Is A Quick Introduction

One type of Ethernet WAN connection gaining popularity is Ethernet over copper, more commonly written as EoC. Eoc is able to connect several different business locations to supply these businesses with a dedicated technology to the internet that runs at high speeds. EoC is measured to be extremely beneficial an on-ramp to multiple private cloud networks, including MPLS networks that are national and international.

At present time, EoC is a newer data packet transmission technology that may be obtained through the market. Copper wiring is utilized to transmit data between various computers. This network provides the ability to do this.

High bandwidth plus low prices are the two major benefits offered by EoC. These benefits are the result of the efficiency in technology involved with bandwidth transmission through common copper wiring. EoC is now being carried by many competitive carriers to get a leg up in this new market.

However, there are some disadvantages associated with EoC. There are upgrade limitations and external influence extreme susceptibility. As well, businesses located in small or rural locations are not able to utilize Ethernet over Copper. This is due to the fact that these businesses are not located within close proximity to any Ethernet mainframe.

Interference is another common negative side of EoC. There are several interference forms that can hinder the ability of EoC to function properly. EMPs as well as electromagnetic radiation bursts that occur due to an unexpected fluctuating magnetic field may interfere with the EoC electronic system. The outcome is often voltage surges as well as damaging currents.

While this system of using this type of wiring has been accessible since the twenty-first century, only now it is being recognized for its ability to assist with connection. Now it is being utilized by businesses more than ever. It is a lucrative technology that many businesses do not want to pass up on. EoC provides a quick and reliable network business connection.

Using Different Connections For Your Internet, Including DS3

There are several different ways you can connect to the internet, but the more common ways are DS3, Fiber Optic, and satellite. If you live in a low populated area, lets say 15 miles out of town in the hills or mountains, your choices may be limited as to how you can connect to the web.

Many people don’t have this problem, and all they need to do is call their internet company and ask to get hooked up. Others may need to do some research for the cheapest or fastest connection in their area. The speed of your connection depends on what is available in your area, and what company you go through.

If you live in town and have neighbors, and are possibly in walking distance of town, getting a hookup to the web shouldn’t be difficult. The speed difference of DS3, cable, or a phone line shouldn’t differ too much unless you have several different machines trying to connect on the same line. So if you live in town, the price of your hook up is generally the deciding factor.

If you live out in the hills, perhaps 10 to 15 miles out of town, fiber optics with your phone line might be difficult. Satellite or even the slow moving dial up may be your only choice. Satellite is faster, but it may be more expensive and you most likely have to deal with a contract.

With satellite you have to have a clear view of the sky, and you may have to have to know a certain amount of data you can use. So basically, you are purchasing a chunk of data from the provider you chose. If you decide to use this, it is generally faster than dial up but you need to watch how much data you use.

You have options when it comes to your on line connection, and for most you have choice between DS3, Satellite, and cable. But depending on how much you want, how much money you want to spend, and where you live, you might want to do some research.

The Concept Of DID (Direct Inward Dialing)

Since the time of analog telephony, there has been an economic and technological need to have a means serve multiple customers with limited infrastructure. The DID (Direct Inward Dialing) addresses this requirement very well. It is no surprise that even today this idea is relevant despite all the technological advancements.

The original telephony concept associated dedicated resource to each customer. This meant that every telephone number had a dedicated line from the central office to the customer premise. Thus, any organisation looking to get telephone connection for a set of its employees had to purchase equivalent number of individual lines.

With the advent of the Direct Inward Dialing concept, the need for such individual lines was eliminated. Multiple numbers could not be serviced over a single trunk connecting the enterprise PBX to the central office. In the analog telephony system, there used to be operators that would complete the connections. DID concept eliminated the need for such operators too.

This concept was an economically viable alternative for the customer as well as the service provider. For the customer, this service cost a lot less as compared to getting individual lines. For the service provider this meant that the same infrastructure could be used for multiple telephone numbers.

This concept was so effective that even after the inception of digital telephony, DIDs were in demand. Instead of analog trunks, the numbers were now serviced over ISDN links between the PBX and the central office. In fact, till date many enterprise customers subscribe to PRI services to get DID numbers.

The latest innovation in voice telephony is the VoIP. Even here this concept is relevant and is implemented over the trunk between the central office switch and the communication gateway. The dedicated numbers to the gateway are assigned to individual VoIP phones within the organisation.

Significance Of The Demarcation Point

In the modern telecommunications, the concept of demarc is very important. With the evolution of telecom business, there have been some regulatory and technological changes which have introduced several legal issues. The demark point is a great way to help reduce the problems around service fulfillment and assurance in this regard.

The original telephony networks were homogenous ones with the entire network being designed and owned by the telecom service provider. They manufactured and provided the handset as well as all the connections across the network. With a single party involved network deployment and service assurance, there was no need to define a demark point.

In order to foster competition, there were some regulatory changes that opened up the market. This meant that various equipment could be connected by the customer to the network and multiple ethernet network providers could deliver service on the same last mile. However, if anything failed the incumbent service providers would be questioned. With the introduction of the demarc point, the service provider ownership of the network became well defined and this sorted out lot of legal issues.

The demarc point also meant that customers now had the freedom to design and develop their internal networks. Since the service provider did not own anything on the other side of the demark point, customers could design it in a manner that suited them the most. This was an important development for customers too.

The original demarc points were mainly to define the network ownerships. With time, various countries have redefined the concept to suit the local challenges. In the US, this is Network Interface Device which is owned and maintained by the service provider. The same thing in UK is a simple jack that terminates at customer premise.

Thus, the demark is a very useful concept in telephony. Various countries define it is slightly different manner, but the main idea is to define the ownership in case of network failure. This concept has helped to smoothen the transactions in master agent telecom business.

How To Choose Your Cloud Computing Providers?

One of the latest buzz words is the cloud computing. There are many cloud computing providers that have come up offering great services. As a small business it makes a lot of sense to opt for this kind of computing, but choosing the right solution is critical to get the best results.

The first step in making the choice is to understand the options available. In case of cloud computing there are three alternatives, namely Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Deepening on the business requirements one of these could be the ideal solution.

The SaaS is a kind of solution where the entire software program is available on the cloud. What this means is that instead of paying for license and setting up the solution on the computer, it can be accessed online through browser. If you have a solution, that serves the exact business needs, SaaS is a great alternative.

If your business has specific needs, but cannot justify the investment in infrastructure to support it, then IaaS is a good solution. With IaaS, instead of installing and maintaining the infrastructure one can lease it at low rates. The desired solution can then be built on this infrastructure.

The final solution is PaaS. This is quite similar to IaaS, with the difference being that one can lease the platform rather than raw hardware. There are many benefits of using PaaS, as it removes the dependency on hardware patching and other low level maintenance work. With PaaS, one can focus plainly on software development and deployment.

In summary, cloud computing is a great concept; especially for small businesses looking to make it big. With limited investment, one can enjoy benefits and resources similar to the larger organisations. With a host of options available, a well thought out solution can serve the business very well.

Introduction To Cloud Computing Provider Choices

Selecting a cloud computing provider is not something to be done lightly, because it virtually eliminates the company’s IT infrastructure and puts everything on a cloud. If there’s a problem afterwards, the company’s business is bound to suffer and someone will have to pay for it. It is therefore a critical decision, and only one of the most reliable providers can be chosen.

Reliability apart, other important considerations include cost, security and performance. The cost factor is the one which usually tips the scales, because the main consideration in eliminating the IT setup and staff is the cost saving. Pricing mechanisms are normally metered like utilities, so the company will pay only what resources it actually uses.

Another major factor is performance, which can vary because the data and resources are accessed by the company’s employees via the internet. So providers nearer the company’s head office are likely to offer better performance. On the other hand, one of the main benefits of being on the cloud is that all data and applications can be accessed from anywhere on a simple web browser.

Also important is the relative strength of the SLA and QoS agreements of different providers, because nobody is going to put everything on a data center without being assured of reliable access. The minute difference between 100% uptime and 99.9% uptime can be a cause for a big hit on the bottomline. This sector is still in its infancy and many providers and customers are still learning the ropes, so it is even more important to make absolutely sure there won’t be any unforeseen problems.

Of all the angles to be considered, the most critical one is the security aspect. While it’s the providers who have to ensure the integrity and safety of data, there are things the customer can and has to do. These things include using extra firewalls for applications and maybe even the use of encryption.

Any company, regardless of its size, will consider a move to a cloud computing provider a major issue. It links the company’s future to that of the provider in multiple ways. The cost savings are a big issue for the present. For the future, it is essential that providers be able to keep up with the fast pace of technological innovations. Whether they are able to do so or not will determine the company’s fate and its ability to compete on an even playing field.

Introduction To Cloud Computing Basics

After the internet & email, it is now time for cloud computing to take its turn in revolutionizing the world all over again. Libraries are filling up with books, and experts are offering all sorts of explanations to make it simpler to understand. The simplest thing that can be said is that it is the process of accessing applications, data and resources on demand over the internet.

The way it works is somewhat similar to consumers using utilities, like power consumption on an electric grid. In this case, users access whatever they need through a browser. The billing, similar to utility billing, is based on usage.

Everything is stored in data centers managed by specific providers, with each data center capable of handling the resource needs of several clients at the same time. The advantage for the clients is that they don’t have to maintain their own IT infrastructure. Existing infrastructure can be dismantled and the IT staff downsized accordingly.

While this results in considerable savings, there is an even bigger advantage because moving to the cloud provides the company with access to the data center’s massive computing capabilities. The company doesn’t have to pay for the whole thing and only pays for resources it actually needs. Best part is that this expansion or reduction of capability does not require the company to pay for an upgrade or maintain excess capacity.

Conversely, it is the providers who need deep pockets to maintain the massive infrastructure and retain the tech capability to handle customer resource requests on such big levels. It goes without saying that the provider needs to guarantee certain levels of security, performance and reliability. But it doesn’t always have to be either on or off the cloud for consumers and can be done partially too.

For instance, some specific functions or IT requirements can be done using a service provided via the internet by a third party. This can in the form IaaS or SaaS or Software as a Service where hosted applications can be run by customers in a browser. It could just as well be a platform as a service, where the third party provides the development environment online.

Looking Back At The Central Office

A central office is a building where phone calls are connected from one place to another. Without them, communication with much of the outside world would not be possible, at least by phone anyway. With a network of these buildings across the world, we can contact virtually anyone.

To connect one person to another, a telephone switch is used. This is, in a sense, a set of plugs and slots that connect one person’s phone line to another. These plugs and outlets are built into what’s called a switchboard and it’s used to provide service for a large number of people. The switchboards are kept at a single place for each area, which is called the central office. Any phone connected to this building is first linked here when the phone is off the hook. After entering the phone number, the switchboard connects the caller to the callee through a set wires placed in the corresponding slot. The process is very fast today, but took much longer in the past.

Back in 1878, one the first telephone switches, which was capable of 2 conversations simultaneously was built. Other switches appeared in London, Manchester, Berlin and Antwerp over the next five years. A switchboard containing over a hundred telephone switches by the early 1900′s. The switchboard was monitored by an operator who processed calls as they came in. When a caller used their phone, they would speak with the operator, who plugged them into the outlet of the person the wanted to talk to. Sometimes, a caller wanted to contact someone not on the same switchboard or even long distance. In these cases, the operator connected them to another operator, who continued a chain of connections until the two people were linked. Such calls could take upwards of 15 minutes or more to complete.

The “stepping switch” system was built in 1891. This became the basis for later automatic systems. Among these was a switchboard with an ability called the “linefinder”, a function that could connect a subscriber to an available phone line. When this happened, the dial tone would sound on the phone. The act of dialing generated a pulse that the system recognized as certain numbers and connected the person. The advent of the ANI (Automatic Number Identification) feature allowed for new advances, such as billing for long distance, toll free 800 numbers, and emergency 9-1-1 calls.

Electromechanical switches eventually replaced the older models. It used a series of voltages for signaling the correct switches. Because it needed less time to recognize dialed numbers, these switchboards were much more effective that previous switchboards. These too were replaced by the Electronic switch. Analog signals were digitized then interlinks them by sending signal to the right place. Electronic switches had an electrically activated switch, called a relay, with an electromagnet that controlled it. The whole thing was run by a “Stored Program Control”, a computer program that provided a number of new features.

A more recent system is the digital switch. This joins callers by connecting several digital circuits together as needed. The switchboard employs the Signaling System 7 protocol, a type of program that connects calls and provides many calling features we now enjoy. Even though calls are connected very differently from the way they used to be, the core component has been constant, and that is the central office itself. They are still used to this day to deliver phone calls world wide.