Telephony giants like AT&T, Verizon and Qwest have morphed from phone companies to carrier class IP networks — thanks to advances in telco hardware and tandem and carrier switch technology. They provide business customers with IP carrier turnkey system products to meet both wireline and wireless needs.

Carrier class IP telephony networks bundle their services into one package at a discount. The more carrier class IP services you sign up for, the lower the cost. And no matter how many services you have, they are all totaled onto one bill — which means less paperwork.

VPNs (virtual private networks), voIP, and high-speed Internet are the most common services these carrier IP networks provide. Consider the following when comparing IP carrier class networks to determine which one can best suit the needs of your business:

1. Which products are the carrier class IP networks providing?

2. Which IP carrier network company will best analyze your business needs?

3. Which of the carrier class IP telephony networks has an adequate IP network backbone?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Familiarize yourself with the variety of products offered today by carrier class IP networks

Most business owners are familiar with voIP and broadband Internet, however there are a host of additional services that fall under the IP carrier class umbrella.

I recommend: Sprint and Time Warner Cable Business Class both provide a wide array of IP carrier network services. Everything from VPN to integrated network connection service is handled by these carrier class IP telephony networks. Whether via phone or PC, wireless or wireline, IP carrier networks offer a multitude of technologies to meet your communication needs.

Select which of the carrier class IP telephony networks can best analyze the needs of your business

Carrier class IP telephony networks offer their expertise to maximize your business potential utilizing IP technologies. They will work to ensure your end result is an IP carrier turnkey system that is user friendly.

I recommend: The AT&T Consulting Essentials program identifies IP solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. Their analysis takes into accounts critical factors such as security, compliance and even business continuity planning. Verizon Business has an equally compelling program that makes the two IP carrier network companies worth comparing.

Consider the IP network backbone before settling on one of the IP carrier class networks

In recent years IP carrier class networks have invested a lot of money into their IP network backbone to increase network capacity, expand their bandwidths and enlarge their coverage areas. Some network coverage areas are more expansive than others, so it is important to be aware of exactly where each IP carrier class network has a presence.

I recommend: Study the network maps of the carrier class IP telephony networks to determine which coverage area is best for your business. The Qwest iQ networking map shows how the company has expanded its local presence into key U.S. metro markets, and FairPoint Communications serves less densely populated areas of the country. Compare and see which one is the right size for you.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Your business may not require the multitude of services available from the larger IP carrier class networks. Consider signing up with a smaller provider if this is the case -- they can often hook you up with a single IP service such as voIP if that is all you really need.