By Susan J. Campbell, TMCnet Contributing Editor

Managed voice services are gaining in popularity for non-profits and commercial organizations alike as the benefits associated with this approach to communications are easily quantifiable. Master agent TBI’s carrier Level 3 recently signed a joint deal with Internet2 and Aastra (News - Alert) to deliver such services to college campuses throughout the U.S.

According to this Channel Partners Online piece, the first two schools to benefit from this master agent partnership are Texas-based Texas A&M University and Tulane University of New Orleans. Internet2’s Voice in the Cloud SIP Trunking and hosted VoIP PBX (News - Alert) will eliminate the need for millions in capital expenses for the creation of a private communications network housed on campus. 

As a master agent, Level 3 is working with Aastra and Internet2 to ensure supported institutions receive carrier-grade service at a price well below in-house communication costs. The solution is based on industry-standard SIP protocols and is designed to provide the flexibility and control necessary over the administration of Unified Communications (News - Alert) (UC) services, while empowering institutions to customize their own solution. 

The Clearspan solution offered by Aastra serves as a VoIP network platform to deliver the UC accessibility for those institutions needing high-capacity, mission-critical performance. According to Aastra, this solution delivers high class PBX-like services combined with a rich set of enhanced capabilities such as interactive voice response, fixed mobile convergence, unified messaging, contact center applications, and business conferencing.

With Clearspan, employees can make and receive calls from any device, at any location and with just one phone number. They will also enjoy one dial plan, a single voice mailbox and a set of features unified for ease-of-use. 

"This arrangement builds on a successful and long-standing relationship between Level 3 and Internet2, and adding SIP services to the network infrastructure we already deliver is a result of that," stated Edward Morche, Level 3 senior vice president of government markets.

He added, "Because of our end-to-end IP network – not a hybrid TDM/VoIP network like other providers – as well as our leadership in delivering VoIP, Internet2 will be able to converge voice and data on a single network, creating tangible network and operational expense savings while laying a foundation for next generation communication and collaboration tools." 

Level 3 will deliver SIP-based services, including local trunks, long distance trunks, conference bridges and any other needed services. With this capacity, Internet2 will have the ability to provide the reliability that member institutions demand on a large scale for optimal communications.


Edited by Jamie Epstein