AT&T Archives | AmCom Solutions

The Pains of Ordering AT&T Circuits

admin — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 08:30:31 +0000

A Little History

The internet has been connecting government entities since its official birthday was declared on January 1, 1983. Below is a model of an IT department using a UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) that was delivered to the Bureau of the Census in 1951. It weighed some 16,000 pounds, used 5,000 vacuum tubes, and could perform about 1,000 calculations per second.[1] Forty-six (46) UNIVACs were installed, not only for federal agencies but also for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (see the mainframe component of UNIVAC I below). It was the first American commercial computer, as well as the first computer designed for business use.

Credit: National Museum of American History ID #1984.3073.01 Smithsonian Image 73-03061.

Credit: National Museum of American History ID #1984.3073.01 Smithsonian Image 73-03061. A UNIVAC I console.

Looking back, this was a completely new way of life, a digital era, sharing files through Transfer Control Protocol/Internetwork Protocol (TCP/IP). Imagine not having to use the Postal Service or delivery service to receive those monthly reports and proposals, not to mention the IT department’s physical space requirements.

The Transfer of Data

In 1989 the first commercial Internet Service Providers (ISPs) created “The World”. Because internet was only used for government purposes at the time, it was banned by the National Science Foundation (NSF) until 1991 when the ban was removed. In 1994 the NSF took control of the internet again. They commissioned four private companies to build access points located in San Francisco, Washington DC, Chicago, and New Jersey. These access points were controlled by WorldCom, Pacific Bell, Sprint, and Ameritech, the first real commercial ISPs.

Businesses as well as consumers were now able to connect their PC to the internet using a modem. For those who were not born yet, the sound of a modem is something you will never forget…a high pitch screeching sound like fingernails scratching down on a chalkboard. AOL Online, CompuServe, and Earthlink were the first gateways used with a modem to connect to the internet. The average monthly base cost was about $17.50 with an additional charge of $3 – $4 per hour for the time you were connected.[2] Remember, this was when computers were VERY slow and internet speed was approximately 10 kbit/s (we thought everything was fast back then!). It was not uncommon for monthly business internet bills to run in the thousands while sending/receiving data at the speed of a snail.

Present Day Internet

There is MUCH more history of the internet between 1994 -2022, but for this article, we will provide the Reader’s Digest version. In 2002, there were approximately 7,000 ISPs from which consumers and businesses could choose internet service. Some of these ISPs began replacing their copper networks with fiber optics. In 2017, through a plethora of consolidations, mergers, acquisitions, and bankruptcies, most parts of the country were controlled by a duopoly: Comcast and AT&T. Today, many governmental entities and businesses still only have one to as little as three ISPs that they can choose from including fixed wireless and satellite connectivity. For those in rural areas, many have Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) and hosted voice (VoIP) at speeds ranging from 10 MB to 100+ GB with pricing ridiculously low. Internet has become a commodity. Below is a timeline showing internet speeds from 1990 with average speed projections through 2050.

Global average Internet connection speed, 1990 to the present day (wired connections, excluding mobile, logarithmic scale), with a future predicted trend to 2050.

The AT&T Pains

For many businesses and governmental entities, working with a corporate giant such as AT&T can be very painful, emotionally speaking. It is difficult to get a representative on the phone to order or upgrade service, account managers change like the wind, and the installation process can be a nightmare if not followed and followed up on properly. Below is a basic process flow for ordering internet from AT&T.

The average timeframe from the quote to the first bill is approximately 60 days. If the process is not followed properly, a circuit order that’s halfway through the installation process can get canceled due to a lack of monitoring and follow-up. Many issues can occur during the order and installation process that can trigger early billing and stall the internet turn-up timeframe, for as long as one year or more!

The Solution

Many entities use internet Solution Providers (SPs) such as AmCom Solutions for multiple reasons:

SPs are not resellers, so they provide governmental entities with AT&T pricing and no fee for their professional service as they are essentially an extension of AT&T’s sales.
They have inside contacts to make the order and installation process as smooth as possible.
Some SPs have access to (or know how to access) AT&T’s back office platforms, enabling them to generate contracts, submit orders, manage the provisioning process, and review the first bill for accuracy. Be sure the SP has AT&T back office capabilities and access to AT&T systems. Some SPs place the internet order, submits it to AT&T and leaves it up to the governmental agency to navigate through the mess. NOTE: AmCom is one of the few SPs that have full AT&T back office capabilities.
After the internet service is complete, the governmental entity remains the customer of record with AT&T for all in-field technical support and future billing.

So why aren’t more governmental agencies and businesses using SPs to make their work life so much easier? There are a few reasons:

There is a myth that Solution Providers “secretly” markup the internet pricing. This is far from the truth and as a matter of fact, it is incorrect. As a certified Solution Provider, AT&T prohibits the reselling (markup and/or private billing) of circuits unless the company is an official reseller. Using a reseller means that all invoices and service calls are billed and managed (post-installation) by the reseller. On the other hand, Solution Providers must provide AT&T pricing with no markups or fees.
Many IT departments feel the need to fully manage the installation process themselves. They seldom know that there is an option that allows them to get crucial assistance for free and find themselves asking “what’s the catch?”. There is no catch. A proven Solution Provider just makes the IT job easier when it comes to ordering internet circuits. They are paid on commission, just like AT&T’s in-house sales executives except without the overhead.
They believe that they should work directly with AT&T account managers with the notion that they will receive better support directly from AT&T. This is no longer the case as AT&T has downsized and restructured, resulting in continuous turnover and no long-term relationships.

An example of working with a Solution Provider, specifically AmCom Solutions, is the City of Seguin, TX. The City received ARPA grant funding for a telecom infrastructure refresh and e-911, a mandated requirement. The City was set to move away from its legacy AT&T circuits due to many years of unsatisfactory support, countless account representative changes, and horrendous communication from a business partner (AT&T) providing a critical service. Due to those frustrations, they were 100% prepared to move the City to SIP trunks just to avoid continuing business with AT&T. AmCom had just joined TAGITM and was introduced to the City. After learning about AmCom’s AT&T experience and dedication, the City decided to give AT&T another chance by using a Solution Provider.

“Trust is a big thing in my world. I do not have the time or patience to deal with corporate incompetence. AT&T has completely failed to deliver for my organization and seemingly many of my peers in local government. I did an AT&T audit in my previous role, and here in Seguin. Both of them added up to $20k+ in savings annually in perpetuity because of the failures in terminating unneeded assets. Failed disconnects and the subsequent billing errors add up,” said Shane McDaniel, Director – IT, City of Seguin, TX. “Good luck getting your AT&T account rep to do the right thing and help lead you through the process of sorting out issues. The process was made so much easier by using a Solution Provider and returning some semblance of faith in AT&T. Thanks to AmCom, and only because of the relationships established with our new business partner, did we extend our dealings with AT&T. I am personally thankful to have crossed paths with AmCom…it’s been a good partnership and I’m a fan of the service they provide. I cannot thank the AmCom team enough for what they do.”

———————–

Scott Fairbairn is the Founder and President of AmCom Solutions, headquartered in Austin, TX. The company has been an AT&T Solution Provider since 2006. Scott has over 30 years of leading and managing outside sales and channel development. He is a graduate of Auburn University with a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement with minors in Sociology and Political Science. He’s also a graduate of the FBI Citizens Academy and served as President of the FBI’s Capital of Texas InfraGard chapter.

Shane “El Jefe” McDaniel is the Director of IT for the City of Seguin with 27 years of experience across numerous IT disciplines. His technology career began in 1996 through an enlistment in the Air Force supporting military intelligence and reconnaissance. Mr. McDaniel is a published author with a B.S. and M.S. in Information Technology and holds CGCIO, PMP, CISM, ITIL, and CompTIA certifications.

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[1] University System of Georgia

[2] secjuice: “A Short History Of Internet Access & Internet Service Providers (ISP’s)”, December 9, 2018

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Technology For Businesses Newsletter – 3Q 2021 Edition

admin — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 13:01:35 +0000

NEWSLETTER:
Technology For Businesses

3Q 2021

WELCOMEWelcome to AmCom Solutions’ newsletter, dedicated to businesses in an ever changing world of technology. AmCom helps companies with their technology needs. There are no fees for our services as we are an extension of the carrier/technology provider’s sales and back-end support. We hope you find this monthly newsletter informative and beneficial. If you have any questions or need assistance with your technology needs, feel free to contact us at (512) 342-2226 x104.

Best regards,
Scott Fairbairn, President

INTERNET

Concerned about environmental sustainability? Fiber optic internet service is your best option

Fiber optic, a type of internet service that uses glass or plastic to transfer data as light signals, has received a lot of attention recently because of its superior speeds and reliability and its ability to be applied to other areas besides internet service, such as to 5G deployment or a smart grid system. However, a less-talked about benefit of fiber optic is its limited impact on the environment compared to other internet types… [Continue Reading]

PROMOTIONS

Several carriers have limited-time promotions! If you have a need for any of the promotional services below, please contact us and we will get you started with the carrier promotion*.

As always, there are no fees for our professional services as we are an extension of the carriers’ sales & back office team.

AT&T Has 2 Great Promotions!
Reduced Business Internet Pricing
GigE Nationwide with Dedicated Internet

100M Unmanaged – $786.00; 100M Managed – $806.00
150M Unmanaged – $826.00; 150M Managed – $846.00
500M Unmanaged – $1380.00; 500M Managed – $1487.00
1G+ – Call for promotional pricing

Free 30-day Trial: Managed Vulnerability Program
The 30-day Managed Vulnerability Program trial includes:

Unlimited Scans
Asset Management identification (devices connected to the network)
Threat / Risk Prioritization
Patch / Config Management
PCI compliance
And more!

Frontier Dedicated Internet Access + Managed Router:
Add Managed Router to Frontier DIA for as little as $40/month! (5-year contract)

Windstream (offers expire 12/31/21):
Up to 5 months free on OfficeSuite UC and SD-WAN
Get up to 5 months free of 100% cloud-based UC and SD-WAN for premiere performance and availability without the premiere-level price.

SD-WAN 4G Resiliency
Purchase Windstream Enterprise SD-WAN – and at least one access connection to receive 1 year free of cellular broadband backup at every SD-WAN location.

CLICK HERE
to take advantage of the above promotions!

If you would like to receive a quote, click on the button below or contact AmCom at sales@amcomsolutions.com / (512) 342-2226 x104.

REQUEST A QUOTE

*Other terms & conditions may apply. Contact AmCom for eligibility requirements on any of the above promotions.

SECURITY / DDoS / RANSOMWARE

Security and the Cloud: Trends in Enterprise Cloud Computing

With more than 90 percent of businesses in the US using cloud infrastructure, the features they value, the challenges they consider most prominent, and the amount of money they are willing to invest in cloud computing are important factors to understand.

Clutch conducted a survey with some key findings such as 75% of enterprises implement additional security measures beyond what the cloud service providers offer, suggesting cloud infrastructure is not secure enough on its own, out-of-the-box…[Continue Reading]

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT:
CLARO’S REALTIME LOCATION SYSTEM PLUS (RTLS+)

Misplaced equipment impacts time, quality of care, and budget.

RTLS+ provides the tools and analytics required to
vigilantly monitor and locate critical hospital equipment. Unlike other real-time location services
solutions, RTLS+ enables facilities to:

Improve speed and quality of care with real-time equipment identification and location, so that
staff can find the exact equipment they need, when they need it.
Reduce the cost of misplaced and stolen equipment by leveraging AI & ML video analytics,
geo-fencing, and beacons to ensure equipment stays on-site.
Proactively monitor equipment by receiving real-time notifications and alerts when equipment
moves outside of pre-determined locations.

DOWNLOAD INFOGRAPHIC

CLICK HERE to learn more or request a quote.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

POTS Lines – Great Rates!
Many carriers will no longer be supporting POTS lines. In addition, your company may be over-paying for these lines. AmCom can provide you with a quote to combine all of your POTS lines on one bill. We may be able to get you a better rate, in many cases up to 45% off of what you’re currently paying for unsupported POTS lines!

Network-as-a-Service
Is your organization trying to support distributed teams and meet demand for more and more network users, applications and devices? Do you need greater network flexibility & reliability while keeping overhead costs down?NaaS is an ideal solution to your problem and AmCom can help you out. Our international network partner provides the following:

Complete out-of-box solution includes:
- Switching
- Security Appliance
- Wi-Fi Access Points
- Optical Sensor Cameras
Offered as a service on a monthly utility pricing model
Deployed, managed, and supported by the our international network partner
SD-WAN functionality enables your company to utilize business broadband Internet instead of costly MPLS networks

If you would like a complimentary network assessment, click here. If you would like to receive a quote for any of the promotions above, please contact AmCom at sales@amcomsolutions.com or (512) 342-2226 x104.

REQUEST A QUOTE

NEED HELP?

AmCom Solutions can help your company with Internet upgrades, additional bandwidth, Hosted Voice (VoIP), Data Center connectivity, IoT solutions, Security and more! We work directly with the technology provider so your company can focus on its core business.

Give us a try!
Let us provide a price quote TODAY. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at sales@amcomsolutions.com or call (512) 342-2226 x104.

SUBMIT A QUOTE REQUEST

WWW.AMCOMSOLUTIONS.COM

The post Technology For Businesses Newsletter – 3Q 2021 Edition appeared first on AmCom Solutions.

Technology For Businesses Newsletter – October 2020 Edition

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 18:02:44 +0000

NEWSLETTER:
Technology For Businesses

October 2020

WELCOME
Welcome to AmCom Solutions’ newsletter dedicated for businesses in an ever changing world of technology. AmCom helps companies with its technology needs. There’s no fees for our services as we are an extension of the carrier/technology provider’s sales and back-end support. We hope you find this monthly newsletter informative and beneficial. If you have any questions or need assistance with your technology needs, feel free to contact us at (512) 342-2226 x104.

Best regards,
Scott Fairbairn, President

INTERNET

Microsoft is Killing Off Internet Explorer

Microsoft 365 apps and services will no longer support Internet Explorer 11 (IE 11) by this time next year.

Beginning November 30, 2020, the Microsoft Teams web app will no longer support IE 11.
Beginning August 17, 2021, the remaining Microsoft 365 apps and services will no longer support IE 11.

This means that after the above dates, customers will have a degraded experience or will be unable to connect to Microsoft 365 apps and services on IE 11. For degraded experiences, new Microsoft 365 features will not be available or certain features may cease to work when accessing the app or service via IE 11. While we know this change will be difficult for some customers, we believe that customers will get the most out of Microsoft 365 when using the new Microsoft Edge. We are committed to helping make this transition as smooth as possible. [Continue Reading]

PROMOTIONS

AT&T Free Month Dedicated Internet Promotion – Ends October 31, 2020 New AT&T Dedicated Internet (ADI) customers can get ONE FREE MONTH WITH INSTALLATION CHARGES WAIVED. This promotion applies to ADI Ethernet access speeds from 10 Mbps to 1 Gbps. It is available for all contracted sites. Contract must be signed by 10/31/20. Contact AmCom at sales@amcomsolutions.com or (512) 342-2226 x104 to take advantage of this limited-time offer.

Spectrum ‘3 Months Free’ Promotion – Ends October 28th

Businesses can receive 3 months free on any of the qualifying products: FIA, Ethernet (Fiber), Managed WiFi, Managed Router Service (MRS), Managed Security Service (MSS), SIP, PRI, and Unified Communications over DOCSIS. The contract must be signed no later than October 28, 2020. Certain conditions apply so contact us to find out if your company is eligible for this promotion.

REQUEST A QUOTE

SECURITY / DDoS / RANSOMWARE

October is Cybersecurity Month. Ransomware attacks are on the rise and crippling all types of companies, both large and small

In September alone, there has been at least 31 ransomware attacks and most are targeting U.S. based companies. On October 2nd, the FBI issued a Public Service Announcement explaining the attacks, how your company can become infected, and what to do in case of an attack.

Due to Covid-19, many businesses are adopting to remote workforces. This creates a few obstacles…the need for greater Internet bandwidth, Unified Communications that combines Hosted Voice and business applications, and security measures to protect the data that is being received from the remote workforce and other sources.

Businesses must consider adding DDoS and Ransomware protection to their networks. Consider it a form of insurance. The cost of adding security “insurance” far outweighs the cost of downtime, lost data, and potential lawsuits. AmCom Solutions is a solution provider for several of the reputable companies that offer protection for your company. If you are interested in receive a quote, please contact Scott Fairbairn, (512) 342-2226 x104 or submit a quote request.

RECENT ATTACKS: Ransomware hits election infrastructure in Georgia county
A Georgia county is ground zero for what may be the first ransomware attack to hit election infrastructure this political season.

The attack on Hall County — home to Gainesville and located roughly an hour north of Atlanta — was disclosed on Oct. 7, but the impact to election infrastructure is only now coming to light. [Continue Reading]

Universal Health Services Ransomware Attack Impacts Hospitals Nationwide
On September 27, UHS staff from around the country took to Reddit to determine if other sites were experiencing IT troubles. UHS workforce described a massive system outage, with no access to… [Continue Reading]

VOICE/PHONE

Calling All Zoom Phone Users: Voice Needs Security Too

Last week, Zoom announced they are rolling out a new end-to-end encryption (E2EE) feature next week as phase one of a four-phase security plan. According to the company’s announcement, the E2EE feature will be available as a technical preview for hosts and attendees (for sessions with up to 200 participants).

Earlier this year, Zoom CEO Eric Yuan said the company would offer end-to-end encryption to all users, making the security features available to all, including paying and free customers, a change in policy some observers believe was triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, which forced millions of workers to interact from home. [Continue Reading]

NEED HELP?

Give us a try!Let us provide a price quote TODAY.

SUBMIT A QUOTE REQUEST

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at sales@amcomsolutions.com or call (512) 342-2226 x104.

WWW.AMCOMSOLUTIONS.COM

The post Technology For Businesses Newsletter – October 2020 Edition appeared first on AmCom Solutions.

Technology For Businesses Newsletter – August 2020 Edition

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 17:52:51 +0000

NEWSLETTER:
Technology For Businesses

August 2020

WELCOME
Welcome to AmCom Solutions’ monthly newsletter dedicated for businesses in an ever changing world of technology. AmCom helps companies with its technology needs. There’s no fees for our services as we are an extension of the carrier/technology provider’s sales and back-end support. We hope you find this monthly newsletter informative and beneficial. If you have any questions or need assistance with your technology needs, feel free to contact us at (512 342-2226.Best regards,Scott Fairbairn,
President

INTERNET

With an Internet continuity plan, your business won’t ever be closed

Storms. Fires. Floods. Power outages.

A number of natural and man-made events can affect your ability to keep the lights on and systems running. Internet connectivity in particular is one of the most critical systems needed to maintain business operations and provide good customer experiences. From a hack, to an innocent snip of the wrong line by a utility contractor, to an old-fashioned equipment failure, unforeseen circumstances could knock out your internet, your ability to connect and communicate, and your business. Unless, that is, you’ve planned ahead. [Continue Reading]

PROMOTIONS

AT&T Internet Promotion – Ends August 31, 2020

AT&T has a special Dedicated Internet (ADI) installation promotion. From now through August 31, 2020, the installation fee is waived for all AT&T (onsite) and customer (tele) installation (a $99 savings). Contact AmCom at sales@amcomsolutions.com or (512) 342-2226 x104 to take advantage of this limited-time offer.

VOICE/PHONE

The once-disappearing phone call is making a comeback

AT&T, which owns CNN, reported that from mid-March to May 1, wireless voice calls peaked at 44% above typical levels and Wi-Fi calling more than doubled.

Other telecom services noticed the same thing.
At the height of the pandemic in March, Verizon was reporting an average of 800 million wireless calls each weekday. That’s nearly double the number of calls made on Mother’s Day, typically the busiest call day of the year. This Mother’s Day, calls were up almost 10% compared to the holiday last year.

Both companies also report that call duration is up, meaning that people are staying on the phone longer… [Continue Reading]

INTERNET OF THINGS (IoT)

Long-term uses for AI and IoT in retail environments

Retailers around the globe are cautiously reopening their doors after facing perhaps the most challenging times in decades, while in some areas of the world the toughest times may still lie ahead. The short-term disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is clear, but its impact on the future of retail operations is yet to be seen. This uncertainty is creating unseen challenges for retailers, who are looking to make smart investments in technology that will not become obsolete once health and safety guidelines and restrictions lift.

IoT-enabled security cameras can make retail environments more efficient, customer-friendly and most importantly, more secure and safe
AI applications can assist multiple retail sectors in enhancing customer experience and increasing sales conversions with actionable, intelligent data
By connecting smart cameras with other systems in IoT, safety processes can be fully automated

[Continue Reading]

SECURITY / DDoS / RANSOMWARE

Cloud software provider Blackbaud pays ransom, as incidents rise globally

This time South Carolina-based Blackbaud, a third-party supplier of database services and customer relationship management (CRM) systems for enterprises, had paid hackers an undisclosed ransom to unlock its own client data.

Blackbaud describes itself as the “world’s leading cloud software company powering social good.” The clients in question reportedly include, homeless charity Crisis, the UK Universities of Aberystwyth and Aberdeen*, each of which has issued apologetic notices to its customers and partners. Other customers listed by the company include the American Diabetes Association, the Universities of London and Oxford, and YWCA Chicago. [Continue Reading]

NEED HELP?

Give us a try!Let us provide a price quote TODAY.

SUBMIT A QUOTE REQUEST

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at sales@amcomsolutions.com or call (512) 342-2226 x104.

The post Technology For Businesses Newsletter – August 2020 Edition appeared first on AmCom Solutions.

CVTV Interviews Scott Fairbairn, President of AmCom Solutions

admin — Mon, 07 Oct 2019 03:42:51 +0000

ChannelVision TV interviews Scott Fairbairn, President of AmCom Solutions, at WISPAPALOOZA 2019. Scott highlights what makes AmCom stand out from other Solution Providers and the direction of the company.

The post CVTV Interviews Scott Fairbairn, President of AmCom Solutions appeared first on AmCom Solutions.

Interview with President of AmCom Solutions

admin — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 03:42:08 +0000

ChannelVision TV interviews Scott Fairbairn, President of AmCom Solutions, at WISPAmerica 2019. Scott provides an overview of the company and why its business model is an asset to companies of all sizes.

The post Interview with President of AmCom Solutions appeared first on AmCom Solutions.