Covad's Line-Powered Voice Service Named ''Product of the Year'' by Internet Telephony
biz.yahoo.com
Tuesday January 31, 8:45 am ET
Award Recognizes VoIP-based Consumer Alternative Powered by Covad's Innovative Technology and Nationwide Broadband Network
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 2006--Covad Communications Group, Inc. (AMEX:DVW), a leading national provider of integrated voice and data communications, has won Internet Telephony's "Product of the Year" award for the rollout of line-powered voice, a VoIP-based voice and data bundle for consumers. The award is announced in the January 2006 issue of Internet Telephony magazine.
"Each year Internet Telephony magazine bestows its Product of the Year awards on companies that have demonstrated excellence in technological advancement and application refinements. With the introduction of its line-powered voice service, Covad Communications has demonstrated to the editors of Internet Telephony that it is committed to quality and innovation while addressing the real needs in the marketplace," said Rich Tehrani, Group Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Internet Telephony.
"Line-powered voice is a revolutionary product developed by Covad to provide a facilities-based alternative for local phone service," said Charles Hoffman, president and CEO of Covad Communications. "Winning the Internet Telephony award validates Covad's ongoing efforts to create innovative products and expand our portfolio of voice and data solutions."
Line-powered voice is a Covad-developed, VoIP-based replacement for traditional phone service that does not require a broadband connection or additional consumer premises equipment. Customers use their existing analog phone equipment and in-house jack. As with traditional voice service, the line is powered from the central office (CO), so a power failure will not disrupt service. Full e-911 service is also included.
"Line-powered voice is an innovative offering that allows Covad to expand into the massive consumer VoIP market, which IDC projects will reach $4.8 billion by 2008," said Will Stofega, senior research analyst with IDC.
Customers will enjoy high quality service because their calls will be delivered over Covad's managed national network, rather than the public Internet. EarthLink is the first Covad partner to commercially launch line-powered voice following successfully completed technical trials. Going forward, Covad's strategy is to seek out strategic partners to fund the necessary network upgrades for expansion of line-powered voice into additional markets.
Line-powered voice is made possible by next-generation Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexers (DSLAMs) that Covad has been testing in three trial markets: Seattle, Dallas and San Francisco. This equipment also allows Covad to offer ADSL2+ (which delivers much higher bandwidth than ADSL) in the future. |
