At the risk of returning to the subject...we have an announcement:
WINSTAR ANNOUNCES RESELLER PROGRAM
Signs Three Agreements in Two Major Markets
NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 4, 1997, WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (NASDAQ - WCII) today announced the signing of three reseller agreements by WinStar Telecommunications, its competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) subsidiary, as part of WinStar's sales program. The reseller program augments WinStar's CLEC retail and agent distribution channels by signing definitive reseller contracts with telecommunications providers also seeking to capitalize on the enormous opportunities available in today's local services marketplace.
WinStar will offer its state-of-the-art local switching and transmission services, high-bandwidth Wireless FiberSM solutions, and robust back office support to resellers across the U.S. Resellers are responsible for their own selling, branding, billing, collections, as well as all end-user interfaces, while WinStar provides the network and the support necessary for the resellers to market a competitive program. WinStar's resellers will enjoy a single, consistent, dedicated interface from WinStar across the major U.S. markets with discounts substantially greater than current RBOC wholesale tariffs. "Not every reseller will have the capital or the need to build their own facilities and local networks," says Rick Calder, Vice President, Marketing, WinStar Telecommunications. "WinStar has already built a national network, and we are open for reseller business."
WinStar has reseller agreements with Metcom Access and ARC Networks in New York City, and with Metracom in Boston. "WinStar was able to offer Metcom something that both the RBOC and CLEC competitors could not do for us in New York," says Metcom Vice President, Andy Weitzberg. "If WinStar's flexibility in product offering and competitive pricing is any indication of the ease at which we will do business, you will be hearing a lot more of WinStar in the reseller marketplace."
"Since ARC Networks has been in the local resale market for some time, we were able to scrutinize WinStar's operations and felt comfortable that a long term contract was in the best interest of both companies," says Peter Parrinello, President, ARC Networks. "Going with WinStar was not only a question of having alternatives, it was clearly a result of our strong desire to enhance our own company's growth, profit margins and our position in the CLEC marketplace."
According to Richard Koch, Director of Business Development/Regulatory Affairs at Metracom, "Being one of NYNEX's largest resellers, we were the first to recognize the need for an alternative local carrier in Boston. WinStar's Wireless Fiber services and its ability to bypass the RBOC offer great value to our customers and to our marketing message."
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This is not the announcement I've been looking for, but I'll take it! |
