Free SIP Webinar Playback

In case you missed it--or loved it so much you must watch an encore--here is a link to our latest FREE webinar on SIP applications:  http://www.crosstelecom.com/aboutUs/events/20110630_SIPwebinar.asp

As always, I am providing information on our free webinars for two reasons: first, to show you the quality of people and training you can expect from Cross Telecom; second, as a public service to the Federal contracting community.

Comments are welcome! 

Free SIP Webinar

Regular readers of this blog know that Cross offers free monthly webinars on an enterprise telephony topic.  These webinars are not intended as a sales generator, though you can certainly contact me if you would like more information on how Cross approaches any of these webinar topics.  The webinars are a good indicator of two things:

1.      Cross’ technical prowess within our space

2.      Cross’ training capabilities

June’s webinar is our second in 13 months on SIP.  In the world of telephony, SIP has become synonymous with IP dial tone, but that barely scratches the surface of what SIP is capable of. 

For example, did you know that SIP devices are becoming prevalent in the healthcare industry?  Did you know that every time you chat with Yahoo or MSN Messenger you are using SIP? 

In this session we will go beyond basic telephone calls and explore how the openness of SIP fosters a world of applications that have little to do with VoIP.

Webinar: Thursday, June 30, 2011, 10:00 a.m.- 11:00 p.m. CST

Presented By: Andrew Prokop, SIP Architect, Cross Telecom

Register today!  https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/786397848

I hope to see you on the webinar—let me know if you liked it or have suggestions for topics.

Lots of Shoes to Choose from

Since the acquisition of Cross Telecom by Arrow Electronics last month, I'm feeling a bit like Imelda Marcos--lots of shoes to choose from as we plan our next steps.  As I've written about previously, Cross has been a reseller on the Avaya Federal and Avaya Government Solutions Schedules for years.  Now, under our corporate umbrella, there are Schedules held by Arrow and our sister telecom company Shared Technologies.

I haven't blogged much lately--there are many integration activities going on and I have not had much to report.  Our GSA Schedule program is still active and as I learn more and get some decisions back, I will update the blog.  Check back regularly.  For now, here are some links that demonstrate the pretty ridiculous depth and breadth of our capability to serve the telephony and data systems marketplace:

http://www.crosstelecom.com/

http://www.sharedtechnologies.com/

http://ecs.arrow.com/index.html

New Shoes

We have had an exciting, game-changing event at Cross Telecom: I am  pleased to  advise that on May 2, 2011,  Arrow Electronics, Inc. (NYSE:ARW) acquired Cross Telecom Corporation (Cross).  A copy of the official press release can be found at www.crosstelecom.com . The impact of this event on our program to develop a GSA Schedule has not been determined.  I will update the blog as we learn more.

Arrow Electronics (www.arrow.com) serves as a supply channel partner for over 1,200 suppliers and 115,000 original equipment manufacturers, contract manufacturers and commercial customers through a global network of more than 340 locations in 52 countries. Arrow is headquartered in Melville, N.Y.

We are truly excited about this acquisition because Cross offerings complement the unified communications, telephony, and managed services that Arrow offers through its Shared Technologies business - a recognized total-solutions provider and supplier of converged and Internet-protocol telephony technologies. Together, Cross and Shared Technologies will provide an enhanced world-class offering of unified communications services to best serve your needs and the value we will be able to bring to the market will be truly amazing.

Together, Cross and Shared Technologies support in excess of 10,000 Avaya and Nortel customers nationwide with over 9 million ports at 76,000 unique customer locations under current maintenance support contracts.  We support these customers through the combined efforts of 1,500 committed employees of which nearly 90% are in direct, customer facing roles.  We now have the most comprehensive technician coverage map in our industry with over 800 directly employed technicians located in 45 of the 48 contiguous United States.  In addition to this unrivaled local support footprint, we continue our legacy of making communications technology the best it can be through unmatched technical expertise and depth.   Indeed, Cross and Shared Technologies together possess in excess of 4,500 Avaya/Nortel professional certifications. Further, we maintain the highest Avaya Business Partner status possible, not only in our earning the distinction of being Avaya’s only Business Partner globally to have achieved Integration Expert status, but in maintaining our current Platinum Business Partner, Platinum DevConnect Partner, Services Expert, and Services Business Partner of the Year distinctions.

Over the coming weeks and months, I will provide updates about our progress. Please know that our focus remains on serving our customers, and our commitment to excellence is unwavering.

April Shoers

Sticking with this blog’s theme of taking steps towards getting a GSA Schedule 70, I could not resist a bad pun on April showers.  Sorry about that.

I will make it up to you by offering you the opportunity to attend our monthly webinar on a telecom topic—for free!  April’s webinar is on E911 Risks of Non-Compliance.  No matter the communications platform (i.e. Avaya, Nortel, Cisco), if you have a single site environment or a multi-site environment (national & international), if you have VOIP, Digital, or Analog devices in your environment, let’s face it: if you even have an environment —you should be aware of E911. 

Your organization should know how E911 legislation affects your organization and what the risk factors are, but more importantly, how you can prepare and get ready for compliance with this important legislation.  Join Cross Telecom to learn from subject matter experts about how to successfully prepare for an E911 engagement and what you need to know.

The webinar is Thursday, April 28, 2010, 1100-1200 hours

Presented By: Samantha Kane, Founder, Kane-Mackay & Assoc.

Bill MacKay, Founder, Kane-Mackay & Assoc.

Tim Gunther, Consultant, Cross Telecom

Register today!  https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/475815624?elq=61ad2e50aede43cc8443b5957575ad86

While these webinars are never a sales pitch, Cross partners with several E911 subcontractors—including ones that have implemented systems on military bases.  If you are interested in discussing this topic before or after the webinar, shoot me an email or just comment on this blog entry.

Step Quickly

Followers of this blog know that Cross has a substantial technical education offering—Cross University:  http://www.crosstelecom.com/crossUniversity/index.asp .  Cross U offers classroom training, on-line self-paced training, and webinars (private webinars for a fee and monthly public free webinars)—all of these will be on our Schedule.

This is short notice but we have slots available for our next class on a topic near and dear to most enterprise telecom and IT managers.   Hollywood seems to be remaking a lot of classic (and not so classic) movies the last few years.  Were they to remake The Graduate, I’m pretty sure the “just one word” Mr. McGuire would telling young Ben about wouldn’t be “plastics,” it would be…SIP!

The great news is that Ben, or anyone else who can get themselves to Bloomington next week, can receive a 2.5 day education on the basics of Session Initiation Protocol for the low, low price of $1,875.  That is well below the micropurchase threshold and within most P-card limits.  Details are here: http://www.crosstelecom.com/crossUniversity/CU_SIP_CourseOutline.pdf

Class starts on April 19—please contact me at dketchen@crosstelecom.com to sign up!  If you sign-up directly, please let me know.

No Spikes Allowed!

If you follow this blog you are probably in Telecommunications for the Federal vertical—either as a vendor or as a Federal employee.  While we are going through the executive review cycle on my team’s recommendations for next steps towards getting our GSA Schedule, I want to share an upcoming event you may be interested in.

The National Capital Chapter of the Independent Telecommunications Pioneers Association (ITPA) is a Washington, DC metropolitan area association of Telecommunications professionals.  Membership is comprised of both Industry and Government leaders. 

Our mission is to:

• Provide leadership and networking opportunities
• Serve our communities through good work
• Add value to sponsor companies and organizations
• Preserve our industry history

We are having a golf tournament at the Army Navy club in Arlington, VA on April 25.  The event includes golf with prizes and dinner.  Sponsorships are available, including hole sponsorships.  Please see our website for more detail and to sign up.  Please send me an email if you do.

Register to play: http://www.itpancc.org/Event_Details.html

Sponsor: http://www.itpancc.org/Sponsorships.html

We support the Capital Area Food Bank, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), and the USO Metropolitan Washington.  A donation is made to these organizations at the end of the Association's term year. 

Membership in ITPA is not a requirement for participation in golf.  I hope to see you there!