Service Providers briefs

AT&T is teaming with Toshiba's Telecommunications Systems Division to offer small and midsize businesses managed voice and data services. Toshiba resellers are bundling AT&T Business Network voice and data services with Toshiba Strata CTX or Strata DK digital PBX systems. Customers will be able to buy local, long-distance and international voice and data services from Toshiba agents under one contract. The companies also are working to develop additional product and service bundles for businesses.

Sprint announced a customer win last week as Equity One signed up for a nationwide frame relay network. Sprint is deploying a 150-site frame relay network for the New Jersey consumer lender. Equity One, which signed a multiyear agreement, also will be using Sprint's long-distance voice services. The carrier says the deal is valued at more than $1.5 million.

While it might seem as though service providers can eliminate debt only by filing for bankruptcy, Infonet Services has done so the old-fashioned way - by paying it off.

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AT&T is teaming with Toshiba's Telecommunications Systems Division to offer small and midsize businesses managed voice and data services. Toshiba resellers are bundling AT&T Business Network voice and data services with Toshiba Strata CTX or Strata DK digital PBX systems. Customers will be able to buy local, long-distance and international voice and data services from Toshiba agents under one contract. The companies also are working to develop additional product and service bundles for businesses.

Sprint announced a customer win last week as Equity One signed up for a nationwide frame relay network. Sprint is deploying a 150-site frame relay network for the New Jersey consumer lender. Equity One, which signed a multiyear agreement, also will be using Sprint's long-distance voice services. The carrier says the deal is valued at more than $1.5 million.

While it might seem as though service providers can eliminate debt only by filing for bankruptcy, Infonet Services has done so the old-fashioned way - by paying it off.

The multinational service provider announced last week that it paid off the last bit of its long-term bank debt, which totaled $82 million. The company says it has $450 million in cash and assets to cover the company's business activities. Part of Infonet's cash infusion comes from a $56 million incentive payment it received this month from an outsourcing agreement. The carrier says its "on-schedule and better-than-budget performance" lead to the incentive payment from an outsourcing customer. Expect to hear more about Infonet's debt-free status as the company says it plans to play up this angle in the telecom market with customers and industry watchers.

Read more about lans & wans in Network World's LANs & WANs section.