Established CLEC U.S. Online Inc. (www.usolcomm.com) and DSL carrier Rio Communications Inc. (www.rio.com) both agreed to take the leap into new age service creation. The two providers signed deals to deploy the Telecommunications Service Portal (TSP) and CSX 2100 next-generation end-office switch developed by the Boca Raton, Fla.-based DTI Networks (www.dtinetworks.com).
The carriers are among the first to adopt a system based on World Wide Web service authoring tools to create customized voice features. DTI's TSP system employs Internet standard eXtensible Markup Language (XML) to create Web service pages with data, as well as instructions on how the data can be used. Both public switched telephone network and Internet devices will consult the pages for automated service provisioning instructions, and customers themselves will be able to tweak those same pages via Web browsers.
"We strive to offer customers a smart alternative to the local incumbent franchise by constantly innovating our service offerings," Rob Solomon, founder and CEO of U.S. Online said in a statement. "DTI's solution for developing integrated voice features is a strong component toward achieving this mission."
U.S. Online serves a core of seven markets in Colorado, Oregon, Texas and Virginia.
Rio plans to deploy eight DTI switches in the U.S. northwest, as it launches multiline voice-over-DSL and Internet services in the northwest U.S. "We were looking for a feature creation solution that not only enhanced this state-off-the-art network, but really had the flexibility to migrate to new platforms in support of our future plans as the technology continues to advance," said Ed Marcotte, founder and president of Rio Communications.
