Qwest’s advanced business-class services such as long-distance voice services, dedicated Internet access, virtual network services, IP, frame relay and ATM are now available to most businesses in the country.
The company already has been offering long-distance services to residential customers and small businesses where it has received approval to do so. Now, by offering long-distance voice, data and IP to larger businesses and government agencies, Qwest expects to expand its opportunities in Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. “We intend to go after this business aggressively as we believe the total business long-distance market opportunity in our 14-state region is greater than $6 billion,” says Cliff Holtz, executive vice president, Qwest business markets group. He adds the customers buying multiple services can realize discounts of up to 42 percent.
Qwest has been offering a limited version of long-distance voice services to more than 600,000 businesses in these states, but for the first time, these customers will be able to complement their local services with long-distance voice and data services.
Qwest Total Advantage allows businesses to create one customized package of local and long-distance voice and data services to receive significant cost savings based on total communications spending and term length, according to the company. For customers interested only in voice services, Qwest Voice Advantage offers discounted long-distance rates based on a customer's total monthly spending and term commitment.
Business customers with at least six local service lines and committing to at least $500 per month in switched long-distance voice services may receive a four cents a minute rate. Businesses spending at least $1,000 per month in dedicated long-distance services may receive a per-minute rate of 2 cents. Both offers are for a one-year term.
