New York-based Solegy announced on Monday that it has inked a contract with EarthLink to implement its ServicePDQ managed VoIP platform as the basis of the ISP's PC-to- phone component of MindSpring, EarthLink's softphone client. MindSpring combines Internet voice and instant messaging (IM) on a consumer's PC. ServicePDQ will enable MindSpring users to make calls directly from their PC to any legacy telephone with added features.

 

The ServicePDQ platform will be managed for EarthLink by Solegy (News - Alert). The platform will give MindSpring users access to a Web-based portal which offers single-click self-provisioning, as well as customer self service. ServicePDQ's SIP softswitch architecture also supports real-time billing for MindSpring-originated calls to traditional PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) phone lines.

 

"Solegy's fully-managed business model helped us launch a feature-rich, prepaid PC-to-Phone service while meeting an aggressive rollout schedule for our other Internet voice products," said Tom Hsieh, EarthLink's director of voice products and engineering. "Solegy offered the features, flexibility and professional support services that we wanted."

 

EarthLink's MindSpring is a PC-to-PC chat application that integrates features of broadband and VoIP to deliver calling capabilities, real-time text (IM) and access to free Web-based mail. MindSpring users can make PC-to-PC voice calls for free. Plus, customers using MindSpring's ServicPDQ-enabled technology can also dial legacy telephone users at lower rates.

 

"This relationship highlights the advantages that are available to service providers who want to deploy a carrier-grade VoIP solution within a compressed timeframe," said Solegy's president Stu Sleppin in a statement. "Because of the comprehensive capabilities built into our ServicePDQ platform, we were able to engineer a solution that met EarthLink's needs, and deliver it to market in less than three weeks."

 

EarthLink announced back in April that it chose Level 3 for its VoIP offering, EarthLink DSL and Home Phone Service. The multi-year deal called for Level 3 to provide its VoIP Enhanced Local service to EarthLink. The service bundle offers local voice services with popular features such as caller ID, voicemail and 3-way calling bundled with multiple speeds of DSL Internet access.

 

The Level 3 VoIP Enhanced Local service supports EarthLink's local, long distance and international voice traffic, providing voice origination, voice termination, directory listings, and caller ID. The service will allow EarthLink to connect its customers to the public switched telephone network when they make calls to traditional telephones or mobile devices. It also includes Level 3's E-911 Direct service, which provides nationwide coverage for enhanced 911 service.

 

Solegy

http://www.solegy.com

EarthLink

http://www.earthlink.com

 

 

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Johanne Torres is contributing editor for TMCnet and Internet Telephony magazine. To see more articles by Johanne Torres, please visit Johanne Torres' columnist page.