Wholesale VoIP customers are now receiving new cost saving options from Verizon Partner Solutions. Leveraging its extensive reach with an innovative suite of wholesale VoIP services, Verizon (News - Alert) Partner Solutions is offering a new cost-effective option for VoIP providers, using SIP (Session-Initiated Protocol) Gateway (News - Alert) Services.

Under this program, Verizon SIP Gateway customers opting for OCN-based metered plans can enjoy a reduced rate for calls from their end-users to select Verizon Business local customer telephone numbers (those utilizing legacy MCI local switches).

SIP is an Internet-based signaling protocol used for creating, modifying and terminating sessions between two or more users on the Internet, including Internet telephone calls, multimedia distribution and multimedia conferences.

“This is simply another way we’re making it easier for our wholesale customers to do business with us - by listening to them and continually evolving our offerings to help them help their customers,” said Tom Maguire, senior vice president, Verizon Partner Solutions.

This offering continues the evolution of Verizon’s wholesale IP Communications product suite. Verizon’s SIP Gateway Services are available in three configurations: Inbound Complete, Two-Way Local and Two-Way Complete. SIP Gateway Services are complemented by the Carrier IP Termination Service. This offering satisfies the needs of customers who want to obtain the cost advantages of originating IP traffic and terminating that traffic via SIP protocol over a global network.

What’s the number one VoIP conference in terms of attendance? What’s the leading VoIP expo for exhibitors in terms of lead generation? And which VoIP industry event will feature special attractions for service providers, resellers, and the enterprise and SMB market as well as an overview on the Future of IP Telephony? Answer: INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference & Expo, WEST, which runs October 10-13, 2006. See you in San Diego!

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Cindy Waxer is a Toronto-based freelance journalist specializing in business and technology. She has written for publications including TIME, Fortune Small Business, Business 2.0, Computerworld, Canadian Business, and Workforce Management. To see more of her articles, please visit Cindy Waxer’s columnist page.