Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/562184
W i r e l e s s W o r l d 9 T h u r s d a y, S e p t e m b e r 1 0 , 2 0 1 5 MAJOR NATIONAL CARRIER REQUIRED DATA CENTER NETWORK When a major national carrier experi- enced escalating network bandwidth demands, it invested in a data center to expand central office data processing capacity outside the plant. Data centers provide the ability to offer a wide-range of important customer services, including digital HDTV, rapid streaming, video downloads, high-speed Internet, digital phone and even integrated smart-home solutions involving remote program- ming, on-demand entertainment services and advanced security systems. BlueStream Professional Services Offers Experience and Efficiency As pressure mounted to speed deploy- ment, the major national carrier chose a partnership with BlueStream Professional Services to ensure the proj- ect would be completed in the shortest amount of time. BlueStream understands the importance that every day without the ability to provide high-demand services to potential customers is another day of lost revenue opportunities. Keys to Success BlueStream assembled a dedicated team with one program manager and one lead engineer to interface with the carrier, which made communication, responsive- ness and assignment of responsibilities more efficient for all involved. BlueStream worked very closely with telco engineers, IT and operations people throughout the project to make sure every consideration was discussed. A key com- ponent to the success of the project included accurate design analysis and formulation of a good build plan for exe- cution. Timelines and scheduling were critical. An experienced team leader kept things moving and had a plan for the unex- pected. For instance, when the HVAC system installa- tions were off a few inches, cabling needed to be re-rout- ed and racking systems adjusted to accommodate. There were also electrical compatibility aspects between different equipment that were taken into account. To close out the project, BlueStream updated the carrier's database as a valu- able part of its full, turnkey services. BlueStream helped the carrier satisfy demand for higher bandwidth services with a successful launch of its new data center. "Rapid response, available resources and precise execution were the keys to success on this project. As the carriers' outsource partner, we implemented in a very short timeframe, while ensuring the entire system was functioning reliably and efficiently," said Amin Anshasi, Program Manager, BlueStream Professional Services. The challenges included: con- straints of existing building space/layout; complex thermal management issues; sufficient energy cost controls; adequate power and emergency backup sys- tems; infrastructure and informa- tion security; fire protection; proper cabling/connectivity; and scalability The solution: new building infra- structure design; infrastructure build-out; common systems installation; and equip- ment rack and stack. The BlueStream Advantage includes: breadth of equipment expertise; single point-of-contact for product and services; single purchase order; ability to implement design changes; and complete EF&I Project/Program Management. For more information, stop by booth #4164 or visit bluestreampro.com. GO DIRECT INC: 'WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER' By Howard Hong, Business Operations Manager at Go Direct Inc. Our retail partners are the bridge that links our products to the end user, which makes supporting our partners a primary initiative for success. In support of this initiative, Go Direct Inc., the parent company of Roocase, a brand that designs trend-set- ting mobile device cases, and GearIT, a sister brand for cables and accessories, is proud to announce three critical enhance- ments that will improve retailers' access to resources to help move more products as well as end user satisfaction. The first enhancement is the launch of a new website for gearit.com and two revamped websites for roocase.com and the B2B partner exclusive site, GoDirectInc.com, which will be rebuilt from the ground up to improve partner and customer support. The following are featured on all sites: toll free phone support; live online chat support; full online catalog; and quick and easy OEM direct warranty sup- port. Godirectinc.com exclusives include: wholesale to dealers only; restricted access; and account specific discount rate automatically displayed. The second enhancement features improved and fully automated backend inventory management and fulfillment systems. Huge investments were made to the modernization of our backend system to the latest cloud-based software. Full integration and automatization of each link in the distribution chain ensure faster more reliable fulfillment of partner orders. Our new system fea- tures are fully scalable to handle the increased loads of larger orders, have faster processing time with fewer human input errors and are fully integrated from end to end. Thirdly, we've grown and enhanced our Customer Service, Creative, and I.T. Departments. Upgrades to CSM systems and increase in personnel in our customer support department now provide expand- ed support hours by phone and through online chat. An expanded creative and graphics department team and network provide better support collateral and help to generate more pull-based sales of our products. All of these teams and systems are backed up by an expanded I.T. department. Customer support includes: expand- ed support hours; trained, knowledgeable staff; and faster accesses to information through a centralized database. The creative team includes: dedicat- ed, in-house creative and graphics department for faster turn around; high quality, industry leading, online and print litera- ture to support product sales; broad social media presence and campaigns; direct consulta- tion from award winning, international designers. The I.T. Department includes: full in-house support of all new system implementations and SEO optimization of brands and products. We're building up our brands so you can better build up your business. With over a decade of experience in providing high quality products and e-commerce support, we continue to build our busi- ness by investing in the systems that help our partners thrive. For more information, visit www .godirectinc.com, call 866.686.1828, email sales@godirectinc.com or stop by booth #432. PROVIDING A LIFELINE BETWEEN DEPLOYED TROOPS AND FAMILIES An interview with Cell Phones For Soldiers Co-founder Rob Bergquist. WW: Tell us how Cell Phones For Soldiers works. RB: Cell Phones For Soldiers collects gently used cell phones as a means of raising the funds to provide phone cards for military members deployed overseas and prepaid wireless plans for veterans who have returned from deployments. WW: If the veterans have returned home, why do they still need phone service? RB: It turns out that many of our veter- ans still need to talk to their families, their friends, even community or medical service providers after they've returned home from a deployment, and that's not always easy. A lot of these guys only earn $30,000 or less, and they come home with bills and charges that may have accrued while they were away. They return to the states with no wireless serv- ice plan or device. The cost of buying a new phone and airtime is very expensive and the added expense comes just when they're trying to put their lives back together now that they're Stateside. Being able to provide domestic air time is important. It's one way we can help these guys and ladies as they come home from serving their country. There is a great need for cell phone service, but we are limited by our cell phone donations. WW: How urgent is the need? RB: We're now shipping 1,500 prepaid phone cards per week to Afghanistan and Iraq as well as to embassies and peace- keeping missions around the world, such as in Kosovo and Japan. Japan, for instance, has very expensive internation- al calling rates, so having a phone card from us makes a difference in whether that sailor or Marine is able to call home. Veterans tell us sometimes that being able to hear those voices from home is so much better than just get- ting a letter. We heard from a mother who called and said the last time she ever heard her son's voice was with one of our phone cards. Unfortunately, she lost her son while he was overseas. It can be very important. You never know what's going to happen over there. WW: What do you need from those of us here at the CTIA Super Mobility show? RB: There are a lot of ways that compa- nies and other people can support us in our efforts. Either with affordable wire- less minutes, calling cards or with dona- tions of funds and devices. There are a lot of ways we think that companies could activate with us. You could even help spread the word about our organization. We don't work directly through the military, because there are securi- ty considerations involved, so word-of- mouth and communica- tion through community support organizations are both important ways for us to get the word out about our service. Cell Phones For Soldiers is a nation- al nonprofit, founded 11 years ago and managed by members of the Bergquist family, with more than 4,000 drop-off sites across the country where people can go to donate their phones. Head to cell- phonesforsoldiers.com to locate a drop- off location near you. For further information, visit booth #6728 during CTIA Super Mobility 2015. After the show, call Rob Berquist at 781.588.5096, Charlie Taylor at 612.695.0055 or visit www.cellphones forsoldiers.com.