USA Datatnet is now Alteva

January 22nd, 2013 by USA_Datanet_Marketing

USA Datanet is now Alteva

Dear Valued Customer,

We are excited to announce that USA Datanet is now called Alteva. As Alteva we will forge ahead under a singular name with the singular focus of serving you, our customers. We remain committed to delivering significant value by providing the most reliable and advanced communications solutions on the market, and award-wining exceptional customer service. We look forward to growing our relationship with you.

If you have any questions regarding this exciting news please call 1.877.258.3828. We’d be happy to speak with you.

We sincerely appreciate your business.

Best regards,

Duane Albro, CEO
David Cuthbert, President, COO

Cloud-based VoIP and Unified Communications Provider Honored in Customer Service Department of the Year – Telecommunications Category

SYRACUSE, NY – February 28, 2012USA Datanet, the Voice over IP (VoIP) pioneer and full-service nationwide telecommunications services subsidiary of Warwick Valley Telephone Company (NASDAQ: WWVY) (referred to as Alteva Group), today announced it was presented with a Bronze Stevie® Award in the Customer Service Department of the Year – Telecommunications category in the sixth annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word for “crowned,” the trophies were presented to honorees during a gala banquet on Monday, February 27th at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. More than 350 nominated customer service and sales executives from the U.S. and several other countries attended. The presentations were broadcast live by Business TalkRadio Network.

Excelling in sales and customer service is essential for success in business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service recognizes organizations and individuals for their recent achievements in these disciplines. More than 100 members of seven specialized judging committees determined Stevie Award placements from among the Finalists during final judging this year.

“USA Datanet has, since its founding in 1998, maintained the highest standards in all aspects of the customer experience and we are pleased to be recognized by the Stevie Awards in this esteemed business competition,” said Jay Conn, vice president of operations, USA Datanet. “A proactive customer service department where representatives work with customers to not only resolve issues, but put plans, processes, or solutions in place to mitigate the risk of those same issues arising again is paramount to the success of any business or organization. We are honored to be recognized for our significant achievements relating to our customer service strategies and efforts. This accomplishment is gratifying for both our customers and employees.”

More than 1,000 entries from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted to this year’s competition, an increase of almost 30% over 2011. Finalists were determined by the average scores of 93 professionals worldwide, acting as preliminary judges. Entries were considered in 27 categories for customer service professionals, including Contact Center of the Year, Award for Innovation in Customer Service, and Customer Service Department of the Year; 38 categories for sales professionals, ranging from Senior Sales Executive of the Year to Sales Training or Coaching Program of the Year to Sales Department of the Year of the Year; and categories to recognize new products and services and solution providers.

USA Datanet’s mission is to deliver maximum value by providing dynamic and innovative communications solutions and to be recognized leaders in the communications industry by providing exemplary benefits to its employees, customers and shareholders. “Inspiring a team to aspire to be world-class involves persistence and permanence in spite of all obstacles which differentiate the strong teams from the weak teams. This does not just happen by itself,” said Kathryn Cancel, director of customer service, USA Datanet. “We provide our team members with comprehensive, individualized training sessions that continue with advanced training sessions further down their career paths. Training and development is critical for all team members and works to build the team strength needed to succeed.”

“We’re delighted to kick off our celebration of the 10th year of the Stevie Awards movement with the 2012 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, which is the first program in which we conferred Silver and Bronze Stevie Awards,” said Michael Gallagher, president and founder of the Stevie Awards. “It’s gratifying and inspiring to have received so many remarkable entries for this year’s competition.”

Details about the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service and the list of Stevie winners in all categories are available at www.stevieawards.com/sales.

About USA Datanet
USA Datanet, a Alteva Group company, is a pioneer in Voice over IP (VoIP) and a full-service nationwide telecommunications company. The company is a cloud services provider that offers business-class hosted IP voice and data solutions as well as wholesale services to the SMB market (businesses with under 35 employees). For more information, visit http://usadatanet.com and the USA Datanet YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/usadatanet.

About The Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about The Stevie Awards at www.stevieawards.com.

Sponsors and supporters of the 6th annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service include American Support, Coloredge Los Angeles * New York, Competence Call Center, SDL and ValueSelling Associates.

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All trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

PR Contact:
Angela Tuzzo
MRB Public Relations
732-758-1100, ext. 108
atuzzo@mrb-pr.com

A Product Manager’s Perspective of ITEXPO

February 13th, 2012 by USA_Datanet_Marketing

The warm ocean breeze wasn’t the only highlight of my trip to Miami last week. My first trip to TMC’s ITEXPO, held in Miami, proved to me that there is more to be taken away from these types of events than a few new business cards or LinkedIn contacts. Not only did I gain new contacts, but also new connections within the industry, inspirational stories of women in wireless and telecom and a fresh reading on the current pulse of the marketplace. The sunny and warm Miami weather was a great backdrop to an event that had much to offer.

There was a great variety of exhibitors as well, and many speakers and presentations to choose from at ITEXPO. It was a great opportunity to hear not only others’ perspectives on the industry and the rise of cloud communications, but to have our own CSO Louis Hayner’s view reinforced. Conferences like ITEXPO help the telecommunications industry and its respective business members to keep innovating and forging ahead with new technologies, products and fresh marketing ideas. Not only was I able to view and analyze what other vendors and their booths had to offer, but I was able to stand in our booth to explain and demonstrate why Alteva and Alteva’s products are standouts in the marketplace. The event not only strengthened and deepened my knowledge on the status of the industry, but also my knowledge of our own products. I learned little facts and tricks that I hadn’t previously known just from listening to my colleagues’ presentations to prospective wholesale and channel partners.

I guess it is true what they say. Sometimes you have you have to get lost (or just get away) to find yourself.

Elizabeth Backus
Product Manager
Alteva Group

Time is money. We’ve all heard and used that line many times. So, if you can find more time for your company, it will make more money. How many hours are wasted every day due to employees returning missed calls, leaving voice mails, sending emails and waiting for answers? Improving their ability to communicate more effectively will save time; and time is money.

With Alteva’s Unified Communications solution, your employees can do business from anywhere, never miss a call or message, listen to voice mail messages right from their email inbox or on their cell phone, move their calls from desktop to cell, and can see their coworkers’ availability via presence status – all drastically improving their productivity. When working on their desktop, they will be able to see when a co-worker is available, make phone calls, bring a co-worker into a call, add video conferencing or share their desktop with a click of a mouse. Time is money.

With the cost of fuel rising all the time, the expense of traveling continues to skyrocket. Microsoft’s Live Meeting tool eliminates unnecessary travel by giving the users the ability to easily share their desktops and utilize audio and web conferencing. Time is money.

So what is your competition doing? UC is expected to grow to $30 billion by 2013. Information Week reports from a December 2011 survey of over 300 Business Tech Professionals that the use of UC jumped 6% in 2011 to 36% and an additional 31% said they plan on deploying UC within 24 months. Can you afford to wait? The clock is ticking…..

Frank Cafarchio
Channel Manager
Alteva

How Data Back-Up – or the Lack of – Ruined Our Holiday

January 13th, 2012 by USA_Datanet_Marketing

My husband and I flew to Florida to visit with our daughter and two grandsons for Christmas. We were looking forward to our family holiday. Two days into our visit, our daughter received a call from work… their computer system had crashed along with all the company’s important data! Everything changed – she went back to work and my husband and I looked after our grandsons. Did I mention they are “active” 6 & 8 year old boys?!

This could have been avoided if her company had been prepared with a data back-up system. Can you imagine losing all of your files, folders & emails? Or the dreaded blue screen of death appears?! Regardless of industry, no business can lose all of its files without becoming utterly crippled as a result.

What if the sprinkler system goes off in your building, destroying all electronic systems, files and inventory? Can your business still function? Your business could be hit with something unexpected that interferes with your ability to perform business operations. How long before you are up and running the next day, week or month?

What’s your backup plan? Two different data backup systems to consider:

  • On premise – Automatic backups take place while your computer is not in use. Scheduled backups can be performed daily or weekly at a specified time of day.
  • Remote – Remote Backup works basically like regular data backup software, with one important difference. Instead of sending backups to a tape drive or other media attached to the computer it is backing up, Remote Backup sends the backup over regular telephone lines or network connections to another computer safely offsite, in a secure, protected location.

Don’t let this happen to you, be proactive and look into a Data Backup System for your Company.

Judith Walter
Channel Manager
Alteva

Security and Compliance in the “Cloud”

December 14th, 2011 by USA_Datanet_Marketing

The “Cloud” has become the destination of choice for many businesses these days and the questions of security, safety and compliance is one you will constantly hear.

Let’s start with safety and security then deal with the question of compliance. Most small and medium sized businesses initially start using the “cloud” for one or more business applications that are provided as Software as a Service (SaaS). The “cloud” provider has those applications running in a secure data center on redundant hardware and in many cases, they will keep multiple copies of that data housed in different geographic locations. In most cases, these secure data centers provide a far superior level of safety, security and back-up than most small and medium sized businesses can provide on their own premises.

So, the question of your data being safe and secure in the “cloud” can be answered with a resounding “yes!” – but that is just one piece of the safety and security issue. The key to obtaining the real value of “cloud” computing is the ability to securely access that data anytime and from anywhere. In this regard businesses themselves must take appropriate steps to decide who can access those applications and the underlying data. “Cloud” providers will require user names and passwords and in some cases provide other management tools but in the end it is up to the businesses to monitor and provide security as to whom has access and when that access will be terminated or denied.

Passwords with a high level of security are the first step businesses must take. The word (password) is not a high security level password. As we see more businesses moving to “cloud” based applications, you are starting to see an increase in dual factor identification. The first factor is the password the user has assigned to them. The second is something the user has that will identify them. Fingerprint and retina scans, as well as tokens, are examples of that second factor of identification.

So there you have it, “cloud” providers give businesses the physical and back-up security businesses want and need. When businesses put in place the proper processes to insure secure access, then “cloud” computing can truly provide the operational and financial advantages it was designed to deliver.

Now let’s talk about compliance because that is something else entirely. When you talk about compliance the three regulations most often mentioned in “cloud” computing discussions are HIPPA, SOX and PCI.

HIPPA is the standards and rules regarding “personal health information” and how different health entities and providers use and protect that information.

SOX is the acronym for the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, a law passed to protect investors by requiring publicly reporting companies to adhere to specific rules and regulations.

PCI compliance is a set of rules and standards in the financial sector that governs electronic transactions and how the data must be treated, stored and secured in transit.

Now that we know the main regulatory acts we can address the question of “cloud” computing and whether the “cloud” provider is compliant. “Cloud” computing services are not and should not be considered compliant. Compliance to these laws and regulations is the responsibility of the organizations covered by those requirements. This doesn’t mean that “cloud” computing services can’t help organizations better meet those regulations and requirements but the responsibility lies entirely with the regulated organization.

John Vaughan
Channel Manager
Alteva

Alteva Rolls Out New Channel Partner Program

October 25th, 2011 by USA_Datanet_Marketing

October 24, 2011
Source: Channel Pro

Increased Business Travel Costs (Alternatives to Business Travel)

October 25th, 2011 by USA_Datanet_Marketing

October 19, 2011
Source: Vision 2 Mobile

Monetizing Your Broadband Infrastructure through the Power of the Cloud

WARWICK , NY & NEW ORLEANS, LA – October 17, 2011Alteva Group (NASDAQ: WWVY), the holding company of leading cloud communications pioneers, today announced that its Chief Operating Officer, David Cuthbert, is a featured keynote speaker at the upcoming Cloud Services Summit, October 25th in New Orleans, LA. Co-located with the TelcoTV Conference and Expo, which draws over 2,500 telecom executives, the executive summit focuses on the cloud services business opportunity for broadband carriers. David will present from 8:45-9:15am.

Many broadband carriers haven’t been able to do much with hosted services yet or are still in the earlier stages of their cloud strategy formulation. In order to get out of being perceived as a typical broadband provider, it’s important that they monetize their broadband infrastructure by embracing the power of the cloud.

“In its 2010 predictions, Gartner predicts that by 2012, twenty percent of businesses will own no IT assets. Businesses are slowly but surely realizing the benefits to the customer of cloud-based technologies are unsurpassed. By monetizing their broadband infrastructure with cloud and managed services, broadband providers can add significant value to their networks,” said Cuthbert. “I am excited to offer my insight and share Alteva Group’s vision for cloud and managed services at the Summit, and educate attendees on how the cloud business opportunity can fit into their long term business goals.”

Cloud and managed services represents one of the more promising business opportunities for broadband carriers, giving them tools to escape the ‘dumb pipe’ trap. The Cloud Services Summit will focus on important cloud and managed services topics including the growing role of video service delivery from the cloud, the growing importance of the data center to broadband carriers, and an exploration of the impact of both business and consumer apps from the cloud.

The event will provide educational, networking, and business development opportunities for both the broadband carrier and cloud services ecosystems.

About David Cuthbert:

David Cuthbert has over fourteen years of operational management and leadership experience. In 2006, he joined Alteva as the Director of Operations, where he developed scalable processes through automation and employee development to support Alteva’s tremendous growth. In August 2010, David was appointed CEO as part of a strategic move to keep Alteva on top in its industry. His leadership style, combined with knowledge and acumen of the communications industry, made David the ideal candidate to continue leading Alteva through its industry leading growth.

After Alteva was acquired by Alteva Group in August 2011, David was appointed Chief Operating Officer of the company, and President of its wholly owned subsidiaries, Alteva and Alteva, where he is now responsible for daily operations of all three companies.

About Alteva Group:

Alteva Group (NASDAQ: WWVY) is a world technology leader in providing cloud-based Unified Communications (UC) solutions for small, medium and enterprise businesses. Founded in 1902, the company has continued to adapt and remain on the forefront of technology, chiseling its position among the oldest, most respected communications vendors on the globe. Alteva Group has worked closely with industry leaders like Microsoft, Cisco, BroadSoft, and Polycom to build the ideal hosting architecture for communications.

Through its subsidiaries, Alteva (for businesses under 35 employees), Alteva (for businesses over 35 employees and those with branch offices), and Warwick Valley Telephone (a highly respected traditional telecom provider turned premier regional broadband company), Alteva Group is enabling businesses of any size to communicate more efficiently with hassle-free communications tools. By overlaying a UC division on its stabile, regional broadband company, Alteva Group has transformed its business, creating an evolutionary change in its strategy. With this, Alteva Group can offer its residential customers a similar suite of UC applications and services for use in a home environment that their business customers can enjoy. For more information, visit www.wvtc.com or call 855-U-GO-CLOUD.

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All trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.


PR Contact:

Angela Tuzzo
MRB Public Relations
732-758-1100, ext. 108

The Alteva Group “Boot Camp” Experience

October 7th, 2011 by USA_Datanet_Marketing

Over the past two weeks, Alteva Group attended its first ever “Boot Camp” orientation for the entire company. Boot Camp was essentially a stop along the path of our journey that our President and CEO Duane Albro often refers to. I would compare it to “The Welcome Center” that you visit when visiting a new destination – a place to gather information about where you’re headed, ask questions, meet new people and discover things you’ve never experienced before.

For me, this was a truly welcoming experience. I, like many of my fellow employees, was unsure of what to expect, unsure of how people would relate to one another and unsure of what was expected of me. However, once we all came together on the first evening, it was apparent that although we may have been apprehensive at first, we were all starting to realize that we’re all in this together – coming together for the common good of an organization where the sky is the limit. It was wonderful to see folks mingling and introducing themselves and asking not only about what people did in their jobs but about their families and what they enjoyed outside of the office. Many of us discovered common interests and talents and it was nice to see the smiles and hear the laughter in the room as everyone started coming together. It was my personal goal to meet every single person in that room and learn more about everyone and as I was going around to each table and introducing myself I was thankful for how open and welcoming everyone was and amazed at the amount of talent, knowledge and skills that each one of us brings to the table.

During the sessions on the second day, we focused on who we are, where we are going, and how we’re going to get there. We provided everyone with additional tools and resources to move forward towards coming together and uniting as one organization. We learned a little bit more about one another, heard from our leaders, and received answers to many of our questions and in the spirit of coming together and doing the best we can for every employee announced new enhanced benefits for all of our workforce. We came together in small teams at first and had some fun putting all of our different skills to work and then became larger teams and developed team songs reflective of what we experienced throughout our two days and in all sessions the teams and their songs focused on TEAMWORK. It’s important to retain that focus as we move forward and remember that although individually we have a lot to offer, if we share our knowledge, suggest new ideas, listen to alternative points of view, and recognize the value in collaborating with our peers, then we can take the energy from boot camp and use it to cultivate and develop one of the most dynamic workforces in the Unified Communications arena today.

I’m thrilled to be part of this new organization and look forward to working with each and every employee as we continue our journey!

Rachel Romeo
Director, Human Resources
Employee Relations & Development
Alteva Group

 

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