Vyve Broadband, the tier 2 operator formerly known as BCI Broadband, has picked a cloud-based, turnkey platform from Alianza to power next-gen IP voice services and apps that are being tailored and customized for both residential and small business customers.
Vyve has offered baseline VoIP services on its legacy platform for years, but is now migrating to a universal platform that can address both types of customers while also providing the underpinnings for new capabilities that can extend messaging, find me/follow/me features, and other parts of the service to a broader array of IP-connected devices, including smartphones and tablets.
Vyve Broadband, the small-market MSO formed by ex-Bresnan Communications execs in 2012 that operates in nine states, has some live customers migrated over to the new platform and expects to cut over the rest of its IP voice subscriber base in the next 30 to 60 days, Kevin Mitchell, Alianza’s VP of marketing and product, said.
Alianza’s white-label Cloud Voice Platform is delivered via a teaming agreement with Level 3 Communications and its VoIP Enhanced Local Service, which handles elements such as PSTN interconnection and local number portability. Using a set of APIs, Alianza said its system can be integrated with an operator’s existing backoffice system, and provides MSOs with real-time visibility into the service and simplified control tasks such as order entry, provisioning and billing functions.
Part of Alianza’s cable strategy hinges on an “EasySwitch” VoIP migration program that includes a professional services team that manages deployments, new feature development, certification of embedded multimedia terminal adapters (cable modems optimized for cable voice services), and training.
Mitchell said Alanza’s migration approach requires no upfront capital from Vyve, and licenses its hosted platform on a monthly per subscriber/seat basis.
“After a rigorous analysis of all of the potential voice technology partners, Vyve is confident that the Alianza cloud voice solution is the best offering for our commercial and residential customers,” said Vin Zachariah, SVP of residential services for Vyve Broadband.
Alianza’s competitors in the cable sector include a mix of vendors as well as others that pitch white label services to operators, such as MetaSwitch Networks, BroadSoft and Momentum Telecom, among others.
Vyve is Alianza’s first announced deal with a cable operator, though discussions are underway with other U.S. and Canadian MSOs as they mull next-gen voice strategies and issue requests for proposals. “There are more decisions to come,” Mitchell said. “The pipeline is full of cable opportunities.”
Alianza’s largest customer is Sprint, coming way of its ownership of Clearwire, which originally signed on Alianza as a partner back in 2011.
