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AirBand launches VoIP service across the Valley
Adam Kress
The Business Journal, Sept. 24, 2004

The increasingly competitive voice-over Internet protocol market in Phoenix added its newest competitor in Dallas-based airBand Communications.

AirBand launched widespread availability of its VoIP broadband services across the Valley and is targeting small and midsize businesses. The company currently has about 600 local customers.

AirBand's VoIP offering is bundled with clients' dedicated wireless data solutions, or as part of an "up to" 1.5 megabyte service. Where possible, airBand offers redundant, dual-path network access for businesses' voice and data services, providing protection against service interruption.

Unlike some competitors who offer only wired delivery, airBand's dual-path delivery uses the company's fixed wireless network and wireline access.

"For the majority of businesses, the features and benefits of a VoIP solution have remained out of their grasp," said Andrew Lombard, founder and chief executive of airBand. "Our advanced broadband solutions level the playing field, allowing clients to finally take advantage of the powerful voice and data services that have been deployed by many of the largest global business leaders."

A number of local telecom players have rolled out VoIP services to businesses in the recent past, including Qwest Communications in June. But it seems many home users still are unaware of what VoIP is all about.

According to a recent report from Texas research consultants The Diffusion Group, only one-fourth of Internet households are "somewhat familiar" with VoIP service. Nearly half of the more than 1,000 Internet households surveyed have never even heard of it and fewer than 1 percent subscribe to VoIP.