Outbound Call Center

By Arun Satapathy

TMCnet Contributing Editor

 

Sparkplug, Inc., announced the expansion of its Chicago network, bringing high speed broadband service to more businesses in the Chicago metropolitan area.

 

The latest expansion extends coverage to more than 19,000 additional Chicago businesses, bringing the total number of businesses in Sparkplug's service area in the metropolitan area to more than 63,000, an increase of more than 43 percent. Also, Sparkplug has significantly increased the capacity of its Chicago network backbone to support geographical expansion and new customer growth.

In view of the new Web-based applications for voice, video, images and hosted software, many businesses are complaining that their existing wireline services are not coping with the demand and wants dedicated symmetrical connections that go well past traditional T1 services that top out at 1.5 Mbps. Affordable, scalable, and easy-to-deploy wireline solutions are also scarce in the 3 and 15 Mbps range.

 

Sparkplug's wireless network provides businesses with a scalable way to keep up with rapidly growing bandwidth requirements.

 

One such business that benefited from Sparkplug’s network expansion is COLOR IMAGE, a Chicago-based provider of graphics that’s been in business for more than 25 years. During the last decade, the company increased its Web based business, offering a more convenient way to exchange large graphic files and interact with customers. Now COLOR IMAGE is taking its use of the Web to the next level with a new customer portal.

"Sparkplug has been with us every step of the way as our business has grown and changed," said Tom O'Dowd, IT Manager of COLOR IMAGE. "We have been able to upgrade our bandwidth to a 6 Mbps symmetrical connection as our needs have evolved, and it's easy, fast, and flexible. Sparkplug provides the competitive edge we need in our business."

Another beneficiary of Sparkplug network expansion is Lincoln Park Hospital, which constantly faces the challenge from large radiology files and other demands, creating “spikes” and bogging down the existing T1 line. The hospital also required a secure point-to-point connection to meet HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) compliance requirements.

"Sparkplug's broadband satisfies all the needs of our hospital: a secure, HIPAA-compliant connection, easy upgrades, fast service, and more attractive pricing than our other choices," said Karen Gill, Director, Information Systems at Lincoln Park Hospital. "Sparkplug provided a 14 Mbps high capacity data connection as well as an additional 4 Mbps connection for our radiology needs, and was able to provide installation and service rapidly and easily. We like the fact that Sparkplug is a Chicago company with a strong local technical support team."

Similarly, Tripp Lite (News - Alert), a manufacturer of power protection and connectivity equipments, embraced Sparkplug’s network in the midst of an expansion effort, to overcome the bandwidth challenge.

"Sparkplug's fixed wireless broadband solution delivered the extra capacity that was difficult to find from any other provider," said Frank Scalise, IT Operations Manager of Tripp Lite. "We purchased a 10 Mbps connection and now have the flexibility to add more capacity easily over time as our needs change. The flexibility and capacity choices Sparkplug offers above 3 Mbps solve a significant challenge for our business."

"Growing data applications including voice and video are creating broadband speed and capacity challenges for today's business," said Ben Brimhall, Vice President of Engineering and Operations for Sparkplug. "The Sparkplug network leverages WiMAX technology to provide our customers with the latest in affordable, easily scalable, high bandwidth, low latency service that businesses need."

Sparkplug's network offers a number of advantages which is cost effective than wired alternatives, offering a savings of 30 to 60 percent. Also, many buildings do not have the wired infrastructure to support the kind of capacity customers need for their business. Another advantage is that Sparkplug businesses can be up and running in a day or two, against months required by wired alternatives. Sparkplug can also increase customer bandwidth capacity on demand as business needs evolve.

"Our continuing growth and expansion in the Chicago market is a reflection of the demand we're seeing for a better class of business broadband service," said Bill Malloy, Sparkplug Chief Executive Officer. "Customers in Chicago and all our markets across the country are asking for a solution to their growing broadband demands that goes beyond what is available today. Given the need in the market for high speed, affordable, scalable broadband, our fixed wireless service is proving to be a valuable solution for today's broadband-intensive businesses."
 
Arun Satapathy is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Arun’s articles, please visit his columnist page.