Westcon Group Taps WTG as SIP Trunking Vendor

Value-added distributor Westcon Group Inc., has partnered with master agency World Telecom Group, to provide SIP trunking services as part of its new CollaborationPoint OpenSource solutions program. The Collaboration Point OpenSource program was launched today to exclusively support Asterisk-based open-source telephony platforms from Digium Inc. and open standard SIP-trunking products for the channel.

Including both Asterisk-based products and SIP trunking is an effort to provide “one-stop shopping” for Westcon resellers, said Dan Pirro, group commercial sales manager, Westcon Group.

Pirro said resellers working under the CollaborationPoint OpenSource program will have access to a Web portal, which includes a configuration tool that not only allows them to pick the right Asterisk-based platform and the right configuration for the customer, but also to located a SIP trunking provider.

WTG will provide Westcon resellers with information on available SIP trunking vendors and pricing to fit their project needs. Pirro said the information is returned in near real-time in most cases unless the quote requires research. All orders go through Westcon, which is acting as a subagent for WTG.

Pirro said Westcon Group chose WTG precisely because of its ability to quote multiple service providers. “The challenge we would have if we did not go with World Telecom Group is we would have to deal with a number of providers because not all of them offer coverage in the areas our customers are located. World Telecom Group makes it much more convenient for every one to go through and find the best SIP trunking provider for that particular application,” Pirro said.

WTG will be quoting a range of SIP and bundled SIP/DIA providers, including Level 3 Communications Inc., Qwest Communications International Inc., XO Communications Inc., PAETEC, TelePacific Communications, New Edge Networks, Simple Signal, Bandwidth.com, Bandtel, Excel, Airespring, Speakeasy and Cbeyond.

Vince Bradley, CEO of WTG, said more SIP providers could be added. In addition, he said, WTG will be quoting other products and services, such as PRI, DIA and analog trunks, among others, so there are additional providers that will be included, such as AT&T Inc., Verizon Telecom, ACC Business, Sprint, Global Crossing Ltd. and Covad Communications.

"World Telecom Group is very excited to be working with Westcon on the quotation and provisioning of network services, primarily SIP Trunking, for Westcon Group's Collaboration Point OpenSource program," said Bradley. "WTG's vast portfolio of network service providers, including the leaders in SIP Trunking technology, enables Westcon resellers access to much needed products and services as well as helping create new profits centers."