State Recovers $19 million in Settlement with Qwest

Alaska has negotiated a $19 million securities fraud settlement with Denver-based Qwest Communications International Incorporated.

The Department of Law reported Wednesday that the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation will receive $13 million of that sum.

The Department of Revenue and the Alaska Retirement Management Board will receive $6 million.

This represents the third settlement Alaska has negotiated with corporations in as many years.

Two years ago, it received $45 million dollars from AOL Time Warner; last year the state landed $14 million from WorldCom.


Source:
http://www.9news.com/money/top-article.aspx?storyid=81445

Phonetime's YTD Revenue Over $50 Million

Phonetime Inc., one of Canada's leading suppliers of long distance telecommunication services, today announced that as of the end of July its revenue has exceeded $50 million for the year-to-date, more than doubling last years total revenues. In addition it has processed over 1.5 billion minutes of long distance traffic so far in 2007.

Phonetime attributes its surge in revenue in 2007 to the Company's decision to expand into wholesale markets world-wide. In addition to the dynamic growth of its wholesale operation, Phonetime's retail operation Call Select has also achieved record sales, contributing consistent monthly revenues of over $1 million with higher margins. Completing Phonetime's vertically integrated sales strategy, the Company has also seen improved sales growth of its legacy phone card business.

Wayne Silver, Phonetime's President and CEO, stated that, "it's clear we are offering exceptional value to both our wholesale and retail clients. Our annual sales volume of long distance traffic is very significant and gives us buying power equalled by only the incumbent Canadian telephone companies. Moreover, we believe these results are a testament not only to the size of our world-wide network, but also to the quality of our services and the superior efforts of our staff. As a result, we look forward to continued revenue growth."

Rodney Franklin, Phonetime's Chairman and CFO, commented, "The fact that significant revenue is derived from both our retail and wholesale services validates our earlier strategic decision to diversify our service offerings and expand our network facilities into Europe and develop a presence in the United States. We are confident that as we trend towards $100 million in revenue, our position as an important supplier of international telecommunications services will be recognized by the financial markets."

Source:
http://biz.yahoo.com/ccn/070808/200708080406412001.html?.v=1

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Lays Down USF on Prepaid Phone Card Companies

Looks like most of calling cards and VoIP companies now have to scramble to get in compliance with the new laws requiring them to collect Universal Service Fund (USF) fees from all users. VoIP users will see it in additional fees on their monthly phone bill, but calling card users will not see it as directly since most phone card providers will just build it into the rates. What the phone card customers will notice is less minute.

FCC also requires Prepaid Caling Card Service Provider to have a certification before being approved to run their business.

Source:
http://www.fcc.gov

Inside Scoop: Blackstone (Telecom Company)

This video shows the inside office of Blackstone, their marketing of their prepaid phone cards through Prepaid Stop machines. Enjoy =)

Deutsche Telekom Eyes Hutchison Whampoa’s European Wireless Businesses

Germany’s incumbent telephone carrier, Deutsche Telekom, is planning to make further acquisitions in Western Europe in the coming months, and is considering Hutchison Whampoa’s wireless units as potential buyout targets, according to Wirtschaftswoche, a German weekly business magazine.

Hutchison operates mobile networks under the “3” brand name in Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, as well as in non-European countries such as Indonesia, Australia, and its home market of Hong Kong.

Its operations in Austria, Italy, Ireland, and the UK are currently being eyed by Deutsche Telekom, according to sources cited by Wirtschaftswoche, although no concrete negotiations between Deutsche and Hutchison are known to be occurring at this time.

In US, Deutsche Telekom owns T-Mobile mobile phone carrier.

Source:
http://www.teleclick.ca/2007/10/deutsche-telekom-eyes-hutchison-whampoas-european-wireless-businesses/