Let me start out by saying WOW, it seems that whenever there is a posting
from CommWorks to the List it causes a volley of flames. The sad part is
some feel that we at CommWorks don't care about the small ISPs. When we
try to let you know about something happening for the TC1000 it is met with
some strange comments.
For those that don't go to the Total Service or CommWorks web site from
time to time I post things to make you aware. I monitor this list just to
keep myself aware of what's going on. Its great to see a community of
Technical people helping each other out on USR-TC. I know that many people
use this list because the have no other access to Technical Support. Some
may not have a Contracts while others have no Warrantee because the bought
used. My apologies for the disruptions that my postings seem to cause.
To set some things straight:
CommWorks is a wholly owned subsidiary of 3Com. 3Com sold off Palm and
spun off the Courier and Sportster Modem division which bought the name US
Robotics. 3Com and USR are not structured apart they are two different
companies. CommWorks has no say in what other companies do on end user
modems or any other product you sell to the end user.
If you have complaints about software not doing something open a Service
Ticket so its addressed. Posting or Complaining on the USR-TC list does
not accomplish this. If its not resolved escalate it with us.
If you don't need the ability to put 1,152 ports in one chassis using
Mulit-Spans look at the TCS 4.7 release notes and decide if there is really
any need to move past TCS 4.5 and the ER code for DSPs. If not then TCM is
not an issue.
TCM had a cost associated with it. It came with the bundles. CEM has a
cost associated which is $1,000 list price for the entry level 1-5 element
version. TCM was about $2,059 list price that would allow control of 1
element. Most ISP open several windows to view more.
CEM has had an Evaluation Program going on for months. If you bought gear
from Authorized Reseller you would have known this. Yes, you need a
Support Contract to have access to download the Evaluation Software.
About the Green. We are a business just as your ISP is a business. We
help out customers just as you help out customers. One difference we have
Partners that sell yearly contracts for Support and ISPs sell monthly
access to the Internet. Let me know if you give out Free access to people
that built your company.
Changing to a another RAS vendor, As much as it would pain me to loose
some of you as customers I realize that churn is part of the industry you
deal with every day. I have traded out several Cisco, Lucent, (Ascend &
Livingston) and even Patton boxes. I have even had people come back when
the as you do when they find the other guy is not better but just
different. There were comments from both bigger and smaller ISPs on there
experiences with other vendors. I also sit on the user lists of my
competition and see the negativity posted there too. Frankly some posts on
the USR-TC list back in Feb/Mar when V92 was released stated they were
trading out all there gear and 9 months later they still have the same
comment.
We are not perfect but strive to be. We create programs to help out the
smaller ISPs with price. We offer Competitive Trade outs that gives you a
way out of older technologies.
Thanks for reading,
Tom Goodman
Channel Account Manager
