Sprint Business Services Group

Helping Business Do More Business

Sprint Business Service Group, part of Sprint's Long Distance Division, offers businesses of all sizes and complexities -- from multinational giants to small retail operations -- a suite of voice, data and video services to help them be more productive and compete in today's global economy. From a Dial 1 and 800 services to sophisticated frame relay and ATM services, Sprint Business applies industry-leading, advanced network technology to find the right solutions to spport business' growing reliance on communications.

Advanced voice and data communications services are becoming a part of everyday corporate life around the world. Telemarketing operations rely on specialized inbound and outbound voice services to ensure more and faster call completions, respond to emergencies and control call routing. Engineering firms rely on high-speed data communications services so designers in offices around the world can collaborate on multidimensional images of new products as if they were in the same room. Large retailers rely on secure data transmissions to verify credit cards in seconds, transact business with suppliers and keep branch networks linked to the mainframe at headquarters.

Now, a new generation of multimedia and mobile applications is providing Sprint with more challenges to introduce broadband and wireless services, and tackle the huge bandwidth and other network demands they will make. At the same time, business are demanding simplified telecommunications services. Sprint provides simplified, easy-to-understand business communications solutions, and a trusted guide to help companies identify solutions of relevance and value to their business.

Sprint Business brings simplicity to a multitude of telecommunications products and services from a single source. Sprint has packaged its business telecommunications services into five innovative, easy-to-understand business communications solutions:

Through its recently formed alliance with three of America's leading communications companies and partnerships with telecommunications providers in France, Germany, Mexico and other countries, Sprint has taken a giant step forward towards meeting business' demand for a single provider of totally integrated services with global reach.

Industry Leading Network Technology

In the mid-1980s, Sprint designed and built the most advanced communications infrastructure in the world, one that could evolve over time to support the products and services required to meet the changing needs of business well into the next century. Starting with fiber-optic cabling and all-digital switching, Sprint's strategy was to build the network right the first time, and continue to enhance it with transmission and switching technologies as they became available.

In [19____], Sprint became the first major long-distance carrier to deploy an all fiber-optic backbone network in the United States, providing Sprint's renowned "pin-drop" clarity for voice services, virtually unlimited bandwidth and the most secure transmission media available today. Sprint implemented the first nationwide intelligent network using Signaling System 7 in [19____], opening the door to an expanded array of advanced communication services and addressing businesses' growing need to customize and control their network services themselves. Sprint also was the first carrier to begin using the most advanced SONET architecture -- self-healing, bidirectional, line-switched rings -- nationwide in [19____], and in 1995 activated the industry's first coast-to-coast connection.

Now, Sprint is introducing technology worldwide that is just as significant as its original all-digital, fiber-optic network -- a broadband network with unsurpassed intelligence and reliability built-in. Sprint's broadband Distributed Intelligent Network Architecture (DINA) will accommodate information-intensive multimedia applications that require higher speeds, more dynamic switching and greater intelligence. DINA will expand Sprint customers' communications capabilities, enabling businesses to use a flexible, building-block approach to customize their communications solutions and change their networks quickly to outpace the competition.

Products and Services

Sprint's all-digital, fiber-optic network is the springboard that has consistently enabled it to be first to offer businesses the most advanced communications products and services available from any long-distance carrier. Sprint's vast array of products include voice, data and video services, and are available individually or in five innovative, pre-packaged Business Communications Solutions designed to offer the right telecommunications solutions for any business, no matter how large or small. Best known for its traditional long-distance voice services, Sprint also is a leader in data communications services, including multimedia and video services.

Data Transport Services

The SprintNet® global data network is the largest public data network in the world, transmitting business-critical information more than three million times a day for the world's leading corporations, government agencies and information providers. With service to more than 100 countries, SprintNet offers a variety of connection options, handles virtually every type of business application and ensures highly reliable transmission facilities.

The SprintLink packet switching network, part of the U.S. Internet backbone, was the first commercial wide-area TCP/IP network service, and today carries more than half of all the Internet traffic into and out of the U.S. Engineered for optimum functionality, availability, reliability, serviceability and performance, SprintLink is available through dedicated and dial-up access from the more than 300 Sprint points of presence in the U.S.

The first carrier to provide public frame relay service in the U.S. and internationally, Sprint offers global frame relay solutions to help businesses design and support cost-effective, high-speed, multiprotocol networks. Sprint's frame relay solutions let businesses consolidate their parallel, dedicated data networks reliably, providing the response times required for their mission-critical SNA-based applications and bandwidth on demand for bursty LAN and other data traffic.

In [19____], Sprint became the first carrier to offer nationwide commercial ATM service, enabling businesses to combine multiple network protocols as well as time-critical data such as video into a single, integrated network, while providing significantly higher speeds than frame relay. A range of network access methods and bandwidth options, as well as interworking with frame relay and SprintLink services, give businesses the greatest flexibility in bringing all their locations on-line in the most cost-effective manner. Sprint offers an array of fully digital Clearline Private Line Services for unlimited line availability 24 hours a day at a flat monthly rate. Broadband (DS3), T1/E1, fractional T1/E1, voiceband and other facilities can transmit voice, data, video, electronic mail, facsimile and other services using digitally encoded signals simultaneously.

Sprint Switched Data Services bring the power of high-bandwidth digital transport to smaller businesses, enabling location with even very low volume usage to take advantage of Switched 56, ISDN basic rate and ISDN primary rate service. Switched Data Services combine the speed of a private line with the pay-as-you-go, call anywhere flexibility of ordinary phone service for LAN internetworking, remote LAN access, videoconferencing and electronic imaging.

Sprint is a leading provider of private network solutions, with more than 250 private data networks installed throughout the world, more than 50 of which were designed and built to the exacting standards of PTTs and value-added network service providers. These networks incorporate Sprint's line of access, switching and bandwidth management products.

Leveraging Sprint Frame Relay, SprintNet and Clearline products, Sprint Managed Network Service provides a global LAN/WAN internetworking solution for linking geographically remote LANs. This service designs, installs, configures, maintains and manages the network, with on-site and centralized technical support personnel to respond quickly to changing application requirements and troubleshooting.

Video and Multimedia Services

Sprint Video is a single source for a comprehensive array of videoconferencing products and services, including network options, video equipment and project management. Switched data customers can take advantage of Sprint's integrated videoconferencing solution and package of value-added services, including a video applications help desk, multipoint conferencing, format and speed conversions and connections to other carrier networks. Two dedicated private networks offer either on-demand videoconferencing or reservation-based services. Sprint also provides all the services necessary to plan, install and maintain desktop videoconferencing and collaborative applications. Small business can take advantage of Sprint's partnership with Kinko's Copy Centers, offering on-demand videoconferencing facilities in convenient locations across the country.

Leveraging SprintLink, Sprint's wide-area network multimedia service, DRUMS, eliminates the barriers of time and distance for the entertainment and multimedia industries, allowing near real-time desktop-to-desktop communication and access to on-line resources for the creation of films, commercials, television programs and other multimedia projects. Soon, work group collaboration supported by videoconferencing and electronic "white boards" will be offered, as well as Internet access, on-line advertising and order processing.

Other Products and Services

Sprint offers a multitude of public and private fax, electronic mail, email integration, and electronic data interchange services. Sprint offers a complete family of integrated access capabilities, enabling voice, data and video to be carried over a single link from a business premises to Sprint's point-of-presence for wide-area network services. FONECARDSM calling card and travel services provide business travelers with easy access to the Sprint network from virtually anywhere in the world, and include Sprint's unprecedented Voice FONECARD® calling card fraud protection technology.

Consolidated invoices, enhanced accounting codes and the powerful, PC-based FONEVIEW software help make the job of analyzing and managing telecommunications services easier. SprintGUARD Security Services, the first of their kind, offer comprehensive voice and data communications security programs to protect premises equipment as well as voice and data networks from unauthorized use.

The unique flexibility of the Sprint network enables Sprint Business Services to create custom configurations that provide leading-edge, value-added, single-vendor solution for specialized industries and markets. SIGN links state governments through a software-defined, multi-state network that lets members integrate voice, data and video services over digital telephone lines. University Connection offers on-net connectivity to colleges and universities, providing students, faculty and administrators with cost-effective applications and services -- from videoconferencing to Internet access. HANDS provides telemedicine services to the medical community, enabling hospitals and other health care providers to deliver service to a greater number of patients more efficiently.

Business Communications Solutions

Recognizing that the time has come for simplicity in long-distance service, Sprint offers five Business Communications Solutions designed to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes. Each Business Communications Solution consists of strategically chosen voice, data and video services to meet businesses' operational needs and business goals.

Business Sense

Business Sense is the simplest long-distance service in the country. If offers a flat rate structure for all domestic Dial 1, 800 Service, FONECARD, Voice FONECARD and cellular long-distance calling. Rates vary only according to the call destination -- in-state, state-to-state or international. Business Sense also offers a wide range of productivity-enhancing features such as account codes and call control, and all charges are billed on one monthly invoice. All Business Sense users are also enrolled in Sprint's Callers' Plus, the only frequent-caller program in the industry that rewards users with long-distance services as well as business and personal merchandise.

The Most for Business

The Most for Business allows small businesses to tailor a host of invaluable management tools and long-distance discounts to meet their unique needs with no monthly minimums. The Most for Business program automatically adapts to changes in monthly calling patterns, ensuring the best value on all outbound, switched data, 800, FONECARD, cellular and fax calls.

Real Solutions

Real Solutions is a comprehensive program that combines a flexible, flat-rated service platform, valuable business consulting services and other customer benefits to help improve performance in key areas such as sales and marketing, as well as customer and financial management. With Real Solutions, business consulting, advanced products and services and Sprint's intelligent network technology are all brought to bear to provide businesses with custom-tailored communications solutions.

Sprint Clairty

Sprint Clarity offers medium-sized businesses a menu of flexible voice and data service options and call management tools with a simple pricing structure that combines all calls for one discount. It's a single-solution service that lets businesses match their voice and data services to the way they do business.

Sprint Premier

Sprint Premier integrates virtual private network services, custom 800 service solutions and next-generation switched data services onto a customized network, engineered to a business' specifications. It's a complete, cost-efficient solution for all voice, data, video and imaging needs. Sprint Premier offers complete service management capabilities and a choice of access options, including switched, dedicated, VPN FONECARD or cellular.

Global Partners

Sprint is making great progress in bring the world to business. Sprint's international private networking services enhance businesses' ability to employ voice, high-speed switched data, video and integrated service applications, and offer many cost-saving benefits. With Sprint's global alliances and joint venture ownership of new Personal Communication Services (PCS) licenses in key U.S. markets, Sprint is strategically positioned to provide the widest range of international voice, data and video communications services in the world.

In June, 1995, Sprint singed an agreement to form a joint venture with Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom, Europe's two largest telecommunications entities. When fully implemented, the venture will provide seamless, global telecommunications services to businesses worldwide. Subject to regulatory requirements, the venture will provide global international data, voice and video business services for multinational and large business customers, as well as for the burgeoning number of small companies with international communications needs.

In April, 1995, Sprint and Telefonos de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (Telmex), Mexico's largest telecommunications carrier, signed a definitive agreement for seamless cross-border services between Mexico and the United States. Through the agreement, Telmex and Sprint established a framework to offer a full range of cross-border services for the corporate, consumer and carrier markets to meet the anticipated growth in demand for telecommunications services as a result of the North American Free Trade Agreement. This includes voice, data and video services such as international virtual private networks, dedicated services, managed networks and travelcard services. Telmex and Sprint also agreed to establish Telmex as Sprint's national data carrier for international value-added services.

The Sprint/Telmex agreement complements Sprint's venture with Call-Net enterprises, Inc., Canada's largest alternative communications provider, which offers long-distance switched voice services under the Sprint Canada brand.

In an unprecedented joint venture, Sprint and its three partners, TCI, Comcast and Cox Cable, will package local and long-distance telephone services, wireless communications and broadband cable services into a single offering for consumers and businesses. The Sprint Telecommunications Venture partners have a presence in 48 states and the top 50 markets, which translates to direct access to more than one-third of all U.S. households. Recently, the venture won rights to wireless licenses in 29 major trading areas covering more than 182 million people.

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