In the world of telecommunications, today's headlines quickly turn into old news. Symphony Communications is constantly on top of the latest happenings in the industry so that you can rest assured that your business is receiving the best pricing, most recent technologies, and the highest level of service.

Check here for some of the bigger industry news, updated monthly. If you would like to be kept in the "know", please click here to add yourself to our monthly email newsletter sent via The Marketing Co-op.

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Line Systems, Inc. Named by Inc. Magazine as One of America's Top 500 Fastest Growing Companies
Sep. 15, 2005 — Line Systems, Inc. of Newtown Square, PA was named by Inc Magazine as number 315 on their "Top 500 Fastest Growing Companies" in America list.

As one of many carriers of phone, Internet, and data services for business customers, Line Systems might not yet be a household name, but don't let that fool you. Line Systems has been growing at a rate of 419% over the last 3 years and now has annual revenues approaching $25 million.

Co-founder and CEO Mike Miller believes the company's key to its continued growth and success can be attributed to its little-guy approach to customer service and its competitive pricing are the keys.

Click here to read Inc. Magazine's profile of Line Systems from their Top 500 article.

SBC Communications to Acquire AT&T
Jan. 31, 2005 — SBC Communications Inc. and AT&T announced today an agreement for SBC to acquire AT&T, a combination that creates the nation's premier communications company with unmatched global reach.

The transaction combines AT&T's global systems capabilities, business and government customers, and fast-growing Internet protocol (IP)-based business with SBC's extraordinary local exchange, broadband and wireless solutions. Both companies have common values focused on customer service, innovation and reliability.

The combined company will have robust, high-quality network assets, both in the United States and around the globe, and complementary expertise and capabilities. It will have the resources and skill sets to innovate and more quickly deliver to customers the next generation of advanced, integrated IP-based wireline and wireless communications services.

For SBC, the combination provides immediate global leadership in the enterprise segment where corporations and governments require complex communication solutions and services and access to advanced national and global networks. SBC and AT&T have highly complementary world-class assets and industry-leading capabilities.

SBC has broad and transferable strengths in local service, with 52 million access lines and dense local access network capabilities to deliver voice and data services to consumers and businesses of all sizes.

SBC is an industry leader in high-speed broadband, with 5.1 million DSL Internet lines and a local broadband network covering 77 percent of its local customer locations. In addition, SBC has nationwide wireless coverage through its 60 percent ownership of Cingular Wireless, which has 49 million subscribers across the country.

AT&T brings to the combined company the world's most advanced communications network to meet the sophisticated data communication needs of large businesses with multiple locations. AT&T serves virtually every member of the Fortune 1000. Its global network spans more than 50 countries and connects virtually every country and territory around the world. AT&T has 26 advanced Internet Data Centers, 13 in the United States and 13 in other countries worldwide.

Beyond its network capabilities, AT&T has complementary assets that will allow SBC to bring a full range of innovative voice and data services to customers around the world. These include a broad, high-end enterprise customer base, proven sales expertise in complex communications solutions, and an advanced product portfolio including a broad range of IP-based services. In addition, AT&T has the world's premier communications research organization, AT&T Labs, which has more than 5,600 patents, issued or pending, worldwide.

PAETEC to Acquire American Long Lines
PAETEC Communications, Inc., a national communications solutions provider, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase American Long Lines, Inc., a privately owned telecommunications company serving primarily small and medium-sized business customers in the Mid-Atlantic region. The transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of 2005 and is subject to, among other conditions, obtaining final regulatory approvals.

"This agreement is a great strategic fit for us as it enhances our business model with further penetration in the Philadelphia and New Jersey markets," said Brad Bono, Chief Operating Officer for PAETEC. "We also look forward to adding a high level of industry skills and expertise through the American Long Lines employees that will join PAETEC."

The deal, the terms of which are not disclosed at this time, includes the facilities, employees, and customer base of American Long Lines. Based in Horsham, Penn., American Long Lines reported revenues of $24.5 million and net income of $1.0 million in 2003.

"Our employees and customers should feel confident that they are joining a company that shares our values of providing exceptional customer service," said Doug Derstine, president of American Long Lines. "We have long considered PAETEC to be a leader in the competitive telecommunications landscape and we look forward to contributing to such a growing force in the industry."

Corvis Corporation Completes Focal Acquisition
The parent company of Broadwing Communications, LLC, Corvis Corporation, announced the completion of the Focal Communications Corporation acquisition. The communications services business, consolidating the services of Broadwing and Focal, will operate under the Broadwing brand once final regulatory approval is received to transfer the assets of Focal to Broadwing.

What does this mean for our customers? Two companies - both valuing the delivery of a positively differently customer experience - will bring to the market a more robust set of products and services to meet even more customer needs.

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