Qwest to provide nationwide IP services to MiCTA

Qwest's (NYSE: Q) latest endorsement by MiCTA, a nationwide group purchasing organization for K-12, higher education, and libraries for traditional telecom and IP-based services illustrates that these entities need a simplified way to purchase telecom services.

As part of the updated agreement, which will be extended for at least another two years, Qwest becomes an approved national provider of VoIP and specialty services such as managed hosting, conferencing, call center solutions in addition to direct equipment purchases.   

What MiCTA brings to the table for its education and government agency constituency is ease of use and lower costs. Unlike traditional the telecom service procurement process that requires schools and colleges to conduct their own bidding process, MiCTA members can purchase Qwest's suite of IP and telecom services using the MiCTA contract.

"By putting next-generation technology in classrooms and libraries, Qwest is helping create an outstanding learning environment that unlocks the potential of students of all ages nationwide," said Sharon Montgomery, vice president of Qwest Government and Education Solutions. "State agencies are also finding that technology solutions can help create efficiencies and good stewardship of taxpayer dollars."

MiCTA appears to be in a vendor upgrade mode as of late. In addition to renewing its partnership with Qwest, MiCTA signed an agreement with ShoreTel for telephony equipment and NETech for network equipment and integration services.

For more:
- see the release here
- this news release
- and this release

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