The communications package will be offered in two versions: Tello Basic, for individuals, and Tello Enterprise, designed for businesses.  Tello Basic is a free service that allows users to create contact lists and then connect with others also on the service, sending instant messages across different networks.  Tello Enterprise is designed to assist businesses in connecting partners' and customers' internal and external IM systems, voice networks and collaboration software. 

Windows PCs and RIM Blackberrys are serviced by Tello Connect.  Tello Connect works as a mediator for different communications networks and provides the ability for users to contact each other despite subscribing to different services.

The company founders combine high profile veterans of the telecom and computer industries.  Jeff Pulver, Pulver.com founder and Vonage Co-Founder, John Scully, former CEO of Apple and Pepsi, Craig McCaw, cellular pioneer who founded the company that later became AT&T Wireless, and Michael Price, telecom investment banker whose worked on deals such as the sale of  AT&T Wireless to Cingular and  the sale of AT&T's remaining business to former SBC. The company's Chief Executive, Doug Renert, spent eight years at Oracle and was Vice President of Applications Development.

It is expected that VeriSign will integrate the applications from CallVision with its Commerce Suite, which offers payment and billing services for wireless and wireline carriers. CallVision clients such as T-Mobile, Bell Canada, TelstraClear and AAPT (Australia) use its applications to transform billing data into vital sources of business intelligence to increase satisfaction and retention. This is done by consolidating billing data from multiple systems, products, geographies, languages and currencies into a single electronic analysis and bill payment view and creating one view of multiple accounts. The company distributes and markets its services through direct sales and channel partners such as global system integrators and major BSS/OSS vendors.

"By developing highly regarded customer self-care and consolidated e-billing and analysis applications for Tier 1 and global carriers, CallVision has realized solid growth and established itself as a world-class provider of customer-centric solutions. We are pleased to be joining VeriSign to help one of the industry's most trusted brands deliver new services to a broader, diversified audience," said Derek Edwards, CEO of CallVision.

The deal is set to close by April 1, 2006.

Michigan Governor Seeks Criminal Laws for Unauthorized Sale of Phone Records
Michigan Governor, Jennifer Granholm, wants new criminal laws passed prohibiting the unauthorized sale or release of telephone records and other personal information by telecommunications service providers and information brokers.  In addition to her request to the legislature she asked the PUC to investigate whether providers in Michigan have permitted the release of telephone records and how records are being obtained for sale on the Internet.

Granholm is not the only one concerned with the sale and release of phone records.  In early January the FCC and several state attorneys general called for action against the selling of private records and have initiated investigations into several websites offering to sell phone records for around $100.  The Electronic Privacy Information Center has filed a list of 40 websites that offer phone records for sale with the FCC.

"Unauthorized use of phone records violates a person's privacy and creates serious threats to public safety," Granholm said. "The state of Michigan must send a clear message that the private, personal information of Michigan consumers is not a commodity and is not for sale."

Granholm's proposal would:

• prohibit a telecommunications service provider from releasing or selling customer information without the consent of the customer;

• make it a crime to obtain customer information from a telecommunications service provider by providing false information or false pretenses;

• criminalize the unauthorized sale or release by brokers of telecommunications service account records, identifying information, or personal data relating to Michigan residents or businesses; and

• require telecommunications service providers to maintain appropriate measures to safeguard consumer privacy and notify consumers of any security breaches or unauthorized release of information.

The proposal has been submitted to the Michigan Legislative Service Bureau for review.

New Telecom Bill Recommends Five Percent Flat Tax
Proposed legislation in Virginia recommends replacing a myriad of state and local telecommunications taxes with a 5% flat levy.  The bill would apply the uniform flat tax to local and long distance phone service as well as wireless communications, and cable service.  In addition, the levy would also be applied to services like satellite television and radio, and VoIP, which currently are not subject to taxing. 

The state would collect the taxed funds and then reimburse the cities and counties for their shares of revenue -- about $425 million -- lost by the elimination of the local taxes. 

Customers would see a reduction in taxes on landline and wireless phone services in most Roanoke and New River valley localities, according to data collected by the Virginia Telecommunications Industry Association.  However, satellite television subscribers in these areas would see a slight increase in their overall tax bill if the levy were passed into law.

There is some opposition on the bill from several rural legislators concerned that their satellite subscribing constituents would bare the burden, and especially from the satellite TV industry, but for the most part it has passed preliminary voting with flying colors.  A final vote on the bill is expected shortly.

Indiana Telecom Law Gets Proposed Overhaul
In early January, State Senator Brandt Hershman proposed sweeping reform for the Indiana telecommunications bill, which has not been updated since the 80's.  "Indiana's telecommunications laws were last updated in 1985, when a Blackberry was just a fruit and Google was just a very large number," Hershman said. "It's time to modify our laws so that the free market can drive down prices for consumers."

The proposal for reform includes sections borrowed from legislative actions in other states and consists of eight major components including pricing flexibility, infrastructure incentives and franchising. If the bill is accepted it is estimated that it will create 20,000 jobs and $7 billion in new spending for the state, as well as an increase in tax revenue.