Qwest and DIRECTV

Today, Qwest Communications and DIRECTV, America’s #1 satellite TV provider, have agreed to extend their partnership for an additional five years. Under this strategic contract, Qwest will continually offer DIRECTV service to its residential subscribers. The two companies originally teamed up in October 2004, and have since built a mutually beneficial business relationship. The financial details of this transaction are undisclosed.

Bundled services have become the industry standard, and Qwest high speed Internet and phone packages that feature DIRECTV offer the ultimate solution. In addition to this renewed contract, Qwest and DIRECTV will launch a line of integrated services that will allow customers to make the most of their home entertainment services. New features include:

• Integrated Calling – with a qualifying bundle, featuring phone and DIRECTV service, customers can access various voice features from the comfort of their couch with a remote control.
• Remote Recording – subscribers won’t miss a moment of their favorite TV shows. With the DVR Scheduler from DIRECTV, you will be able to record programming from any Internet-ready computer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with Qwest Internet.

Qwest Improves Speeds

Today, Denver-based Qwest has announced an improved high-speed Internet connection; downstream speeds may reach up to 40 Mbps, and 20 Mbps upstream speeds are now available. By utilizing state-of-the-art VDSL2 technology, Qwest Internet speeds have doubled for downstream connections and significantly increased for upstream connections. Eligible small-business and residential subscribers can take advantage of some of the fastest Internet speeds in the U.S. with Qwest service.

With the improved Qwest Internet speeds, users will be able to access videos and share pictures faster than ever before; online gamers will enjoy fewer delays and lags. Qwest’s improved Internet speeds complement the latest offerings, including automatic online backup service and DIRECTV video on demand service.

How much does this new and improved service cost? Qualifying customers can enjoy the following prices:

• 40 Mbps downstream/5 Mbps upstream for $99.99/month
• 40 Mbps downstream/20 Mbps upstream for $109.99/month
• A special price - $5 extra per month for eligible customers who upgrade to 5 Mbps upstream speeds.

Employers on Facebook

Qwest high speed Internet customers, listen up! When you apply for a job, your resume isn’t the only thing employers may be considering. With the rising popularity of social networking sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, studies show that many employers – up to 38% – use these Websites to make character judgments. This percentage has increased more than 15% over the past year, and may continue to rise. About 24% of the hiring managers surveyed claimed to use Facebook information as the deciding factor in employing an applicant. On the opposite end of the spectrum, approximately 34% of employers found information that led them to deny employment to a job applicant. Yikes!

What can you do to avoid missing job opportunities based on your Facebook or Twitter feeds? Be smart! Don’t allow incriminating photographs to be published (no drunken party pix), and think before you comment or Tweet. Bear in mind that what you post online leaves a long trail, and any and all information may come back to haunt you.

Qwest Internet service ensures that you will have up-to-date information on social networking news and trends.

Qwest Joins USTelecom

Qwest Communications has joined The United States Telecom Association, the nation’s premier broadband organization, representing manufacturers, providers and suppliers in the telecommunications industry. USTelecom is based in Washington, D.C., uniting the industry and shedding light on important issues before the FCC, Congress and the administration. Given Qwest’s recent union with USTelecom, the Colorado-based company’s Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Government Relations, Steve Davis, will serve on the association’s board of directors.

"USTelecom represents all facets of the communications industry – from the smallest to the largest carriers – working together to build a positive business and policy landscape to better serve their customers,” Davis said. “Qwest has joined USTelecom to work together with their other member companies on important communications issues such as broadband deployment, Universal Service Fund reform, and intercarrier compensation reform, including traffic pumping and phantom traffic."

Qwest offers affordable communication and entertainment services, including high-speed Internet, local and long distance calling. Qwest is an industry leader, offering service in 14 U.S. states.

Utah Gets Qwest Ethernet

Rumor has it that Qwest Communications will build Utah’s data networking platform, providing a cost-effective voice and Internet solution for America’s 45th state. Thanks to Qwest’s Ethernet service, Utah’s state and local businesses and governmental facilities will have access to improved bandwidth speeds. This expansion will help satisfy the growing public demand for Internet services.

As part of a $7.2 million contract, Qwest has already connected 30 government sites in Utah. The telecom giant began installing Qwest’s Metro Optical Ethernet (QMOE) infrastructure in approximately 300 locations throughout the state’s capital, Salt Lake City, and along the Wasatch Front. Qwest has developed Ethernet services and optical technologies that deliver an affordable, secure and scalable bandwidth. With Ethernet service, two or more subscriber locations within a region can set up local area networks (LANs).

Qwest offers speeds up to 1 Gbps for each site, capable of supporting large bandwidth requirements.

Last year, Utah used Qwest’s network to process over 10 million transactions via Internet, including nearly 50,000 driver’s licenses, more than 775,000 vehicle renewals and 90% of business license renewals.