Conventioneers welcome

Trade shows for high technology industries demand top-notch data connectivity-and that requirement can tax a convention center and neighboring hotels.

Competitive local exchange carrier FirstWorld Communications hopes to make its mark by serving the unique needs of convention cities.

"We can manage the connection to different properties that makes the exhibitor look as though it has a seamless connection to all the properties," said Mike Whelan, systems engineer for FirstWorld.

The company last week launched its hospitality service in Anaheim, Calif., but eventually may target other convention cities, said James H. Schwartz, FirstWorld's vice president of integrated product management.

The carrier brings fiber to each building, then installs equipment from Ascend Communications that enables the hotel or convention center operator to offer high-speed connections to exhibitors. Hotels typically upgrade meeting rooms and ballrooms. Hotels with Category 5 wiring tend to opt for FirstWorld's switched Ethernet service, which offers speeds up to 5 Mb/s bidirectionally, said Whelan. If a hotel has lower-grade wiring, it can offer speeds up to 2.3 Mb/s downstream and 1.3 Mb/s upstream using digital subscriber line.

Users need a computer with an Ethernet card. They connect to the Internet using FirstWorld as the Internet service provider by changing a single configuration on any browser, said Whelan.

"If hotels try to do this themselves, it will cost more money than they can afford and they will underestimate the costs," said Steven Hess, president of Internet Strategies International. "It makes sense to outsource everything."

FirstWorld also has developed a Centrex offering that provides real-time billing information. The lack of that capability often has prevented hotels from using Centrex in the past, said Schwartz.

South Dakota-based competitive local exchange carrier Dakota Telecommunications Group signed a merger agreement with McLeod USA. The move expands McLeod's Midwest and Rocky Mountain service area.

GST Global Telecommunications Inc. has changed its name to Global Light Telecommunications Inc.

Focal Communications Corp. announced that 14% of new installed lines during the third quarter were for residential users. Its line total now is 33,188.

Genesis Communications International Inc., a CLEC targeting the Hispanic market, received $2.5 million in private funding though individual accredited investors. Genesis plans to use the money for expansion and development.