Sprint Adds New Managed Services

Called Sprint Managed Channel Service Unit/Data Service Unit (CSU/DSU), the service allows customers to look at terminating devices to determine what capacity they need or if they need to add more ports for capacity and speed, for example.

The service now manages Sprint's iMarc Paradyne terminating devices in addition to an existing service supporting Sprint's Visual Networks UpTime terminating device product line. It also adds new diagnostic capabilities and management of WAN and LAN devices, including routers, hubs, switches, servers and applications in both prepackaged and customized offerings. Managed IP VPN and managed security services are included as well.

The enhanced managed services give customers access to network performance health reports, capacity and diagnostic tools to see if Sprint and other carriers are living up to their guaranteed performance levels on frame relay, IP and ATM networks. The service manages Sprint's and other carriers' ATM, frame relay and IP networks, said the company.

"We will offer alarm-based alerts on certain thresholds, so when something does occur on the network from the router level up to applications, we notify the customer and we manage problems through to resolution," said Steve Myers, group manager of managed services at Sprint, Overland Park, Kan.

Sprint also has the ability to upgrade CSU/DSU equipment through remote software downloads and conduct testing and diagnostics without interrupting service, he said.