Verizon announced the launch of FiOS TV for business. The service will target businesses like medical offices, banks, building lobbies, restaurants, and other businesses that offer television viewing to their customers. The service is available in all FiOS markets within the following thirteen states: California, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia. Pricing starts at $49.99/month.

Embarq announced the launch of virtual private networks (VPNs) utilizing multiprotocol label switching (MPLS). MPLS VPNs can be used to deliver virtually any type of network traffic. Embarq's new MPLS VPN service provides network management with in-network routing, offering security and service quality for multimedia streaming applications like Voice over IP and video. Embarq will offer multiple customer options ranging from a port-only offering to a “Fully Managed Solution Bundles” including unbundled ports, access, router and maintenance combinations. Embarq is coordinating the launch of this new service with the launch of their new brand Embarq Business, which will offer a variety of SMB and enterprise level communications solutions.

Cox and Nortel announced a partnership that will allow their respective sales organizations to market each others products and services. The new product solutions which include Nortel’s Business Communication Manager platform, will be packaged under the Cox Business brand. Cox Business provides communications services to business customers in 18 markets across the U.S., including small businesses, multi-location enterprises, regional healthcare providers and federal, state and local government organizations.

AT&T announced that its U-Verse platform is now available for small and medium businesses. The AT&T High Speed Internet U-verse Enabled Business Edition will feature a 10 Mbps service, serving up to 32 Internet connected devices. Additionally, business customers utilizing the U-Verse platform will gain free access to AT&T’s 17,000 nationwide Wi-Fi hotspots. The new SMB targeted service will initially be available in 40 markets, and will grow to cover their 22 state footprint in the coming months and years.

Comcast announced the launch of a 16 Mbps download/2 Mbps upload speed for its Business Class Internet service tiers. The increase in speeds will be provided at no additional cost to existing customers. Comcast also offers a Microsoft Communications Services bundle for SMB customers. “Comcast is dedicated to and focused on offering a better broadband Internet experience so business customers are equipped with technology solutions that save time, increase productivity and offer more value,” said Bill Stemper, President, Comcast Business Services.

AT&T and RIM have announced the availability of the BlackBerry Professional Suite platform for small and medium business customers. Previously available to enterprise customers only, the BlackBerry Professional Suite offers an integrated wireless communications, collaboration, and security suite of applications for BlackBerry users. The small business version provides support for up to 30 users. It enables wireless access to e-mail, calendar, contacts, business data and Internet access. RIM announced the launch of the BlackBerry Professional Suite targeting small business back in November 2007.

It’s no secret that the cable industry sees the small/medium business and enterprise sectors as their next big growth engine. Continuing to grow revenue generating units in the consumer triple play sector is nice, but the growth hungry cable industry realizes that won’t be enough to satisfy shareholders and Wall Street. So it’s no surprise to see collaborative efforts like the one announced by Charter and Cox concerning fiber connectivity links. The two large MSOs have agreed to connect each others markets through fiber rings in their Nevada markets of Reno and Las Vegas. Similar links are taking place in California, between Orange County and Los Angeles. Cox and Charter have previously relied on telecom carriers to establish connectivity between markets.

The collaborative effort will target enterprise customers who have multiple locations, with Ethernet and IP transport services. “This agreement brings a competitive choice to businesses that need to communicate with locations in other key commerce hubs in the western U.S.,” said Jim McGann, vice president and general manager, Charter Business. Cox has been quite active with their Ethernet solutions, and now ranks as the fourth largest provider of Ethernet services in the country. By partnering with Charter, they are able to expand services beyond their traditional footprint. Expect to see more collaborative efforts like this among cable MSOs, as they continue to try to compete with well entrenched telecom service providers, who have long viewed the business communications sector and the billions of revenue it generates as their own.

Qwest announced upgrades to their VoIP product line, OneFlex, including better compression, allowing more voice capability. OneFlex targets the small and medium business sector with a variety of IP communications services and features. New features include allowing callers to “zero out” to an operator on VoIP calls and more features for the administrator web portal. The new portal features allow provides more flexibility for office administrators to manage their systems whether employees are in the office or working remotely.

Cablevision is now offering small and medium business customers up to 12 voice lines. The expanded offering is under their business Optimum Voice portfolio and offers flat-rate, unlimited local and long-distance calling, Caller ID, call waiting and enhanced voicemail. Cablevision also bundles business broadband packages of up to 30 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream.

The recent news that Sprint and Clearwire are back in talks for some form of WiMAX joint venture revealed an interesting potential minority partner – Best Buy. Conventional thinking suggests that Best Buy is interested in a joint Sprint/Clearwire WiMAX effort in the hopes that it fuels a surge in demand for consumer electronics devices that will connect to the WiMAX network. Best Buy would love to fill their stores with eager buyers of said equipment. But they may have a more interesting motive as well.

Best Buy purchased Speakeasy in 2007, indicating their interest in the service provider market. Perhaps Best Buy is looking to expand their role as either a service provider themselves, or to ensure their service provider subsidiary has a WiMAX path. Speakeasy is squarely focused on the small and medium business market with traditional wireline products right now. But I’m sure they would welcome a viable WiMAX solution to broaden their scope and appeal. The future may see an opportunity for small businesses to interact with Best Buy and be offered a completely integrated and bundled communications package, including equipment, connectivity, and applications. Having a minority role in a nationwide WiMAX network only strengthens this possibility and it’s potential impact on the competitive landscape.