[WXC/VFX] You interview: Cecil Alexander, CEO, WorldxChange

Forums › One NZ (including Farmside) › [WXC/VFX] You interview: Cecil Alexander, CEO, WorldxChange

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80647 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41030

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#23071 17-Jun-2008 08:19

We here at Geekzone managed to get some time from Cecil Alexander to answer questions you will post in this thread.

These are the rules:

1.Only questions in this thread. Any post that it is not a question will be removed
2.Only valid questions. Any post with questions that are clearly trying to make a point or being a troll will be removed
3.We want your questions but we obviously have a time limit so this thread will be locked Monday 23th June
4.Cecil wants your questions but he obviously has a time limit too, so we will try to merge some questions and limit to the most interesting ones.

Here is a short bio:

"Born in the United States, Cecil Alexander came to New Zealand in 1993. Since leaving the US Air Force in 1987, he has held a number of technical, sales and sales management roles in the telecommunications and network integration markets both here and in the United States.

With 25 years of Telco experience, he brings both commercial and technical leadership to his current role as CEO of WorldxChange Communications.

WorldxChange won the TUANZ Carrier of the Year Innovation Award in 2007. The company’s goal is to continue to lead the market in IP Communications for both the consumer and commercial sectors."

Please post your questions here!

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

1 | 2

59 posts

Master Geek

#138688 17-Jun-2008 13:09

Is naked DSL and VoIP mature enough that you would recommend it to your mother-in-law?

What steps is WorldXChange taking to improving ISP-to-ISP peering?

Dratsab

3964 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1728

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#138702 17-Jun-2008 14:08

As a customer, I need to have four seperate log-ins to get to various different places your website:
1. My Account
2. Viewbill Portal
3. My VFX
4. Webmail

Does WorldxChange have any plans to rationalise it's web presence so that customers only need to log in once, and from there they can simply click links to get to the required place?

Dratsab

3964 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1728

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#138717 17-Jun-2008 14:32

Having been working in a third-world country for the last few months (back home for a short break at the moment), where internet access is neither fast nor reliable, I've elected to use Windows Mail to download mail so I can read it and, if necessary, reply to it offline.

However, according to your helpdesk, WorldxChange does not allow its' customers to use its' SMTP service "if they are not on a WorldxChange circuit."* This is despite the fact that your SMTP server requires authentication.

This means that any of your customers who travel overseas will either have to log into your website to be able to send mail from their xNet address (which may not always be practical/possible) or set up an account with a third party provider such as GMail, Yahoo or Hotmail, which may not be desirable.

Obviously, spamming is always a concern for ISP's, but if only your broadband customers are allowed to set up email addresses and SMTP authentication is required, what are the other reasons for not allowing customers to respond to or send email via mail clients while overseas?

Would the same problems (given the reason above) be encountered in NZ if a mail client was used at a WiFi hotspot or via a friends internet connection if the provider was not WorldxChange?

* Customers are also unable to set up or modify their web pages (FTP) for the same reasons.

r33ks

75 posts

Master Geek

#139001 18-Jun-2008 16:53

Hi Cecil,

I have a couple of questions.

1) What are WorldxChange's plans around peering with content providers. I am keen to see more announcements like that with GamePlanet.co.nz that see's xnet customers getting unmetered access to content.

Of particular interest to me is access to things like the new Sky VoD service, and future services that might appear from media companies like TVNZ or video chains such as Blockbuster.

2) There has been some comment recently around the account suspension correspondence from some XNet customers, which has raised several questions such as.
- How does WorldxChange vaildate the party sending the cease and desist email is valid? (i.e. someone sending the email as a joke or prank)
- How does WorldxChange manage customers who may dispute the email, or who have had their internet connection hijacked due to unsecure wireless, or have unsupervised minors up to no good?

I suppose just a general idea around how the process works, and the process for customers to dispute the claim?

Thanks

Carl

Dratsab

3964 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1728

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#139146 19-Jun-2008 11:39

Just thought of another...

Does WorldxChange have any plans to develop their network to allow the usage of of softphones directly from a PC? ie without the need for Asterix/Trixbox...

boby55

1539 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 38

Trusted

#139268 19-Jun-2008 22:55

Hey

Does WXC have anyplans to install there own gear in telecom exchanges like orcon and vodafone?

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

coffeebaron

6304 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3566

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#139792 22-Jun-2008 21:31

The peak time slow down:
This has been an issue for most of this year, pretty much since the launch of Fusion. Although these speeds have improved recently, mainly due I guess to the release of Torrent, peak time speed is still nothing like we used to get with Xnet.
What are the long term plans for International data capacity? It doesn't really matter what tricks are played to "manage" data, the amount of data consumed is going to continue to grow, and not just due to p2p, more and more media content is being streamed daily. There is not much point in having a 30Mbps fibre to home link, if YouTube only streams a 300-400k.

Customers a wanting to simplify their bills, and have one bill instead of many. There are some key components missing in the WxC mix:
- Domain & Web hosting
- Mobile phone
- 0800 number porting
What plans to address these?
(obviously mobile would be a longer term goal, but I feel very important to do, even if it's merely a reseller agreement)

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
Starlink installer - one month free: https://www.starlink.com/?referral=RC-32845-88860-71
Wi-Fi and networking
Cel-Fi supply and installer - boost your mobile phone coverage legally

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80647 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41030

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#143966 7-Jul-2008 18:38

Folks, we have now posted the answers to these questions. Note that not all questions were answered - I went through all of them and merged some, reworded a few.

You can comment from below this point...

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

rphenix

990 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 127

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#144214 8-Jul-2008 00:42

In response to the account suspension answer:
"Xnet is not prepared to take any risks on the matter and with the low
margins Internet services provide, I am certainly not willing to cop
any fines because of the choices made by a few people. Our views on the
matter have been outlined in several Geekzone threads and have not
changed."

Our office connection contract is up for renewal soon I had been thinking of Xnet for work (I use xnet at home, WXC Sip trunks at work). Considering the amount we pay even if you made only 5% margin thats still a reasonable amount of $$ each month. We wont be changing providers as my current provider has a far more upfront statement they would actually arrange a (onsite) meeting with me before taking any action as a business customer this is what I would expect.

"On the issue of customers having their Internet connection “hijacked”
due to un-secure wireless or unsupervised minors up to no good; ARE YOU
KIDDING ME? The security of one’s wireless connection is their
responsibility. We are not responsible if you leave your house unlocked
or if you forget to turn on your alarm; are we?"

Ah sorry but are you kidding me? Lets say someone owns a rifle, I take it, go on a shooting spree I don't think the owner is charged with my crimes. You could say the same about our office, we have an internet acceptable use policy, we run a proxy and block direct access where we can, we would take appropriate action for any breach but in the end someone is always going to do something they shouldn't (PC audits have found the likes of limewire on a work pc before) its quite conceivable that we get more than one cease and desist so what we get disconnected if you cant speak to me immediately? What if I'm on holiday?

r33ks

75 posts

Master Geek

#144509 8-Jul-2008 11:52

Thanks Cecil for taking the time to answer some of our questions.

rphenix

990 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 127

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#144597 8-Jul-2008 13:46

r33ks: Thanks Cecil for taking the time to answer some of our questions.

Yep agreed at least we get replies :)

Apple TV

Stream your favourite shows now on Apple TV (affiliate link).

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#144640 8-Jul-2008 14:33

Good answers Cecil - I am glad you spoke your mind, and delivered a dose of reality!

ninjabear

460 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#144681 8-Jul-2008 15:13

Good answers

I wanna work for Worldxchange someday

insane

3324 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1006

ID Verified

Trusted

2degrees

Subscriber

#145847 10-Jul-2008 00:05

rphenix: In response to the account suspension answer:

Ah sorry but are you kidding me? Lets say someone owns a rifle, I take it, go on a shooting spree I don't think the owner is charged with my crimes. You could say the same about our office, we have an internet acceptable use policy, we run a proxy and block direct access where we can, we would take appropriate action for any breach but in the end someone is always going to do something they shouldn't (PC audits have found the likes of limewire on a work pc before) its quite conceivable that we get more than one cease and desist so what we get disconnected if you cant speak to me immediately? What if I'm on holiday?

Well, unfortunatly as part of the service you'd be expected to abide by their T&Cs. ISPs have also been placed in a tough position and face far greater financial losses than you would.

hopefully by the time you recieve the first cease desist notification you'll burn the staff member responsible for the infringement and will have grounds to take action against them as part of your contract with your employee.

while its great that you have gone to such length to secure your connection there are always means for office admins to take control with the dreaded group policises and restrict what can run and be install on a PC within the office.

Personally I've never downloaded or run any illegal content on my workstation as I know the implocations of such actions as this has been communicated to me, and I respect that. What I do on my home connection is of my own concern.

We dont like paying tax but we have to do it as part of living in NZ, this is just another law to follow as good Kiwi's - tui ad anyone?

quadiator

31 posts

Geek

#154746 6-Aug-2008 20:04

47mins 15 seconds. still waiting for xnet tech to pickup the call... listening to music and reading through these threads.

bobby

1 | 2