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Multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) is a converged data network technique that facilitates the most efficient platform for transporting a diverse array of different types of traffic. MPLS provides a simplified network infrastructure for the simultaneous transport of multiple applications such as voice, video, and data.

This paper addresses common misconceptions about MPLS, explains why it's relevant to business and more.

Enterprises across all industries operate in complex and rapidly changing business environments and must constantly plan, implement, and execute strategies to grow revenue, improve operational efficiencies, and reduce costs. To achieve these objectives, enterprises are increasingly centralizing, automating, Web-/IP-enabling, and internetworking mission-critical processes and applications in order to streamline and integrate various operational aspects of the business. At the same time, enterprise ecosystems are increasingly distributed, with geographically dispersed supply chains of customers, partners, and vendors, as well as decentralized, mobile workforces -- all of which depend on the network to conduct business operations.

Converged voice and network services, increasing scalability and expanding application and information access are key components in creating infrastructures for innovation, according to a CIO2CIO report sponsored by Qwest Business.

The report looks at research conducted by IDG on network and infrastructure investments and the ROI of infrastructure spending.

This paper from Qwest Business encourages decision makers to consider communications an investment instead of an expense, citing ways that businesses can actually save money through telecommunication-driven initiatives such as teleworking. The paper outlines seven tactics for using telecommunications to drive efficiency.

Last Thursday, after having blocked Twitter, Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak reacted to the increasing protests against his reign by shutting down the four major ISPs that provided Egyptians with connections to the Internet. Land lines and mobile phones followed, but the shutoff was intermittent. Today, the cage has slammed down again, according to multiple sources.

Among the communications vehicles closed off today are the Internet, SMS, mobile phone systems, Al Jazeera news network and even the country's train system.

A key part of cloud-based information technology is the ability to deliver benefits to the business and to the overall technology infrastructure for the organization.

This briefing explores the ways to build a cloud-based IT infrastructure that allows for a dynamic environment that supports business needs.

Mobile VoIP software company Fring has launched a new service called, not too subtly, "FringOut," which aims to compete head-on with Skype's "SkypeOut" feature by offering cheap phone calls worldwide. The service, available in a preview version since mid-August, lets Fring users call the landlines or mobile phones of non-Fring users by purchasing credits to pay for the calls.

At present, the feature is only available on Nokia devices, but the company says iPhone and Android support is on the way "soon." As for the prices, calls start at only 1c/minute in many locations, making it often a low-cost alternative to Skype, whose SkypeOut rates start at 2.3c/minute, according to its "pay per minute" pricing page.

Future, we are here. With today's launch of the Sprint HTC EVO 4G, the hotly anticipated smartphone running Google's Android OS, video chatting moves off the desktop and into the palm of your hand.

Using the popular Qik mobile application, EVO owners will be able to chat with other EVO owners and, eventually, with any smartphone user whose phone sports a forward-facing camera.

Are we on the precipice of a whole new form of communication? Or is mobile video chat going to be just for fun?

Today's high-school and college students got their first email account at an average age of 13. Most students have had one of their email addresses for 8 years and have an average of about 2.4 addresses each. But if you really want to reach these students, you should forget email. Send a text message instead.