GeoQuote is a software recently released that allows brokers to give real-time pricing to those seeking service. The software is doing for the telecom industry what Sabre did for the travel industry. In the 60's AMR, the parent company of American Airlines created a software and then began licensing it to the public. This software backed by massive databases was spun off in the form of "Sabre" which owns Travelocity and licenses this software to travel brokers and websites.

If the creators of GeoQuote follow the same path as Sabre, this software will be the industry standard and brokers will have to use this software to enable their customer to get quotes in real time. While some brokers are able to run a profitable business without giving out real-time information these brokers will soon see their profitability reduce as they spend more time gathering information than actually dealing with customers. If you're currently searching for service, make sure you find a broker that uses GeoQuote software.

T1 bandwidth pricing had reduces as companies have gone out of business and the large number of telecommunications companies are fighting for a place in a smaller market. While many service providers did have room to lose margin, many have come dangerously close to the edge of selling circuits at a loss and many have gone beyond this point. It seems that in the race to the bottom many providers failed to learn the lesson that selling at a loss does not create a long lasting and healthy company no matter how many circuits or widgets you sell. Many companies selling at a loss have already been in bankruptcy and look like they will repeat this exercise as they did not learn from their first go around. So, solvency of the T1 bandwidth provider should be a consideration when looking at great bargains.

Another consideration in bargain shopping for T1 service is the fact that all T1's are not created equal. Many providers are convinced (and rightly so) that customers are focused on price and are not concerned with quality of service. Many providers are now oversubscribing T1 service connections as though they were DSL connections. This means you may not get the bandwidth you thought you would get. Make sure when you look for that bargain price you also review the SLA (Service Level Agreement) and be sure the contract protects you and guarantees you will get the bandwidth to which was committed to you. Remember, when bargain hunting for T1 service you'll most likely get what you pay for.