Pub. 2 2012 Issue 3

10 AUTOMOBILE DEALER NEWS ILLINOIS www.illinoisdealers.com cal. EoDS1 provides a great option for those locations where a fiber build is not economical. Native Ethernet (Fiber optics) Fiber optic Ethernet handoffs represent a dramatic step be- yond what copper infrastructure can provide. While provider dependent, native Ethernet offerings are typically scaled to Fast E (100mbps) or Gig E (1gbps) handoffs, however handoffs of up to 10gbps are available. Scalability of fiber optics far sur- passes what copper and/or DS1 technologies can offer. Service levels are robust and inclusive of a 4 hour local loop SLA. The downside of fiber optics is the sometimes frequent build costs and delays to installation. Fixed Wireless Fixed wireless has evolved as a niche product in its own right. Microwave, line of sight based, and fixed wireless net- works can provide varying throughputs – many times equal to or exceeding Fast E fiber optic networks. While not uncom- mon to actually experience lower latencies on Fixed Wireless as compared to fiber optics, fixed wireless is subject to drastic weather variances, the growth of trees, new buildings, etc. Fixed Wireless is frequently positioned as a redundant failover option in the enterprise space, but is now seen as a strong competitor to traditional wire-line services. Fixed Wireless typically has low up-front costs, and can be installed in short installation intervals. SLAs vary from provider to provider, and can be as robust as Native Ethernet, or as limited as EoC. Know what you are buying from your provider before you buy. Get an understanding of the technology, how it works, and more importantly, what happens when or if it goes down. Understand how your CRM, like DealerTrack or ERA-IGNITE, works and its bandwidth needs. Be informed and leverage the breadth of services that is Ethernet. Q Ken Moss, Director of Data Operations, has worked for Call One in Chicago, IL since 2002. He holds an MBA from Benedictine University and is a member of Sigma Beta Delta Business Honors Society. Feel free to connect with him on LinkedIn. Q bandwidth options — continued Insurance coverages and non-insurance products and services are underwritten and provided by individual member companies of Zurich in North America, including Universal Underwriters Insurance Company and Universal Underwriters Service Corporation. Certain coverages, products and services are not available in all states. ©2012 Zurich American Insurance Company “My focus is running my dealership—not worrying if my business is protected or how to generate income in my finance department. Zurich lets me do that.” One insurance company for your business insurance and F&I product needs In 2011, more than 1,300 dealerships purchased both business insurance and F&I products from Zurich. Products such as our Unicover ® policy, which packages most of the coverages needed by dealerships into one policy. Or our Streamlined Selling System ® , which can help you drive increased F&I profit. One company for all your needs, backed by 90 years insuring dealerships. Call Jeff Dian, Regional Sales Manager, at 630-215-3892 or visit www.zurichna.com/SDA1 for more information. Visit FandIResourceCenter.com to register for our complimentary on-demand webinar – “Six Principles of Success in the New Economy” Know what you are buying from your provider before you buy. Get an understanding of the technology, how it works, and more importantly, what happens when or if it goes down.