“Oxford Networks was great!  We had a very short window of time to move and get everything up and running and Oxford Networks really stepped up to help us do that.  They even presented us with a new option for our phone service, ONcbx, which is going to make the GBCVB even more customer friendly than it already is.  We are very excited about the opportunities the new phone system will provide to us,” said Executive Director Kerrie Tripp.

Mark recently started a successful intern program for Oxford Networks in collaboration with the University of Maine at Augusta for students in their CIS program.  Mark is a supporter of the United Way of Androscoggin County and volunteers his time with Heifer International, an organization dedicated to working with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth.

Craig, Oxford Networks has really experienced a lot of growth and change in the last 10 years.  As you start 2012 you are adding more services and products.  What drives this company to continue to evolve?

The last twenty years have been a very exciting time to be involved in this industry.  The technological advances we have seen have been extraordinary.  As a 112 year-old company, Oxford Networks has had to evolve to meet the needs of its customers.  We are very proud of our innovative history and are constantly looking for ways to maximize our network to benefit our customers.

In the past decade, Oxford Networks has invested in a Fiber Optic Network backbone that stretches from Bangor to Boston.  In addition, we have built Fiber to the Premise networks in the major metropolitan areas in the state.  This backbone and these community overbuilds have given us the infrastructure to deliver high capacity broadband and services to businesses and residents in the state.   These investments will enable us to continue to provide the high quality, cutting edge products and services that our customers need to in order to compete.

Tell us about the new products and services that Oxford Networks will be offering in 2012.

Oxford Networks will be providing a high-security data center for its customers that is really unique in the industry.  The Oxford Networks Data Center is located at a former high-security military base in Brunswick, Maine.  It is uniquely positioned to provide high-security data products and services for the private sector that previously were only available to the military.  From off-site data storage to cyber threat protection monitoring this facility will be able to provide businesses with the products and services they need to fully manage and secure their most important data.  I am very excited about the opportunity that our new data center represents for our customers.

We are also excited to partner with Thinking Phones, a cloud based technology company based in Massachusetts.  ONcbx is Oxford Networks cloud based hosted exchange product that offers our customers a flexible, converged telecommunications platform.  As a cloud based product, ONcbx is virtually future proof in its ability to evolve quickly with the changing needs of a business.

Oxford Networks is also proud to be offering Google Apps for businesses.  This Google Apps product is more robust in its offering and provides businesses the opportunity to better manage its company communication services.  Customer service is available 24/7 to support the use of Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar and more.  Google continues to provide evolving technology that enhances the user experience.

This year the company is debuting its new cloud based technology products -  Oxford Networks Data Center, ONcbx, a cloud based hosted exchange product, and Google Apps a more robust cloud based business applications product.  According to Matt Jancovic, Vice President of Marketing, the launch of the new products and services is in response to requests from Oxford Networks customers.

“Oxford Networks customers have been asking us to provide more services and products to enable them to experience ‘one stop shopping’ if you will when it comes to their technology services.  We have been working on meeting those needs and are very happy with the offerings we have come up with.”

The Oxford Networks Data Center, located at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station, provides the business market with a high security data facility that offers managed IT solutions, colocation services, secure vault data storage and virtualization services.

ONcbx is a cloud based voice management service that provides security, flexibility and efficiency in handling mission critical call services for businesses.  ONcbx delivers unified communications services from the cloud which can transform the way distributed enterprises collaborate, streamline business processes, and respond to customers.

Google Apps for Business helps businesses work smarter while providing the tools that a business needs to succeed.  Google apps provide e-mail, spam filter, calendar, mobile syncing, document management and more all in a high-security cloud environment.  The security and flexibility a business needs without the onsite data and application management.

These products give Oxford Networks the opportunity to leverage its 1,000 mile redundant Fiber Optic Network and to meet the growing needs of its customers now and into the future.

Lewiston, Maine – Oxford Networks announced today that it is launching its commercial data services center, Oxford Networks Data Center, located at the former high-security Brunswick Naval Air Station.  As part of the data center launch, Oxford Networks has also acquired IT consulting firm Norton Lamb & Company to provide managed IT services at the new facility.  Norton Lamb & Company will take on the Oxford Networks Data Center management in addition to the clients they already serve.  Oxford Networks President and CEO, Craig Gunderson issued the following statement.

“Oxford Networks is very pleased to announce the launch of our new commercial data services center.  The Oxford Networks Data Center provides the highest physical and infrastructure security in the state and has been re-designed to specifically meet the needs of the commercial market.  With the addition of Norton Lamb & Company to the Oxford Networks team, the company will be uniquely positioned to provide state of the art data center services to the commercial market.  We are confident that this facility will bring added value to our customers and enhance our existing telecommunications products and services.”

The Oxford Networks Data Center boasts multiple discrete broadband paths to major backbones and multiple network entry points making it accessible to businesses across the country and worldwide.  The facility will provide server collocation space, managed IT services, disaster recovery services, secure vault data storage, and virtualization services. As a re-purposed former high-security military communications center, the data center provides military grade infrastructure capable of securing an organizations most sensitive information.

Norton Lamb & Company is a twenty year old IT consulting firm located in Falmouth, Maine.  They provide outsourced Information Technology solutions for manufacturing, healthcare, retail/distribution companies and government entities in New England and beyond.

“Ron Shink and his team at Norton Lamb & Company bring a wealth of technology knowledge and experience to Oxford Networks.  Oxford Networks Data Center is not only one of the most secure data centers, but with Ron on board it will provide managed IT services from an extremely talented and well-respected team.  We are very pleased to have them join Oxford Networks,” said Gunderson.

With the addition of the Oxford Networks Data Center and the acquisition of Norton Lamb & Company, Oxford Networks will add twenty new people to its staff of 120 employees.  Matt Jacobson, former gubernatorial candidate and Maine & Company President and CEO, has been named Executive Vice President of Sales for Oxford Networks.

“The Oxford Networks Data Services Center is a wonderful asset for the state of Maine and for the private sector.  Now more than ever data security is on the mind of every business owner.  For a business owner or CEO to know that their business’ most important information is safe and being properly managed is critical to their peace of mind and to their business success.  We are confident that the Oxford Networks Data Center will meet and exceed the needs of the commercial market.”

For more information about Oxford Networks Data Services Center visit www.oxfordnetworks.com or call 1-888-342-7678