EXCLUSIVES

COMPANY PROFILE
Transbeam > Integrated Services for Its Clients

By E.L. Griggs

August 2007

New York-based Transbeam has been providing managed enterprise business solutions since 1996. In 2000, the company introduced its Integrated Services platform, enabling customers the capability of having voice, video and other applications over their existing broadband lines.

Justin Esgar, Apple Service Manager for Enterprise IT Solutions, a Transbeam operation, recently spoke with MacDirectory to discuss the company:

"Transbeam started in 1996 as an Internet Service provider with T-1 and DSL for their customers. On June 8, 2005 they purchased Techknowsphere Solutions, an Apple-authorized service provider. Techknowsphere allows Transbeam to give its client base Apple support, integration and networking, and a great service department. This enabled Transbeam to offer their clients both Apple and PC services and become a 'soup to nuts' company with inside service as well as Internet services. Transbeam offers voice services, inside wiring, technical service, consulting--complete IT services.

"When a new company comes into town, we can offer them Internet, phones, wire up the complete installation, provide them computers Ð both PC and Mac, and then support the whole thing afterwards.

MD> Do you have your own installation crews?

JE> We have our own interior-wiring guys. We are an ISP. Verizon owns all copper in New York City. We resell Verizon lines that are in the street but what happens is it's a Transbeam router, it's a Transbeam hookup that we have at Verizon's CO's (central offices). When we hook up a line, Verizon does their thing and we do our thing and Verizon plugs in our equipment to the line so basically Verizon has not more involvement. They own the line but everything else is ours.

MD> Does Transbeam provide the IT department to businesses?

JE> Right. We, and the Apple department, are essentially an outsource solution. All of our clients sign up for a monthly recurring contract. Anything from $250 to five to 10 thousand dollars.

"The benefit of this is that, one, you have an entire team behind you for a low price. I have a client who has three people at their office. What they are getting for $250 a month. What they are getting for their $3,000 a year, or whatever it is, is four guys who are fully certified in almost everything Mac so that if there is ever a problem they can talk to someone Ð whether it's remote support or on-site support. If you had to hire someone to do IT for your company, you're going to spend a lot of money. Salaries, benefits, taxes, and if they go on vacation you either do without or you have to hire someone to fill in. Here, if your account manager is on call or away, someone else can pick up the ball and help you out. All of our accounts have an account manager and a second level of support and if those aren't available, I, as the manager of the Apple department, can help out in emergency cases."

MD> Let's say that I am one of your Apple accounts and I have an on-site problem and I need on-site help. How long is it going to take for me to get help once I contact you?

JE> If you have a monthly contract with us, usually response time is one to two hours plus travel. We don't usually work outside New York City but we do have some clients in New Jersey and Queens. Everything is a subway ride away in New York City so if it is important that you have a technician in your office, we will jump on the subway and be to you.

MD> Okay, if I understand it correctly, you all are only in the New York vicinity at this time. Are you planning on expanding in the future?

JE> We are growing. We are mostly in New York City but we tell people to give us a call anyway. Let's talk it out and see if we can help you. I have a client on Long Island that I got for the PC guys. We do the school board work in New Jersey. I have personal clients all the way to Massachusetts and New Hampshire that call me for support. We do a lot of remote support for them and stuff like that. If they need machine service, they FedEx it to us and we FedEx it back to them. We are here to service our clients.

Visit transbeam.com for more information.