Just like you never want to hear a doctor say "oops" in the operating room, you never want to see a going-concern statement in a financial report about a company you own. Accountants throw these in when they've been over the books, talked to customers, and checked the horoscopes and have concluded there is "substantial doubt" about a company's ability to remain in business. In short, don't blame the accountants if the company files for bankruptcy protection.

You¿d reckon that a going-concern statement would be enough to send investors running to the exits, but it's not. True, many large institutions automatically bail when an existing company gets slapped with one of these, but many individuals (often wrongly) take a chance they know more than the bean counters.

During the tech boom of the late 1990s, many companies actually went public even though they had been hit with going-concern statements. Many of those companies subsequently disappeared. Enough said.

Home / Markets / Industries / Telecom

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Gauging the Need for Speed: Qwest Reveals Secrets

Email this Story | Respond to Editor | Print

Comtex

DENVER, Aug 05, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) ----Increasingly, companies are conducting business online, opening digital storefronts and connecting multiple office locations with advanced networks. But how much bandwidth is enough to keep up with the competition?

"In today's competitive business environment, companies large and small need to evaluate their current bandwidth needs to effectively serve customers," said Ken Smith, vice president, Qwest Business Markets Group. Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) recently broadcast a Webinar entitled "Does More Bandwidth Make Sense for My Business," as one presentation in a series of online informational forums for assessing a business' technology needs and identifying leading communications industry trends nationwide.

"Most of the mid-sized businesses we work with want to transition to one voice and data network, and are surprised at how cost-effective and seamless the transition really is," Smith added. During the presentation, attendees from across the United States indicated that their slow network speeds are a major concern. And more than 42 percent of the audience agreed that budget constraints were the biggest source of anxiety when considering the addition of bandwidth.

To help customers make essential decisions about their broadband needs, Qwest offers the following tips:

-- Consider your current bandwidth. Does your business have a Web presence? Have customers or employees complained about slow response time or connection speeds? Are you planning to add new applications? Do you intend to drive additional traffic to your Web site? Is your business growing rapidly?

-- Understand the source of potential bandwidth bottlenecks. Do you have multiple users? Are a variety of applications competing for bits and bytes? Do you have a dedicated Internet connection? Converged solutions are available to dynamically allocate bandwidth to support both voice and data, such as Qwest OneFlex(R) Integrated Access.

-- Examine your business' technology objectives. Identify your existing and future goals for the use of technology, including user and transmission needs, and compare those against your available options.

-- Evaluate your current network capabilities. Are they falling short of your needs? Take inventory of your current voice and data circuits. Review your monthly bill in-house, and then with a communications provider to understand how to manage costs more effectively.

-- Educate yourself and your company's IT decision makers about the need for speed. Don't hesitate to ask your service provider what your options are.

"High-bandwidth applications are not just for large enterprises. Cost-effective, high-value solutions - with customer service support included - are available for companies of all sizes and are especially important for growing businesses," advised Smith. For a free consultation of your current network needs, call Qwest at 1 800-472-0643 or visit www.qwest.com/business.

FOR THE MEDIA: Ken Smith is available for interviews. The photograph is available for re-use.

SOURCE: Qwest Communications International Inc.

Qwest Communications International Inc. Stephanie Walkenshaw, 303-992-2352 stephanie.walkenshaw@qwest.com

Copyright
   Business Wire 2008 ********************************************************************** As of Friday, 08-01-2008 23:59,
   the latest Comtex SmarTrend� Alert, an automated pattern recognition system, indicated a DOWNTREND on 05-21-2008 for Q @ $4.64.
   For more information on SmarTrend, contact your market data provider or go to www.mysmartrend.com SmarTrend is a registered
   trademark of Comtex News Network, Inc. Copyright � 2004-2008 Comtex News Network, Inc. All rights reserved.