Innovative Network Concepts - Getting Started<title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> <meta http-equiv="Content-Language" content="en-us" /> <meta http-equiv="imagetoolbar" content="false" /> <meta name="MSSmartTagsPreventParsing" content="true" /> <meta name="robots" content="all" /> <meta name="author" content="Kristin Andrus [kristin.andrus@acquitygroup.com]" /> <meta name="copyright" content="Copyright (c) 2007 Acquity Group" /> <meta name="keywords" content="" /> <meta name="description" content="" /> <link href="style.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="screen" />   </head> <body> <div id="header-wrap"> <div id="header"> <img class="logo" src="img/logo.png" alt="logo" /> <script type="text/javascript"> var delay = 2000; //set delay between message change (in miliseconds) var maxsteps=30; // number of steps to take to change from start color to endcolor var stepdelay=40; // time in miliseconds of a single step //**Note: maxsteps*stepdelay will be total time in miliseconds of fading effect var startcolor= new Array(255,255,255); // start color (red, green, blue) var endcolor=new Array(0,0,0); // end color (red, green, blue) var fcontent=new Array(); begintag='<div style="font-size: 14px; color: #666; padding: 5px;">'; //set opening tag, such as font declarations fcontent[0]="Low Monthly Rates"; fcontent[1]="24x7 Emergency Incident Response"; fcontent[2]="ARIN IP Addresses"; fcontent[3]="Exclusive Vendor Discounts"; fcontent[4]="Bandwidth Selection"; fcontent[5]="Equipment Selection and Configuration" fcontent[6]="Redundant, Scalable, and Flexible Network Designs"; closetag='</div>'; var fwidth='300px'; //set scroller width var fheight='30px'; //set scroller height var fadelinks=1; //should links inside scroller content also fade like text? 0 for no, 1 for yes. ///No need to edit below this line///////////////// var ie4=document.all&&!document.getElementById; var DOM2=document.getElementById; var faderdelay=0; var index=0; /*Rafael Raposo edited function*/ //function to change content function changecontent(){ if (index>=fcontent.length) index=0 if (DOM2){ document.getElementById("fscroller").style.color="rgb("+startcolor[0]+", "+startcolor[1]+", "+startcolor[2]+")" document.getElementById("fscroller").innerHTML=begintag+fcontent[index]+closetag if (fadelinks) linkcolorchange(1); colorfade(1, 15); } else if (ie4) document.all.fscroller.innerHTML=begintag+fcontent[index]+closetag; index++ } // colorfade() partially by Marcio Galli for Netscape Communications. //////////// // Modified by Dynamicdrive.com function linkcolorchange(step){ var obj=document.getElementById("fscroller").getElementsByTagName("A"); if (obj.length>0){ for (i=0;i<obj.length;i++) obj[i].style.color=getstepcolor(step); } } /*Rafael Raposo edited function*/ var fadecounter; function colorfade(step) { if(step<=maxsteps) { document.getElementById("fscroller").style.color=getstepcolor(step); if (fadelinks) linkcolorchange(step); step++; fadecounter=setTimeout("colorfade("+step+")",stepdelay); }else{ clearTimeout(fadecounter); document.getElementById("fscroller").style.color="rgb("+endcolor[0]+", "+endcolor[1]+", "+endcolor[2]+")"; setTimeout("changecontent()", delay); } } /*Rafael Raposo's new function*/ function getstepcolor(step) { var diff var newcolor=new Array(3); for(var i=0;i<3;i++) { diff = (startcolor[i]-endcolor[i]); if(diff > 0) { newcolor[i] = startcolor[i]-(Math.round((diff/maxsteps))*step); } else { newcolor[i] = startcolor[i]+(Math.round((Math.abs(diff)/maxsteps))*step); } } return ("rgb(" + newcolor[0] + ", " + newcolor[1] + ", " + newcolor[2] + ")"); } if (ie4||DOM2) document.write('<div id="fscroller" style="float: right;margin-top: 40px;text-align: right;width:'+fwidth+';height:'+fheight+'"></div>'); if (window.addEventListener) window.addEventListener("load", changecontent, false) else if (window.attachEvent) window.attachEvent("onload", changecontent) else if (document.getElementById) window.onload=changecontent </script> <div class="clear"></div> <ul class="menu"> <li><a href="index.html">Home</a></li> <li><a href="services.html">Services</a></li> <li><a href="tools.html">Tools</a></li> <li><a href="vendor_info.html">Vendor Info</a></li> <li><a href="faq.html">FAQ</a></li> <li><a href="get_started.html">Get Started</a></li> <li><a href="arin.html">ARIN Request</a></li> <li><a href="price.html">Price Structure</a></li> <li><a href="contact.html">Contact Us</a></li> <li><a href="articles.html">Staff Articles</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="clear"></div> <div id="page-info"> <h2>Getting Started With INC</h2> <ul class="submenu"> <li><a href="referral.html">Referral Program</a></li> <li><a href="testimonial.html">Real Testimonials</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="page_wrap"> <div id="page"> <div id="content">  Initiating a relationship with a consulting company can be intimidating at first. The first few days or weeks of each client relationship is a learning process for everyone involved. Innovative needs to develop an understanding of your goals, and you will undoubtedly want to understand our capabilities and the service we provide, and how it will apply to your business.<BR><BR> We've prepared an overview of what a typical client's "boarding process" looks like. There are often more email, instant messenger, or telephone exchanges than those represented by this example, and some clients even prefer to meet us face-to-face early on. The below description is meant to be an overview. Some of our clients have gone through this entire process in the course of one business day, while others operate at a more conservative pace.<BR><BR> <LI><A href="#call1">initial call</A> <LI><A href="#nda">non-disclosure agreement</A></LI> <LI><A href="#call2">technical call</A></LI> <LI><A href="#agreement1">hourly or project service agreement</A></LI> <LI><A href="#documentation">documentation</A> <LI><A href="#agreement2">retainer service agreement</A> <LI><A href="#invoice1">initial invoice</A> <LI><A href="#recommendations">recommendations</A> <LI><A href="#call3">touch-base calls</A> <LI><A href="#invoice2">second invoice</A> <BR><BR> <A name="call1"> <B>initial call</B> <FONT size="-1">[<A href="#top">back to top</A>]<BR> You should set aside 30 to 60 minutes for your initial call with Innovative. This time will be relatively unstructured, but will give us an opportunity to understand your business needs at a high level and answer any questions you may have about our service. This call can be scheduled via email, telephone, AIM, etc. and should be held during business hours. We are happy to accomodate European clients by arranging a time that suits you and your staff.<BR><BR> We will provide a network operator who will remain familar with your account and network throughout your relationship with Innovative. This person will be your main point of contact with us. We'll also have a senior network operator on this call to identify and address complex issues.<BR><BR> Clients who have in-house network operations staff sometimes choose not to have those staff members participate in this call, or will bring them in after some initial conversation about problems you may be having. It is somewhat common for clients' in-house staff to be uncomfortable with outside talent for a variety of reasons, but we find that many engineers have ego problems that can reduce the productivity of an initial call. This decision is, of course, up to you.<BR><BR> <A name="nda"> <B>non-disclosure agreement</B> <FONT size="-1">[<A href="#top">back to top</A>]<BR> Following our initial call, we may choose to execute a <A href="/privacy.html">non-disclosure agreement</A> with you. This can be downloaded from our web site, printed, and faxed or mailed to us. If you are executing by mail be sure to include two signed copies so we may counter-sign them, retaining one original copy while returning the other to you.<BR><BR> <A name="call2"> <B>technical call</B> <FONT size="-1">[<A href="#top">back to top</A>]<BR> Your second call with Innovative will be a bit more structured with some defined talking points. It should include any of your in-house technical staff members that may be helpful in developing a thorough understanding of your network topology and configuration. The duration of this call will be based on your needs, and will include the same senior network operator who participated in your first call.<BR><BR> <A name="agreement1"> <B>hourly or project service agreement</B> <FONT size="-1">[<A href="#top">back to top</A>]<BR> Following our initial telephone calls, Innovative prefers that clients execute a service agreement. This can be a retainer agreement that will govern our relationship on an on-going basis; or may be a short-term agreement spanning a few weeks and covering your immediate needs.<BR><BR> <A name="documentation"> <B>documentation</B> <FONT size="-1">[<A href="#top">back to top</A>]<BR> Once we have developed a rough understanding of your needs, goals, and existing network, the next step is to produce or exchange documentation relating to your current topology. At minimum, this will include a network diagram, configuration files from core routers and switches, and an overview of your IP address utilization.<BR><BR> We generally use our in-house <A href="/rancid.html">RANCID</A> instance to retrieve this configuration. This is a time savings vs. manually retrieving such configuration, and sets up a change verification mechanism for the future.<BR><BR> Once the initial documentation step has been completed, Innovative should have an authoratitive knowledge of your current network operations. This will allow us to make recommendations with confidence and trouble-shoot problems you may be experiencing.<BR><BR> We can also estimate your eligibility for ARIN provider-independent IP addresses at this point, though a more detailed exchange of IP utilization data will be necessary for a confident assessment.<BR><BR> <A name="invoice1"> <B>initial invoice</B> <FONT size="-1">[<A href="#top">back to top</A>]<BR> We typically ask that new clients pay their first invoice immediately. The generous manner in which we make senior network operators available to clients during the sales cycle allows us to address your concerns rapidly.<BR><BR> Innovative takes our operational obligation clients professionally and seriously, and we expect clients to treat their financial obligation to Innovative with the same respect.<BR><BR> <A name="recommendations"> <B>recommendations</B> <FONT size="-1">[<A href="#top">back to top</A>]<BR> Once your first invoice has been paid, Innovative will provide detailed documentation of our short-term and long-term topology recommendations. At this point, we can implement any desired changes on your network, and begin to handle routine inquiries and requests from your staff.<BR><BR> We are also able to begin utilizing our vendor resources in any equipment, transit, or other service needs you have that directly relate to network infrastructure.<BR><BR> <A name="agreement2"> <B>retainer service agreement</B> <FONT size="-1">[<A href="#top">back to top</A>]<BR> Following the detailed recommendation stage of our relationship, most Innovative clients who may have been "on the fence" earlier are ready to execute a retainer service agreement. This will allow us to make topology changes, vendor inquiries, and handle any emergency issues without charging per-hour or per-project fees.<BR><BR> If your service agreement includes pro-active network monitoring, that benefit will also be extended to you as soon as you've executed a retainer service agreement.<BR><BR> <A name="call3"> <B>touch-base calls</B> <FONT size="-1">[<A href="#top">back to top</A>]<BR> Our network operators are available to you at any time, but we typically find once we've solved clients' initial problems, made desired topology changes, turned up additional equipment and transit, etc. that they feel like they have fewer opportunities to raise small questions with us.<BR><BR> To address this, we encourage our clients to schedule a weekly conference call with us from 10 to 30 minutes in length. This gives you an opportunity to focus on any network related inquiries you may want to raise without placing a call, sending email, or opening a ticket just for that question.<BR><BR> <A name="invoice2"> <B>second invoice</B> <FONT size="-1">[<A href="#top">back to top</A>]<BR> Your second, and following, invoices will be issued at the beginning of each calendar month. Your service agreement will dictate the due date and payment terms, which will be clearly indicated on the invoice.<BR><BR> If you ever have trouble paying an invoice, please contact us promptly. We realize that clients have cashflow problems from time to time, and sometimes extend additional time to make payment upon request. Such grace periods will only be granted to clients who contact us regarding their payment schedule before the due date on an invoice they cannot pay in full.<BR><BR> </div>  <div id="right">  <img alt="stock photo" src="img/stock1.gif" /> <img alt="stock photo" src="img/stock2.gif" /> <div id="contact"> <p>Contact Us:</p> <p>(212) 981-0607</p> <p><img src="img/sales.png" border="0"></p> </div>  </div> </div> </div> <div class="clear"> </div> <div id="footer-wrap"> <div id="footer"> Contents © 2007 Innovative Network Concepts LLC<br /> All Rights Reserved. <a href="legal.html">Legal</a> | <a href="sitemap.html">Site Map</a> </div> </div> </body>