Sprint says it will turn off its legacy data networks in four years and shepherd its enterprise data flock to one of the carrier's IP network services and backbone.  For the past six months, Sprint has been notifying customers that it plans to phase out its legacy data networks and offer the option of Layer 2 or Layer 3 VPN service. Sprint has been the most forthcoming with its consolidation plans. AT&T and MCI have not stated when they'll shutter their legacy data nets, but both carriers have been encouraging users to take the plunge into IP. For more, click here.

In fact, MCI last week enhanced a service that melds frame and IP nets via gateways. MCI is adding support for sub-T-1 DSL, cable modem, or fractional T-1 frame relay or Private IP access to its Secure Internet Gateway service. This Broadband VPN Interworking option  allows users with connectivity at T-1 or below to connect with other corporate locations that are part of MCI’s SIG service. MCI rolled out SIG over two years ago to enable higher-speed - above T-1 - IP VPN and legacy data users to link their networks. For more, click here.

SBC is reselling an appliance from Mirage as the CPE component of a managed intrusion detection service.  A single Mirage device installed on customer premises LANs can monitor up to 1,000 endpoints. Monitoring the behavior of various computers and servers is more proactive than looking for known signatures of worms and viruses in a database, SBC says. The IPS service starts at $499 per month plus a one-time charge of $15,000 for the Mirage appliance. For more, click here.