New Unified
Messaging Service Gives Users Easy Access to Their E-mail From Any
Telephone, Anywhere
Atlanta-based Premiere Technologies (NASDAQ:PTEK) today announced the
worldwide launch of Orchestrate(R) E-Mail by Phone. This latest advance
in Web-based communications solutions allows users to hear their e-mail
over the phone and respond to it with their own voice from any phone,
anywhere.
"We believe Orchestrate E-mail by Phone will be as much a part of
everyday life, all over the world, as voice mail is today," said Boland
T. Jones, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Premiere Technologies, Inc.
"Let's face it, using a phone is easier than always being tied to your
computer to access e-mail. Just like voice mail, users will access
their e-mail through a touch-tone phone whether they're calling from a
car phone, cellular phone, their home, or even a hotel while away from
the office on business or vacation."
The service is very affordable with Orchestrate's simple, flat-rate
pricing at $19.95/month. Orchestrate(R) E-Mail by Phone users dial a
local number to access the service without incurring additional per
minute charges for usage. Through its strategic acquisitions, Premiere
has built a worldwide IP-based network that allows local access in more
than 4,500 cities in eight countries. This existing network
differentiates Premiere from its competitors and provides Premiere a
strategic low-cost advantage. Premiere plans to extend the service
offering to more than 12 countries, expanding the target audience for
the service to more than 800 million adults by the end of 1999.
To further strengthen its network, in April Premiere entered into a
strategic relationship with Sun Microsystems to build a scaleable
unified messaging platform for Orchestrate, and have developed joint
marketing initiatives to promote Orchestrate unified messaging services
worldwide.
Orchestrate(R) E-Mail by Phone does not require the user to purchase
any new software or hardware - users simply need access to a telephone.
Through the service, the user's e-mail is forwarded to the Orchestrate
Internet gateway messaging center. Orchestrate allows users to continue
service with their current ISP and keep their established e-mail
address if they choose to do so. The message center then routes their
e-mail to the Orchestrate(R) E-Mail by Phone platform, allowing access
to the e-mail by phone or by computer.
Over the next six years, Internet usage is expected to grow from its
current 176 million users to more than one billion. Tracking with that
trend, the number of unified messaging boxes is expected to reach 100
million.
"E-mail has become an integral part of both business and personal
life," Jones said. "With Orchestrate(R) E-Mail by Phone, people who
have never even been on the Internet have access to e-mail. And, it
complements current e-mail usage by giving our customers the
convenience of not being tied to a PC or laptop, especially when
they're on the road. By offering the convenience of receiving and
responding to e-mail in this fashion, Orchestrate Web-enables the phone
and literally transforms it into an extension of our users' keyboards."
Premiere is rolling out the new service with a multimillion dollar
marketing campaign starting in Atlanta, using print, broadcast and
outdoor media coupled with promotional and public relations support.
The campaign will move on to six more U.S. cities, each selected based
on high cell phone and e-mail usage. The effort rises to the national
scene with a marketing push targeting frequent business travelers
through inflight magazines and national public relations.
To use the new service, users dial a personalized number from any phone
and their e-mail is read to them by the friendly voice of
Orchestrate(R) E-Mail by Phone. Customers will have the option of
replying to the original sender by voice or forwarding the original
message with comments to another Orchestrate user. For more information
on Orchestrate(R) E-Mail by Phone, visit www.orchestrate.com or call
877-HEAR-MAIL.
About Premiere Technologies Atlanta-based Premiere Technologies, Inc.
provides innovative solutions to simplify communications by combining
the power of the Internet with the reach of the telephone. Founded in
1991, Premiere has operations in 32 countries and can be found at
www.premtec.com.
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