ETEL announces $2.1mm wireless IP contract
GERMANTOWN, Md., June 7 /PRNewswire/ -- e-Net, Inc. (NASDAQ: ETEL - news) announced today that Edutek Education Solutions, Inc., a privately owned Gainesville, FL-based company, has awarded it a contract with an initial value of approximately $2.1 million to supply the Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology necessary to create a wireless local area network (WLAN) product that will allow telephone voice communications in addition to the data that such systems currently carry. The first market targeted for the product is local educational systems to which Edutek is a leading provider of technology. Concord Telecommunications, Inc., will provide value-added telecommunications design and installation services as a part of this effort. The initial order is expected to represent revenues over the next 12 months.
e-Net is a provider of its own patented hardware and software technology that allows the delivery of high quality voice
communications over data networks. Among other products, Edutek sells ''Classroom in a Cart,'' which is a collection of Pentium class multi-media laptop computers with PCMCIA wireless network adapters that fit into a roll-away storage container. In addition to saving overall computer and network costs as well as using space more efficiently and productively, the ''Classroom in a Cart'' is increasingly being used to connect portable classrooms, such as those in temporary trailers used for overcrowding or during school construction projects. Now, using the e-Net technology, those facilities will not only be connected to central buildings and
data services, but the teachers and students in those facilities can also have immediate wireless access to voice communications with other classrooms and to outside locations. The school system is therefore able to address both education and safety issues without being forced to make the capital expense required to upgrade its voice network.
The Honorable Edward Henderson, Sr. a former principal, educator and currently a City Council Member of Teaneck, New Jersey, was recently quoted for noting that ''with the over-population of our schools and the amount of portable classrooms we have in each state, wireless data and Voice Over Internet Protocol are the absolute best solution to minimize costs and maximize education potential.''
While the initial order is to serve the needs of the local school market, the companies' wireless computer telephony product will
have far-reaching applications into other markets such as universities, hospitals, public administration facilities, and defense.
''We identified Wireless Voice over Data as an important market niche more than 6 months ago,'' said e-Net President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Veschi. ''We perfected our technology, sought the right partners, penetrated the most appropriate customer base, and are now pleased to announce this aspect of our strategic plan. Edutek, Concord, and e-Net are the right partners. Our Wireless Voice over Data is validated and is ready for general use, both for the local schools and for others.''
Said Edutek President Harry Slaughter, ''The schools entrust Edutek to purchase and deliver technology solutions that promote classroom computer use, perform well, and solve budget constraints. Wireless data on our 'Classroom in a Cart(TM)' product has been proven through strenuous testing to meet all of those characteristics. We have been working with Concord to solve portable building telephone needs in addition to their data needs. We believe e-Net is the final piece in the puzzle, for the schools and other markets. Now, wireless telephones and computers will both be transported on a mobile cart that can be easily moved when classroom requirements change. This customer need is reflected in our slogan: 'We take the wires out of the walls and put learning in the halls.'''
Concord President Paul Celeste said, ''Concord's expertise has been to deliver and install telephone systems of all kinds as an infrastructure element for large projects such as airports or campuses. We recognized some time ago that schools needed a
quality, low-cost solution that was wireless, not wired. It just made sense, from a cost and deployment standpoint, to integrate telephony into the wireless computer data system, which Edutek had built, and thereby create a single unified system, as opposed to separate voice and data networks. Plus, this solution requires no wires to install. E-Net had also identified this need and thus, they were immediately ready to provide the technology solution, while its competition is still in development for this need. The test results have been completely successful.''
''Recently, school security and communications issues have become an even greater concern to communities around the country,'' said e-Net's Veschi. ''Many remote classrooms do not have telephone access, creating a potentially dangerous situation. At the same time, students need more learning on computers and the Internet, so there is a proliferation of Internet -connected computers in schools. By integrating e-Net's VoIP hardware and software with Wireless network equipment, school systems are able to affordably ensure students' safety when they are in classrooms outside of the central building.''
Mr. Veschi continued, ''The education market is just one vertical segment which can take advantage of an integrated VoIP and
Wireless LAN solution. We believe wireless web-based telephony technology is applicable to other market segments as well. This agreement with Edutek and Concord is the first of several contracts we anticipate in the near future. We expect to announce, or to be a part of announcements, in the near future, which describe more of our wireless and web-based data telephony initiatives, our additional software and service product offerings, additional market 'soft spots,' and significant additional activities with Edutek and Concord. ''
About e-Net, Inc.
e-Net, Inc. develops, markets, and supports open telecommunications software and associated hardware that enable local, national, and international telephone communications, information exchange, and network optimization. Its leading product is Telecom 2000(TM), a powerful, cost- effective hardware and software combination that delivers full voice quality of service at a low per-station price. For more information about e-Net, visit the company's web site at www.datatelephony.com or call e-Net at 301-601-8700.
About Edutek Education Solutions, Inc.
Edutek Education Solutions, Inc. is a private corporation headquartered in Gainesville, Florida. It specializes in wireless data
communications, and has been selected to serve as an authorized buyer for certain school districts in the Southeast. Edutek has been deploying wireless data systems since 1991. For more information about Edutek, contact the company at its President's office: Mr. Harry Slaughter, 1-800-214-6754, or visit its web site at www.edutek.com.
About Concord Telecommunications, Inc.
Concord Telecommunications, Inc. is a private corporation headquartered in Tampa, Florida. Concord is one of West Florida's
largest telephone system design and build companies, specializing in state-of-the-art, large-scale telephone system deployments. Concord specializes in wireless telephones, fiber optics, PBX, key systems, and enhanced telephone services, with partners including AT&T, NEC, Premier, Nortel, and others. For more information about Concord, contact its President, Mr. Paul Celeste, at 1-813-878-0068 or e-mail Concordinc@aol.com.
Certain statements made herein that are not historical are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation reform Act of 1995. The words ''estimate,'' ''project,'' ''intend,'' ''expect,'' ''believe,'' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. For
additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's business, reference is
made to the Company's reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
