Free Long-Distance Calling Over the Internet Unveiled Today With Introduction of ZeroPlus.Com
PR Newswire - June 22, 1999 09:25
New Service from e-Net, Inc. Provides Consumers with a Free Internet Phone Number for Free PC-to-PC Calling over the Internet
GERMANTOWN, Md., June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, for the first time, a new service will provide consumers with their own permanent Internet telephone number and specialized software that will enable them to place and receive phone calls anytime, anywhere via their computers -- completely free of charge.
Called ZeroPlus.com, the new service is part of a wholly owned subsidiary of e-Net, Inc. (Nasdaq: "ETEL"), a leader in developing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) hardware and software. The revolutionary aspect of this service is that Internet calls are made by dialing "0" plus a 10-digit number, very similar to the way people make calls on a traditional phone network.
To begin using this new service, consumers first register on-line at www.ZeroPlus.com, select their permanent Internet phone number and download e-Net's free software. With three simple steps, consumers can place and receive free calls over the Internet, PC to PC.
- Add a Zero to Your Home Phone Number & Dial for Free -
The company anticipates most people will request their free Internet phone numbers to be identical to their existing home phone number -- making it particularly easy to remember and use. The new service places a zero ("0") on the front of that number for ten-digit dialing-hence the product's name: ZeroPlus.com. "We add the zero, the customer subtracts the cost," stated e-Net President and CEO Robert Veschi.
To make calls, members simply logon the Internet, launch their ZeroPlus.com software, and they are ready to make and receive calls from other members -- all for free. "What's more," explained Dan Campbell, ZeroPlus.com's Executive Vice President, "your ZeroPlus.com phone number follows you wherever you log in. It doesn't matter if you're at home, at work or on the road. If you have the ZeroPlus.com software and a full duplex (two-way) sound-enabled computer, free calling over the Internet is always available and easy to use."
- Talking to Other ZeroPlus.com Members -
When someone calls a ZeroPlus.com member who is online and has launched the software, his or her computer will ring -- just like an ordinary telephone call. Users need only one phone line to make phone calls and surf the Internet at the same time. In addition, the company is currently developing a ZeroPlus.com White Pages. It will allow a consumer to enter a person's name and state to find his or her Internet phone number, provided that individual is registered and has a "listed" number.
System requirements for ZeroPlus.com are consistent with most widely available and very affordable desktop computers. These include a Pentium Processor (100 MHz or higher), 8MB RAM, a 28.8 KBPS (or faster) modem, full- duplex sound card, microphone, speakers, and Internet access. The service is compatible with Windows 95 and 98 operating systems. The company notes that some members may prefer to use a headset, Internet handset, or specially developed Internet telephone PC card for improved quality, all of which are available at the ZeroPlus.com Online Store.
- The ZeroPlus.com Vision -
"People are hooked on the Internet," commented Mr. Veschi. "It's global and local, affordable and fun. Plus, it makes communicating incredibly easy and inexpensive. And it's only the beginning. Now, with ZeroPlus.com, the Internet can offer absolutely free long distance phone service for consumers. We believe it has the potential to change forever the way we communicate."
The company noted that in the near future it will be rolling out additional service offerings to its users, including solutions for companies that conduct business on the Internet with the specific goal of fueling the growth of online sales.
Concluded Mr. Veschi, "Only a small percentage of the 170 million people who currently have Internet access are using it for phone service, in large part because previously it was too difficult to understand and use. We believe ZeroPlus.com will change that. It is simple, free and has the strong potential to quickly bring Internet telephone usage to mainstream consumers."
- About e-Net -
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