Makes you wonder how AOL will approach their Telephony Portal> ZeroPlus.com Adds Online 'White Pages' Directory, A Searchable Resource to Further Simplify Free Long-Distance Internet Calling
ZeroPlus.com Makes It Easy for Users to Look Up <>
August 3, 1999
ZeroPlus.com, Inc.,
a wholly owned subsidiary of e-Net, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ETEL), today announced the
availability of its online "White Pages"
directory. The comprehensive Internet phone
number listing, much like a traditional phone
book, enables users of the company's free
Internet calling service to identify Internet
phone numbers of other ZeroPlus.com users.
"We are moving aggressively to emulate the
way people use the traditional telephone
network," said e-Net CEO and President,
Robert Veschi. " First, we created a system
that enabled people to have telephone
numbers so that others could easily place a
call to them over the Internet, and now we
are introducing a searchable online directory
so that others can find those numbers easily.
Soon, we will introduce 'Yellow Pages' where
businesses will advertise. We believe that by
making Internet telephony resemble the
telephone system people grew up with, their
transition to the Internet for voice
communications will be accelerated," he said.
ZeroPlus.com, announced in June, provides
free software to download and allows
consumers to select a permanent Internet
telephone number. Most often, they pick
their existing telephone number, and add a
zero in front of it. Users are given the option
of having their name listed in the directory.
With ZeroPlus.com, for the first time, users
can provide others a number that can be
dialed over the Internet to reach them,
thereby allowing for free long- distance
calling in an orderly fashion.
"Step-by-step, we are taming Internet
telephony, and moving it from an interesting
cost-saving gimmick for hobbyists to an
orderly international phone system that
everyone can use," Veschi said. At the White
Pages section of the ZeroPlus.com portal,
users will access a search engine that scans
the ZeroPlus.com database of all members
matching the user's search criteria. "Unlisted"
numbers will not be made available. Search
criteria can include name, city, state, or
nickname.
The system requires that the person
receiving the call be logged on to the
Internet when the call is made. In the coming
months, enhancements to the directory
service will enable users to see, in real time,
if the person they want to call is indeed
online. "Although we are working on this
feature, we believe that the issue of whether
or not a person is logged-on will be moot.
That's because we believe that in the
not-too-distant future, people will no longer
log-on and log-off to the Internet, but that
they will simply stay networked on a full-time
basis through high-speed lines that will allow
exceptional voice quality. When that occurs,"
Veschi said, "Internet telephony will be
ubiquitous, and users will turn to a system
that is both immediately understandable and
extraordinarily robust.
"We believe Internet telephony will operate
through web portals, and ZeroPlus.com is our
effort to capture the First Mover status for
that space, " Veschi said. He also said the
company is now engaged in an aggressive
marketing program to enroll ZeroPlus.com
users "in bulk" by establishing alliances with
other web portals. "We have launched the
system. We have thousands of members
using it successfully. And, we can
demonstrate its power and features to other
Internet enterprises that can offer
ZeroPlus.com as a valuable free service to
their own members. Currently, this marketing
program is not highly visible, but initial
reactions from prospective ZeroPlus.com
partners is very encouraging," he said.
About e-Net and ZeroPlus.com
e-Net, Inc. is a recognized leader in
developing hardware and software
technology that allows voice to be
transmitted over data networks, including the
Internet, IP, ATM, or Frame Relay.
ZeroPlus.com is a wholly owned subsidiary of
e-Net, Inc.
The company's suite of products is designed
to allow Internet Service Providers, CLECs,
and Cable TV operators to offer competitive
long distance service over their data
networks. By integrating hardware, software,
and billing solutions, e-Net is able to offer
customers a complete Voice over Internet
Protocol (VoIP) solution. The company has
received numerous awards for its technology,
including: Product of the Year from CTI
Magazine, Best of LAN Times, Computer
Telephony Product of the Year and ComNews'
Editor's Choice. For more information about
e-Net, visit the company's Web site at
www.datatelephony.com or call e-Net at
301-601-8700.
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.
SOURCE e-Net, Inc.
/CONTACT: For Media: John B. Dinsmore of
Feldman Communications, 410-571-8900, or
FelCom@aol.com; or for Investors: Doug
Poretz of The Poretz Group, 703-506-1778,
or Doug@Poretz.com; both for e-Net, Inc./
/Web site: datatelephony.com
(ETEL)
[Copyright 1999, PR Newswire] |
