The story unfolds:
(a cut and paste project)
March 2, 1998 Franklin Telecom Corp today announced the availability of the Cyclone-F fax server~
~The ability of the Cyclone-F fax server to mix and match voice, fax and modem lines in one easily manageable unit is a real benefit to corporate IT and MIS managers.'' ~
Shipping will begin April 1, 1998.
FNet Corp., has signed a definitive agreement with
WorldCom (NASDAQ:WCOM - news) to collocate its Internet telephone network on WorldCom sites.
Under the terms of the agreement, FNet will offer its Tempest(R) Data Voice Gateway to a number of
cities in the United States via the WorldCom network. Through the Tempest gateways, FNet will support
national telephone-to-telephone service over a private intranet and a public Internet. The agreement also
facilitates eventual overseas deployment of the gateways as well.
''Franklin's Tempest technology, noted for its superior Voice-over IP quality will now be made available
to callers throughout the U.S.,'' said Frank Peters, chief executive officer of Franklin Telecom. ''With
this, we are now able to expedite our plans for establishing a world-wide, carrier class network, offering
customers an unparalleled scope of services.''
~Gateways incorporate Franklin Telecom's own hardware technology~
Magruder Tapped to Build World-wide Voice over IP Network
James L. Magruder has been appointed Chief Executive Officer for FNet Corp.
Magruder brings over 30 years of experience in the telecommunications services industry.
According to Magruder, ''Our mandate is straightforward and exciting; we are going to build a global Voice over IP Network, utilizing Franklin's Tempest Data Voice Gateways.
Franklin Telecom's President and CEO Frank Peters stated, ''This is a momentous occasion for Franklin.
Securing someone with Jim Magruder's talent, experience and associations ~~He has both the business savvy and the technical expertise to lead FNet forward in the emerging Internet Telephony marketplace.''
FNet Corp. To Build Voice Over IP Network
Former MCI Executive James Magruder Heads Effort as CEO
Company Plans 12 On-Net Cities by Summer, 50 Worldwide by Year-End
According to FNet chief executive officer James L. Magruder, ''The Internet Telephony services market is perhaps the most exciting sector in today's high tech arena, and we are committed to providing the
finest quality domestic and international voice traffic by using the Franklin Tempest (R) Data Voice
Gateway, noted for its superior voice over IP performance.''
Magruder said, ''FNet has a significant competitive edge because of our unique vertical integration, from
the design and manufacture of Franklin hardware to the deployment and management of our Internet
network. The network we are building has complete world-wide off-net switching capability, and by
integrating our IP technology with conventional telephony technology we are able to offer the highest quality call for the least cost.''
By this summer, Magruder said FNet will deploy eight domestic POP's~~
Franklin Telecom's ISP Signs First International Pact In Plan to Build Global IP
Network
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 14, 1998--FNet Corp., an Internet subsidiary
of Franklin Telecom (OTC:FTEL - news), announced today it has entered into a joint venture with
LibertyOne to extend voice over the Internet service to New Zealand and Australia.
According to FNet chief executive officer James L. Magruder, ''The purpose of the joint venture is to
implement voice over IP in Australia and New Zealand which will then connect to the world via the FNet
network. This is the first of several alliances we are forging in line with our announced strategy to help FNet move quickly and with strength into the international Internet telephony marketplace.''
~the target date to debut the FNet/LibertyOne service in New Zealand is this August~
~Australian service scheduled to kick off in September.~
Magruder confirmed that FNet plans to deploy its network, which utilizes both voice over IP and
traditional off-net switching capability, in at least 50 countries within twenty-four months, including 50
on-net cities up and running by the end of this year.
libertyone.com.au
May 19, 1998-- Franklin Telecom today announced the addition of a Billing & Authorization Server to its Tempest(R) IP Telephony System.
''The feedback from our customers has been nothing but positive,'' said LDNet's president, Mitchell
Marks. ''Franklin's software is comprehensive and user friendly.~
LDNet, which provides Internet service to eight midwestern cities using the Tempest System, was among the first to beta test the Billing & Authorization Server
ldnet.com
The Tempest Billing & Authorization Server runs on Windows NT~
Franklin Telecom ~ today announced that it has begun shipment on a $250,000 order for Tempest(R) Data Voice Gateway units to J. M. Best Communications~the company plans to purchase an additional forty-five units.
Johnny M. Brown, C.E.O. and president of J.M. Best stated, ''Our conclusion is that the Tempest is the best product on the market for providing excellent voice quality, customer support and account
management. Franklin Telecom has been outstanding in their support of this product and extremely
responsive to our questions and suggestions. I believe we are now positioned to expand our services
quickly throughout the Midwest, and throughout the world as we join the FNet network.''
jmbest.net
"By the way, the Tempest System now includes three facets:
we are, as you know, already shipping DVG's. We will be
shipping Beta units of our AMAS (Authentication, Mapping
and Accounting Server) software within a few weeks. The
third unit is a standards based MM2000 (Multi-Media 2000)
product which is H.323 compliant for audio and "net meeting"
communications; this unit is still in the engineering phase. "
"Engineers have been working to add features
to the DVG as well as to give it extra flexibility to fit into
various work environments. "
"The feedback from customer evaluations so far has been
positive. ~
. ~The engineering tasks
required to complete our full feature set will be completed
over the next few months. Some of the features will be
available in a couple of weeks, others will take a few months.
In any case, the features should translate into sales."
"FNet's success will directly benefit FTEL shareholders~"
"~Our shared dream is close to fulfillment. "
"Bulletin: As this is being posted, we've just received
notification that our Tempestr DVG has once again been
named "Best in Show" at the recent Computer Telephony
Expo '98 in Los Angeles! "
"Our Company has a strong cash position"~
"We are also in discussions with several tier one investment bankers about
funding the full deployment of the FNet network. "
Certain statements in (these) this press release constitute ''forward-looking statements'' within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may
cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from
any future results, performance or achievements, expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements.
The above has been cut & pasted from press releases issued over the last several months, and from officer messages. To me it tells a
story, a glimpse here, a hint there. Looks to me like FTEL/FNET
has a plan. -Ray
edit, I think I missed a few items, oh well, this is the basic stuff.
The details will come. |
