Thanks to Frank C. for this post.
My question is, does FTEL/FNet have any relationship with VIP Calling? Where will the Rimnet international calls be routed thru? Austrailia? New Zealand? Know where I'm heading? ;~)
VIP Calling and Rimnet Form Industry's First Internet
Telephony Peering Relationship for Japanese Market
( BW)(VIP-CALLING)
BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 20, 1998--
Leading Japanese ISP and International Internet Telephony Service
Wholesaler Join Forces to Expand Internet Telephony Coverage in Asia
VIP Calling, Inc. and Rimnet Corporation today announced an agreement to share
traffic between their networks in the industry's first Internet telephony peering
relationship for the Japanese market.
Rimnet is one of the leading Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Japan and has
established that country's largest Internet telephony network. VIP Calling is a leading
wholesale provider of international Internet telephony services. The companies' peering
relationship provides both organizations with an expanded footprint and a larger
worldwide network for customers of both VIP Calling and Rimnet.
"VIP Calling is pleased to join forces with Rimnet to establish the first peering
relationship for the Japanese Internet telephony market," said Ofer Gneezy, President
and CEO of VIP Calling.
"This agreement significantly broadens VIP Calling's presence in Asia by enabling us to
deliver and originate Internet telephony traffic in Japan, but more importantly, it provides
consumers in Japan and those calling Japan with a high-quality, economical alternative to
switch-based telephony service."
"Strengthening the Asian Internet telephony market is our primary goal," said Takashi
Kobayashi, president and CEO of Rimnet Corporation. "Relationships with companies
like VIP Calling will enable us to build traffic for our network, and increase Rimnet's
worldwide presence in Internet telephony.
Additionally, VIP Calling's position as a leader in the Asian Internet telephony market
will prove very helpful in leveraging existing customer relationships and building new
ones."
"VIP Calling and Rimnet are well positioned to address the large and growing market
for Internet telephony in Asia," said IDC/LINK analyst, Mark Winther. "By establishing
and maintaining peering relationships with overseas partners, both companies can
provide their customers with expanded access to economical IP-based telephony
services."
About Rimnet
Rimnet Corporation, based in Tokyo, is a leading ISP and has earned a reputation as a
quality service provider in Japan. Founded in 1987 as Rapid Systems, the company
specialized in developing software and system integration technologies. Rimnet was also
the first company to launch Japan's first voice over IP service. As a Special Type II
Carrier, Rimnet plans to leverage its network presence to become a world-class
communications carrier.
About VIP Calling
VIP Calling, Inc., based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is a leading facilities-based
carrier utilizing the Internet to provide wholesale international telecommunication
services. Founded in 1996, the company has leveraged its engineering and
telecommunications expertise to deploy the VIP Calling Network, a state-of-the-art IP
telephony network that provides high-capacity, carrier-grade service and
multi-company settlements for Internet telephony. The VIP Calling Network enables
carriers, prepaid card operators and telephony resellers to reduce costs and increase
margins.
--30--jm/bos*
CONTACT: Rimnet Corporation
Michael Long, +81(3)5489-7781
mikelong@rimnet.co.jp
or
FitzGerald Communications, Inc.
Jennifer Richardson, 617/494-9500 ext. 274
jrichardson@fitzcomm.com
or
VIP Calling, Inc.
Gordon VanderBrug, 781/229-0011
gvbrug@vipcalling.com |
