NEWS ALERT! Just in from FTEL!!!!
OBB FTEL For Immediate Release:
December 27, 1996
<center><color><param>0000,0000,ffff</param><bigger><bigger><bigger>FRANKLIN
INKS EXCLUSIVE DEAL FOR
FLAT RATE 800 SERVICE
</bigger></bigger></bigger></color></center>
Westlake Village, CA.> Franklin Telecom announced today that FNet, its
Internet Division, has signed an exclusive agreement with Connect America
to provide Flat Rate 800 Number Internet access anywhere in the United
States!
According to Franklin President and CEO Frank Peters, "To the best of
our knowledge, we are the only company in America offering this service.
Even the "Mega Players" like America On-Line and Prodigy have holes in
their coverage; until today there were still isolated pockets which they
simply could not reach and service. If you total these areas, that's
actually a tremendous untouched market - and it's ours to tap! The
"geographically impaired" can now avail themselves of the same fast,
reliable access to the Internet as the most sophisticated high-tech
Fortune 500 executive in Manhattan."
Thanks to the recent installation by GTE of state-of-the-art optical
fiber (which includes an OC-3, the equivalent of three T-3's) into
Franklin's headquarters, the company is primed to gear up at optimal
speed for the enormous demand which has already begun. Four additional
T-1 lines, each capable of handling 250 customers, are being fired up
next week. Franklin is utilizing an AT&T SLC 2000 Fiber System capable
of handling 84 T-1 spans to ensure speed and quality.
Peters explains, "Doing this right is a tremendous challenge. Much of
the necessary equipment is being purchased by FNet from Franklin Telecom;
at the moment, because of previous commitments, FNet is having to queue
up behind other Franklin Telecom customers and wait its turn for delivery
on additional channel banks. Aside from making sure that our technical
infrastructure is in place in a timely manner, we are also moving to
expand our sales and technical support force with knowledgeable,
well-trained personnel. An additional advantage will be realized if Feb.
when the Franklin Cyclone product comes on line. We could be our own
largest user. If the order rate continues we will need about 8,000
modem/channel bank ports ASAP. The tremendous cash and hard work invested
during the last 14 months is now beginning to pay off."
Pricing for the 800 service will be $30.00 per month, starting January
1st. Neil Wyenn, National Marketing Manager is offering a $25.00
special with three months pre-paid service. Wyenn states, "Customers
will be able to sign up for the 800 service directly from our Web Page:
<underline><color><param>0000,0000,fefe</param>http://www.ftel.com.</color></underline>
Of special interest to our business customers, we have specially designated ISDN 800 lines available in addition to regular Dial-Up accounts."
Connect America, based in Riverside, California, has been in business since 1994. Connect America is a wholesale Internet Provider with over 700 ISP resellers throughout the country. The deal between Franklin and Connect America was accomplished utilizing mutual equity participation. Greg Evans, president of Connect America says, "This deal between Franklin Telecom and Connect America will turn out to be a bigger deal than the recent arrangement between World Comm and UU Net. You can quote me on that!"
For the latest up-to-minute information about Franklin Telecom and FNet, visit our web site:
<center><bold><underline><color><param>0000,0000,fefe</param><bigger><bigger><bigger>http://www.ftel.com
</bigger></bigger></bigger></color></underline></bold></center>
More information can be obtained by contacting Helen West, Shareholder Relations, at 805-373-8688. Franklin is traded Over The Counter BB as "FTEL".
r\mkt\pr\rel\PR122796.CA a |
