From Russia, With Love. Collect.
NOV 16,1998
DirectNet Premieres Collect Calling Service for Russian Consumers; DirectNet Offers Collect Calling Service to the United States
Business Editors and High-Tech Writers
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 16, 1998--DirectNet Telecommunications Monday announced it is offering collect calling to the United States from Russia.
Although collect calling is commonplace in the United States, its use to date has been extremely limited in Russia. With this new low-cost service, DirectNet hopes to change that. "DirectNet's new collect calling service will keep Russian consumers in touch with friends and relatives in the United States -- this is particularly important in view of the current Russian economic crisis," said Dan Gee, president of DirectNet. "The country is in turmoil and our collect calling service is filling a real need for convenient communications out of Russia."
"Although novel today, we believe collect calling to America from Russia will quickly catch on," said Irina Grishanova, director general at DirectNet's Moscow office. "DirectNet's service is simple and economical -- a definite departure from the norm for the Russian consumer."
Based in Southern California, DirectNet was developed to bring advanced telecommunications services to emerging and transitioning economies. The company has built and now operates its own extensive fiber optic network in Russia. "We're an Orange County firm, but we provide the latest telecommunications technology to areas that need it most," said Gee.
DirectNet's collect calling service provides a competitive, per minute rate, designed not to be a burden on the receiving party in the United States. In fact, using DirectNet, the cost of a ten minute collect call will typically average 35 to 50 percent less than other calling plans offering similar services that originate in Russia and terminate in the United States. Collect calling is easy. Callers simply dial 755-8385 to reach a Russian speaking operator. The operator will ask them for the number they wish to call in the United States. When the called party accepts the charges, the caller can then begin speaking.
About DirectNet
DirectNet Telecommunications was founded shortly after the breakup of the Soviet Union to provide Russia with advanced digital international telecommunications services. An American company with retail operations in Russia and the Czech Republic, DirectNet has a diverse customer base, which includes Fortune 500 corporations, international institutions, accounting and law firms, broadcasters, and the American Embassy in Moscow. DirectNet provides the Russian market with high-quality voice and data products, frame relay service, international private lines, Internet access, and other network services. DirectNet has major switching hubs and operations centers in the United States at Los Angeles and New York and in Russia at Moscow and St. Petersburg. Additional switching hubs and operations centers are scheduled to open soon in London and Tokyo.
For additional information about DirectNet's Russian collect calling program, contact Michelle Machado at DirectNet, 949/474-1001. |
