News Release from March 11, 1999
AvTel Signs Internet Access Distribution Agreement With UGA; 3,000 UGA Field Sales Agents Will Sell AvTel's Internet Service Nationwide
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 16, 1999--AvTel
Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:AVCO), a provider of integrated voice,
data and Internet services, has signed an agreement with
UGA-Association Field Services ("UGA"), a Texas-based national
organization of sales professionals offering insurance products to
small-office enterprises.
More than 3,000 of UGA's salespeople who have previously
contracted with AvTel to market long-distance telecommunications
services will now also be able to market AvTel's Internet access,
effective immediately.
The agreement with UGA is an extension of AvTel's recently
launched "Affinity ISP" (Internet service provider) program, which
offers bundled telecommunications services to select nonprofit and
private-sector affinity groups.
Under the agreement, AvTel will bundle Internet services with an
existing portfolio of AvTel long-distance products currently sold by
UGA to thousands of independent businesses being called upon daily by
the UGA sales force. UGA/AvTel sales representatives can now offer an
attractive package to self-employed professionals for all of their
telecommunication needs.
"The Affinity ISP program allows the UGA field service
organization to offer bundled Internet and long-distance telephone
services to their customers at greatly reduced costs," said James P.
Pisani, president and chief operating officer of AvTel.
"The UGA organization has an outstanding reputation for providing
cost-effective tools for the self-employed. We believe our package of
Internet and long-distance services will enhance their portfolio and
provide additional value to their customers."
UGA's sales force markets a portfolio of health-benefits products
through its association with the National Association of Self-Employed
(NASE) membership. The AvTel/UGA agreement calls for their field sales
force organization to sell AvTel's MatrixInet(TM) Internet service
product packaged with its low-rate long-distance services, calling
card and other telecommunications services.
"This is an opportunity for UGA's network of 3,000 independent
sales representatives to begin offering Internet services for the
first time," said Troy McQuage, president, UGA.
"Our customers have a need to be as advanced as large companies
in the growing use of the Internet, e-commerce and e-mail, while at
the same time they need cost-effective solutions," McQuage said.
"AvTel is the first company to provide such a strong one-two
combination for an organization like ours."
Members also receive discounted rates on domestic and
international long-distance calls; access to special-rate calling
cards; and other communication services not available on an individual
basis through other telecom providers.
Other program benefits include:
- access to AvTel's award-winning Web designers;
-- 24-hour, seven-day customer service;
-- hardware and connection support;
-- 15-minute turnaround time for content updates;
-- an easy-to-use, self-installing CD-ROM for instant online
registration and access.
AvTel Communications is a provider of broadband network services
integrating voice, data and Internet networking solutions for
individuals and business customers. The company markets and sells a
broad range of telecommunications and advanced network services
through independent value-added resellers and internal direct-sales
professionals.
The company targets midsize corporations, small-office/home-
office professionals and select residential market segments. The
company is fully certified by the Federal Communications Commission
and registered in all 48 contiguous states and Hawaii.
In addition, the company holds billing agreements with all the
Regional Bell Operating Companies, GTE and other independent telephone
companies. For further information, visit the company's Web site at
www.avtel.com.
UGA is a marketing arm of UICI. UICI is a diversified financial-
services company with headquarters in Dallas. Through its
subsidiaries, UICI offers insurance and financial services to niche
consumer markets. UICI companies also provide institutional technology
and outsourcing solutions to the insurance and health-care community. |
