XSNI news>B: (XSNI) Ursus Telecom Partners With the X-Stream Network to Launch Co-Branded
Web Site in the United Kingdom and Beyond
SUNRISE, Fla., Jan 6, 2000 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
Registered Subscribers In U.K., Norway, Sweden and Denmark To Receive
X-Stream's Free Internet Service and Be Offered Ursus' Unique Voice
Over The Internet Services
Ursus Telecom Corporation (Nasdaq:UTCC) and The X-Stream Network
(OTCBB:XSNI) today jointly announced that the Companies' co-branded web
site, accessible through www.x-stream.co.uk/thestream.html, was
successfully launched in the United Kingdom on Christmas Eve, December
24, 1999.
Rated as the third largest and first free worldwide Internet Service
Provider (ISP) in the U.K., X-Stream boasts more than 550,000
registered Internet subscribers. The Company has also recently
introduced free Internet access to subscribers in Norway, Sweden and
Denmark. Through www.x-stream.co.uk, also known as X-Stream Central,
Ursus will allow X-Stream's subscribers and site visitors access to the
full array of theSTREAM.com's communication products and services.
Specifically, Ursus will promote the sale of its Voice Over The
Internet services (VoIP) marketed worldwide as theSTREAM's Internet
Phone Booth(tm) that requires only a small plug-in to complete calls.
This unique browser-based, PC-to-Phone service is offered through
theSTREAM's exclusive provisioning, payment and bill presentment system
and enables customers around the world the ability to call anywhere on
the globe for substantially less than they would pay with traditional
telephony.
Jeffrey Chaskin, President of Ursus, stated, "We are very excited and
pleased to be partnering with X-Stream. They have distinguished
themselves as true innovators in establishing a broad customer base
through the marketing of their popular free ISP program. We look
forward to working closely with them to penetrate the entire European
marketplace. In fact, we expect to launch new partnership sites and
promotional programs in Sweden, Norway and Denmark in only a matter of
weeks following completion of the necessary language translations."
"We plan to continue introducing www.theSTREAM.com to our subscribers
and portal visitors through a variety of value-added promotion programs
and introductory offers as we deploy our services into new European
countries," added Gregory Sukornyk, Chief Executive Officer of The
X-Stream Network. Continuing, Sukornyk noted, "X-Stream's free Internet
access strongly complements theSTREAM.com to provide even more exciting
values to our rapidly growing customer base. Furthermore, we believe
that this partnership with Ursus Telecom once again substantiates our
commitment to offer only the best of breed in IP access and
communications to our subscribers."
To date, Ursus Telecom's strategic growth initiatives have focused on
capturing marketshare in emerging markets via its traditional telephony
business, as well as through the offering of services associated with
its VoIP technology and premier e-business engine, theSTREAM.com.
Looking forward, Chaskin stated that it will continue to dedicate
substantial resources to market its products and services throughout
the world while intensifying its focus on establishing marketing
agreements and partnerships with major portal sites and ISPs it
believes are unique to the industry. In the past four months alone,
Ursus has partnered with many leading global Internet players including
Czech Telecom, Chineseinvestors.com, YUPI.com, Dag Media, Inc.,
ZAZ.com, Universo Online and Prima (S.A.) Ciudad Internet.
ABOUT THE X-STREAM NETWORK Launched in the U.K. on March 8, 1998, The
X-Stream Network is the U.K.'s first 100% FREE Internet access service
with over 550,000 registered subscribers worldwide and now offers FREE
Internet access in Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Users can access the
service simply by calling +44(0)870-730-6466 and requesting the
required software. Using this innovative software program, The X-Stream
Network is able to offer all users 100% free access to the Internet.
With offices in London, Stockholm and Toronto, The X-Stream Network is
rapidly expanding its innovative service to new territories.
The X-Stream Network can be found on the Internet at www.stream.com;
X-StreammailPlus free email and Unified Messaging service may be found
at www.mail.x-stream.co.uk; X-Stream Central at www.x-stream.co.uk;
X-Stream Central Norway at www.x-stream.no; X-Stream Central Sweden at
www.x-stream.se; X-Stream Central Denmark at www.x-stream.dk; X-Stream
SmartShopper at www.smartshopper.x-stream.co.uk; and The X-Stream Games
Network at www.x-stream.gamesnetwork.com.
ABOUT URSUS TELECOM Ursus Telecom Corporation is a global
facilities-based telecommunications company that provides international
services, including long distance, direct-dial, value-added and
Internet-based services to more than 100,000 customers -- individuals,
businesses and carriers -- worldwide. The Company operates directly and
through a network of agents on five continents and over 45 countries
that account for more than 80% of the World's International traffic.
Ursus Telecom operates switching facilities and points of presence in
Sunrise, Florida, Frankfurt, Lima, Buenos Aires, Johannesburg and
Tokyo. Ursus Telecom is the source of www.theSTREAM.com.
Together with theSTREAM.com as the Company's global marketing and
provisioning mechanism, Ursus believes it is well positioned to prosper
in the next generation of services which combine the Internet,
telephony, fax, data and video services into a single broadband
platform offering a rich multi-media experience to its customers
throughout the world.
Statements in this news release that relate to future plans, financial
results or projections, events or expected performance in future
periods are forward-looking statements and fall within the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
While management wishes to provide readers with reasonable opinions and
viewpoints with respect to the Company's progress, marketplace
acceptance, business opportunities, and fiscal performance, such
statements, opinions and viewpoints are forward-looking and involve
risks and uncertainties, including risks of changing conditions in the
overall economy, the capital markets, the computer and
telecommunications industries, as well as risks of changing consumer
demand and the success of the Company's business strategies and other
factors detailed in the Company's annual and other reports filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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