PR from one client, Webley Systems.
WASHINGTON, April 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Webley Systems, Inc., a major
provider of unified communications and messaging services, announced today
that America Online, Inc. (NYSE: AOL) and Internet telephony pioneer
Net2Phone, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTOP) have made investments in the company.
"Webley Systems is extremely pleased that AOL and Net2Phone have chosen to
invest in our company," said Patricia Mathis, CEO at Webley Systems. "These
agreements are part of Webley's second round of investment financing, and give
the company a solid base for expansion of its services to a much greater
number of users."
"We believe unified messaging is an area of vast future growth as
intelligent communications become more prevalent," said Ron Peele, Vice
President, AOL Investments. "Webley offers an innovative and flexible
solution with a focus on customer support, which we believe is the right
approach."
"Webley's sophisticated unified communications services fit well with
Net2Phone's enhanced IP network service offerings," said David Greenblatt,
Chief Operating Officer of Net2Phone. "With Webley technology, users have
a virtual Personal Assistant that can take a message, forward calls, read
faxes over the phone, translate and dictate emails to text, and much more,
either from a PC, standard telephone, or wireless device. Net2Phone is
excited to be able to employ this advanced technology for the benefit of
its many customers."
Net2Phone announced last month it was selling a 32% share of its company
to a consortium of corporate investors led by AT&T. By acquiring a minority
interest in Webley, Net2Phone will be able to license Webley's advanced
technology to offer an increased menu of convergent messaging and
communications services, such as "find me/follow me," call forwarding,
Web- and phone-based email/voicemail/fax, and Internet access from cell phones
or other wireless devices utilizing Net2Phone's IP network.
Crossroads of Evolving Technologies
By combining their service strengths, Webley and Net2Phone can leverage a
number of developments that are affecting the telecommunications, computing
and Internet industries. Through this agreement, Net2Phone has become the
network of choice for voice-enabling new technologies such as Webley's unified
messaging.
While Web-based phone calling has quickly evolved from a mere curiosity
into a revolution that is reshaping the telecommunications field, it has
lacked user features to which telephone customers have become accustomed, such
as call waiting, call forwarding, and voice mail. With the advent of these
and many more services on a broad scale, the perceived value of VoIP calling
has risen, convincing large numbers of people of the validity of the new
technology, thus driving expansion.
The ability of users to send calls to PCs as well as phones, combined with
unified email/voicemail/fax, speech-to-text-to-speech technology, and smart
call forwarding to multiple phones or computers, has also created a new and
simplified focal point for people's messaging needs. "What we've developed is
a platform for linking all communications devices with all media through
either voice or www user interfaces," said Alex Kurganov, CTO of Webley
Systems.
Finally, unified communications provides complete compatibility with the
new Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) breakthroughs, allowing mobile phone users
to access the Internet and do things such as check weather or stock reports,
make airline reservations, or check the yellow pages.
"We believe the linking of unified communications with low-cost, Web-based
local and long distance calling, will change the communications habits of
millions of people," said Mike Connors, Chairman of Webley Systems. "We think
the next generation of communications has arrived."
About Webley Systems, Inc.:
Webley Systems is a leader in Unified Communications and Messaging due to
its leading edge, natural speech recognition driven personal assistant,
Webley(TM). Webley(TM) is a fully featured Personal Assistant integrating
customers' messages over the phone and Internet. The feature set include
voice-activated dialing, follow me service via one number, conference calling,
fax mailbox, and the capability to allow users to listen to e-mail over the
phone. Via a personal web page, customers can upload their contact lists
automatically from their PIM and retrieve messages. Webley Systems markets
directly under it's own brand and provides private label functionality to all
types of service providers. Webley Systems, a privately held company, is
located principally Deerfield, Illinois with executive headquarters in
Washington DC and can be found at webley.com .
About Net2Phone:
Net2Phone, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTOP) is a leading provider of voice-enhanced
Internet communications services to individuals and businesses worldwide.
Net2Phone enables people to place low-cost, high-quality calls from their
computer, telephone, or fax machine to any telephone or fax machine in the
world. Net2Phone develops and markets technology and services for IP voice
and e-commerce solutions for the Web and other IP networks. For more
information about Net2Phone's products and services, please visit
net2phone.com .
Except for the historical information contained herein, the statements in
this press release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. Potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation,
continued competitive pressures in the marketplace; the effect competitive and
economic factors and the Company's reaction to them may have on consumer and
business buying decisions with respect to the Company's products and services.
This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the safe harbors created by these
sections. These forward-looking statements include statements related to
potential prospects of the company. Actual results may differ materially due
to a number of risks. This press release provides general information and
should not be construed as an offer to sell securities. This report is for
informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice or as
meeting the investment needs of any particular investor or designed to be the
basis of any investment decision. |
