To: Ray Burke who wrote (114 ) 4/22/1998 9:31:00 AM From: Ray Burke Respond to of 132
Monday April 20, 9:31 am Eastern Time Company Press Release Franklin Telecom Spins Off FNet as Independent Subsidiary Magruder Tapped to Build World-wide Voice over IP Network WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 20, 1998--Franklin Telecom (OTC:FTEL - news) today announced that it is spinning off its Internet Telephony subsidiary FNet Corp. as an independent operation. James L. Magruder has been appointed Chief Executive Officer for FNet Corp. Magruder brings over 30 years of experience in the telecommunications services industry. Before joining Franklin, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Zephyr Telecommunications. Prior to this, he was Vice President of Orion Network Services, the first competitive satellite system providing circuits in and between Europe. Magruder was also a key member of MCI's data communications marketing team between 1990 and 1994. Franklin Telecom's President and CEO Frank Peters stated, ''This is a momentous occasion for Franklin. Securing someone with Jim Magruder's talent, experience and associations within the Telecommunications industry means that FNet Corp. will have the leadership it needs as it becomes independent of the parent company. He has both the business savvy and the technical expertise to lead FNet forward in the emerging Internet Telephony marketplace.'' According to Magruder, ''Our mandate is straightforward and exciting; we are going to build a global Voice over IP Network, utilizing Franklin's Tempest Data Voice Gateways. By integrating both cutting edge Voice over IP technology and conventional telephony into our network, we can fulfill our commitment to provide the finest domestic and international voice quality at the lowest cost.'' Magruder continued, ''Our management team will be well versed in what it takes to build a successful service company. While FNet is now an independent subsidiary, our relationship with Franklin Telecom allows for unparalleled vertical integration from the design and manufacture of the necessary hardware through to the deployment and management of our IP Network.'' Magruder will also assume a seat on FNet's Board of Directors. The primary business of Franklin Telecom (OTC:FTEL - news), founded in 1981, is the design and manufacturing of communications devices, high speed LAN, WAN, Telco and Satellite Systems and software. Franklin has an installed base of over 100,000 nodes worldwide. Franklin's Internet Telephony subsidiary, FNet, provides services using FTEL products. Certain statements in this press release constitute ''forward-looking statements'' within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Contact: Franklin Telecom Diane McCarthy / Helen West, 805/373-8688 hwest@ftel.net