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Technology Stocks : Voice-on-the-net (VON), VoIP, Internet (IP) Telephony -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Stephen B. Temple who wrote (2105)	12/10/1998 9:22:00 PM
From: Stephen B. Temple	Respond to of 3178

ITU Initiates Voice Gateway Standard For Phone Interface The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has begun work on a new standard -- currently dubbed "H.gcp" -- for allowing Internet voice gateways to interface with conventional telephone systems. The standard, initiated at a meeting of Study Group 16, the multimedia group of the Telecommunication Standardization Sector of the ITU, is expected to permit control of gateway devices that pass voice, video, facsimile, and data traffic between conventional telephony networks and packet-based data networks such as the Internet. The new recommendation is expected to permit low-cost Internet gateway devices for the first time to be interfaced in a standard way with the signaling systems found in conventional telephony networks. Work on the new standard began in September, and H.gcp is expected to apply for first-phase approval in May 1999. For more information, visit the group's Web site at itu.org

To: Stephen B. Temple who wrote (2105)	12/11/1998 7:53:00 AM
From: Stephen B. Temple	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 3178

Iceland Telecom Joins Delta Three Network Partnership Program Business Editors NEW YORK and REYKJAVIK, Iceland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 11, 1998-- Delta Three, a subsidiary of RSL Communications, Ltd. (NASDAQ: RSLCF), and Iceland Telecom, the largest provider of telecommunications services in Iceland, formed an alliance to offer Delta Three's Internet Telephony services to over 170,000 customers. As part of the Delta Three Network Partnership Program, Iceland Telecom will install Ericsson gateways and connect to the Delta Three Internet Telephony network. Ericsson's IPTC is a true carrier class communications system that enables rapid deployment of enhanced services such as Phone-to-Phone, Fax-to-Fax and PC-to-Phone over a TCP/IP network. As early as next month, Iceland Telecom will offer Delta Three's PC-to-Phone and Phone-to-Phone products to its customers. Iceland becomes the 37th Point of Presence included in Delta Three's expanding global network. Growth of Delta Three's network occurs through the company's Network Partnership Program. The Network Partners Program was designed to bring together Delta Three, Ericsson and major telcos around the world to distribute IP Telephony services to customers via traditional channels. Companies who join the Network Partnership Program receive a turn-key gateway solution from Ericsson and network management, maintenance and marketing solutions from Delta Three. The Network Partnership Program was jointly developed by Ericsson and Delta Three. Additional Information about the program is available at www.deltathree.com/business. "We are happy to be able to offer our customers lower tariffs on international calls through Delta Three's network," said Gudmundur Bjornsson, Chief Executive Officer of Iceland Telecom. "The cost of international calls is decreasing world-wide, due to increased competition and new technology. Iceland Telecom is determined to take part in that trend and offer competitive rates. Our partnership with Delta Three is a part of that endeavour." "We are extremely pleased to have forward-looking Iceland Telecom join our global network. By distributing Delta Three services, they show a commitment to implementing the latest technologies for the benefit of their customers," said Elie Wurtman, Chief Executive Officer of Delta Three. "Over 50% of the population in Iceland have access to the Internet, making it a prime market for Delta Three." Delta Three is a wholly owned subsidiary of global communications provider RSL Communications Ltd. (NASDAQ: RSLCF). Established in 1996, Delta Three was the first company to launch Phone-to-Phone Internet Telephony services. Today, Delta Three operates the world's largest global managed IP Telephony network, with 37 points of presence in 29 countries. Together with RSL COM, Delta Three offers service to customers in every country in the world. The full suite of Delta Three services, including PC-to-Phone, Phone-to-Phone and real-time online billing are available from Delta Three's online communications portal at www.deltathree.com. Delta Three marketing and technology partners include: Telenor Nextel, theglobe.com (NASDAQ: TGLO), Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERICY) and Amdocs (NASDAQ: DOX). Iceland Telecom Ltd. is a state-owned limited liability company, founded in January 1998, as the former Post and Telecom Iceland was split up. IT provides telephone service to approximately 160,000 installed numbers, all of which utilize digital transmission. ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) is offered nationwide and mobile telephone service has more than 86,000 subscribers, 61,000 to GSM and 25,000 to NMT. The company has provided Internet services from 1996 and has a consumer market share of 18% (and additional 10% through subsidiary Skima) in a country where more than half the population has access to the Internet at home, at work or at school, according to recent surveys. A broadband network, based on fiber optic cables, was taken into use in 1997. In March 1999, Iceland Telecom will introduce a nationwide ATM Net (Asyncronous Transfer Mode) for high speed data transmission. Further information on Iceland Telecom Ltd. is available at simi.is. This release is available on the Delta Three website at www.deltathree.com and RSL COM website at www.rslcom.com.

To: Stephen B. Temple who wrote (2105)	12/11/1998 8:01:00 AM
From: Stephen B. Temple	Respond to of 3178

BellSouth Announces It's the Same Old Song December 11, 1998 MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)Background Thursday the Florida Competitive Carriers Association (FCCA), a coalition of long distance companies and industry associations has filed with the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) a four step request that would "light a fire under BellSouth to speed the process" for competition. This request comes one day after a FPSC report on competition to the Governor and Legislature saying that competition has grown very slowly since the Telecommunications Act was passed in 1996. The filing asks the FPSC to take the following steps: 1. Initiate a proceeding to address key pricing issues and the availability of network elements competitors need in order to provide service. 2. Establish a "Competitive Forum," a collaborative process led by the Commission and its staff to tackle operational problems. 3. Establish independent third party testing of BellSouth's operations support systems, which competitors must use to place orders. 4. Establish rules for expedited dispute resolution. The FCCA consists of AT&T, MCI WorldCom, BTI, Cable and Wireless, Excel Communications, Frontier Communications, e.spire Communicaitons Inc., Intermedia and others. Response The following response can be attributed to BellSouth spokesman Spero Canton: "We haven't seen a copy of the filing but this sounds like familiar rhetoric. The Commission has been addressing these issues in the filing in very progressive manner through ongoing dockets and arbitration. "Consumers shouldn't be duped by the marketing tactics of a coalition of our competitors and mistake them for facts. Today's filing is nothing more than a regulatory shell game, as the Association tries to confuse consumers about the complex competition issue and at the same time keep us out of the long distance market. The slower they move in offering basic service to residential customers the longer they may keep us out of the long distance market. They are aware of this and use the regulatory process to delay BellSouth's entry into competition with them. "The true obstruction to residential competition is simply economics. Association members have no problem competing in the lucrative business market, but have purposely ignored the residential market because they would lose money. Residential rates are presently priced significantly below cost and until that issue is addressed competition is likely to progress very slowly in the residential market. BellSouth is committed to opening the entire telecommunications market to competition and has spent more than $500 million establishing systems and processes to promote competition. The real roadblock to competition is BellSouth not being allowed to offer long distance service in Florida. Once that impediment is removed and BellSouth is able to offer a complete package of telecommunications services, competition on every level will grow at a rapid pace throughout the state." CONTACT: BellSouth \| Spero Canton, 305/347-5455 \| Pager: 1-800-246-6249 [Copyright 1998, Business Wire]

To: Stephen B. Temple who wrote (2105)	12/14/1998 7:59:00 AM
From: Stephen B. Temple	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 3178

Analysts Predict Unified Messaging Services Boom as Internet Fuels Message Chaos December 14, 1998 BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE) Unified messaging looks set to radically change personal communications over the next ten years, according to research just out from Ovum Inc. independent technology analysts. Ovum's report, Unified Messaging Services: Market Strategies, points to the Internet as a primary cause of the current messaging malaise and likens the advent of unified messaging services to the introduction of direct dialing. Ovum anticipates global unified messaging services markets to be worth 31$ billion by 2006. According to Roger Walton, a senior analyst with Ovum Inc. in Burlington, "Dealing with messages is becoming more and more time consuming. This is complicated by the fact that each type of message gets delivered to different locations - voice messages go to the answering machine or voice mail system, fax messages go to the fax machine, emails go to the email server etc. The growth of the Internet, more than anything else, has fuelled the current message chaos." "Unified messaging services address these problems by bringing together the different message types from different sources into a unified inbox," explains Walton. Users can then access and manage messages at any time. Unified messaging will be the foundation for a suite of advanced personal communications services. Over time these services will transform the way people interact with the telecoms network and each other. The service provider who owns the unified messaging interface will effectively own the customer." Ovum anticipates that, by 2006, unified messaging will be well on the way to ubiquity. Over one third of American households will subscribe to telecommunications services that include unified messaging. Three quarters of businesses will either be using unified messaging services or will have deployed their own equipment to provide equivalent capabilities. Today's unified messaging market is largely supply driven. Both service providers and technology suppliers are seeking new revenue sources in an increasingly competitive market. But Ovum points out that as messaging and mobility services grow, demand will develop for simpler access and improved manageability in the face of growing message overload. This shift - from push to pull - will greatly accelerate market growth. "For service providers the main driver is competition," adds Walton. "But while most service providers are paying some attention, the full strategic importance of unified messaging is not widely appreciated. Unified messaging cuts across traditional telco organizational boundaries, wireline wireless and Internet, and many corporations find that their internal organization inhibits decisive action. Unified messaging technology is relatively new and has not been deployed on a large scale. This leaves major questions about service deployment and customer behavior unanswered. Prompt market entry and effective marketing will be critical for service providers. Incumbent telcos are in a strong position but must not be complacent," warns Walton. Ovum estimates that by 2002, direct revenue from unified messaging services will reach $2.2 billion. In the same period, indirect revenue will grow to $4.1 billion worldwide. By the end of 2006, these figures will exceed $12 and $18 billion respectively, with the total revenue from messaging services forecast to exceed $31 billion, generated by 170 million mailboxes. Unified Messaging Services: Market Strategies is available from Ovum Inc. end December and costs $3,150. Authored by senior analysts, Roger Walton and Mary Ann O'Loughlin, the report details market drivers, technology standards, and recommended strategies for service providers and their suppliers, as well as market development scenarios and forecasts. It also offers financial analyses as well as case studies of early service offerings. Earlier this year Ovum published detailed evaluations of leading unified messaging tools and vendors in Ovum Evaluates: Unified Messaging. This report is also available Ovum Inc. and costs $2,200. For more product information go to ovum.com Ovum is an independent information technology, telecommunications and new media analyst group, providing high quality, authoritative information and advice on key market, technical and regulatory developments. Ovum's customer base comprises leading blue-chip organizations including suppliers, users and policy makers worldwide. With offices in Boston, London and Melbourne, Ovum currently employs over 170 staff worldwide. CONTACT: Ovum \| Ronald Serio, senior account manager \| 800/642-6886 or 781/272-6414 Ext. 11 \| rfs@ovum.com \| or \| Daniel Matkovits, manager, global press relations \| 800/642-6886 or 781/272 6414 Ext.19 \| dma@ovum.com [Copyright 1998, Business Wire]

To: Stephen B. Temple who wrote (2105)	12/14/1998 10:03:00 PM
From: Stephen B. Temple	Respond to of 3178

NorthPoint Adds FlowPoint Routers to List of Certified CPE Available to Network Service Provider Partners FYI December 14, 1998 -- NorthPoint Communications, Inc., a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC), announced today that it has certified two routers from FlowPoint Corporation for use with its NorthPoint DSL service. NorthPoint DSL enables small and medium-sized businesses to use standard telephone lines to connect to the Internet and corporate networks at speeds ranging from 144 kbps to 1.5 Mbps. FlowPoint is an international provider of remote access networking products. Certification enables NorthPoint's national and regional Network Service Provider (NSP) partners to resell FlowPoint routers for use with NorthPoint DSL. "FlowPoint's reputation for high quality and its competitive prices make its routers appealing to end users and an attractive resell opportunity for service providers,'' said Mike Borsetti, director of product management at NorthPoint. "The market for business-oriented DSL services is expanding rapidly, and there is explosive demand for a complete DSL service/CPE solution. NorthPoint has actively sought out and certified top-ranked CPE such as FlowPoint's to be included in NorthPoint's service offering.'' "NorthPoint continues to lead the way in delivering DSL. Not only are we the most widely deployed data CLEC, but we also support the most CPE and provide the largest range of speeds that meets the varied needs of small to medium-sized businesses,'' said Borsetti. Under the NorthPoint DSL umbrella, NorthPoint supports the broadest range of business-quality symmetric service offerings, and the broadest coverage, of any data CLEC in the industry. Depending on user requirements, SDSL service is available at a range of speeds, from 160 kbps to 1.5 Mbps. In addition, NorthPoint also offers IDSL service for those users who are just beyond the geographic reach of SDSL, but who are still within 36,000 feet from the central office. IDSL service is available at speeds up to 144 kbps. "NorthPoint certification is a significant step for us,'' said Chuck Waggoner, president of FlowPoint. "Both end users and service providers want this combination of NorthPoint DSL service and FlowPoint routers. Our products give small to medium-sized businesses the type of high-quality routing they look for, including optional full IP filtering firewall and VPN capabilities.'' FlowPoint Routers FlowPoint products seamlessly combine a DSL modem and a full router into a single, intuitive device that provides high-speed shared access to an entire local area network (LAN). The FlowPoint 2200-16 SDSL Router provides users with high-speed symmetrical data rates of up to 1.04 Mbps for advanced applications such as streaming video and audio, videoconferencing, and distance learning. The FlowPoint 144 IDSL Router operates at 144 kbps, up to three times faster than 56k analog modems. The product is designed for applications such as Internet and intranet access, multimedia, networking gaming, and large email attachments. Both FlowPoint routers can be installed in minutes and provide easy configuration with a built-in DHCP server and "Quick Start'' software. The DHCP server automatically assigns the workstation's IP address, mask, default gateway and DNS server addresses. This allows LAN-based workstations to get their network addressing information from a wide area network (WAN) without any user setup at the workstation. Free Sales Training for NorthPoint NSPs FlowPoint will offer free sales training to NorthPoint NSPs to enable them to recommend the appropriate FlowPoint products to end users. NorthPoint NSPs or their end users can order the FlowPoint 144 and FlowPoint 2200-16 from FlowPoint's WebStore (http://webstore.flowpoint.com). FlowPoint will credit the appropriate service provider when an end user purchases FlowPoint products directly. Suggested U.S. retail price of the FlowPoint 144 is $449 while the FlowPoint 2200-16 is available at $599. Complete List of NorthPoint Communications Certified CPE -- Ascend Pipeline 50 -- Ascend Pipeline 75 -- CopperMountain CopperRocket 201 SDSL -- CopperMountain CopperRocket 201 IDSL -- FlowPoint 2200-16 SDSL Router -- FlowPoint 144 IDSL Router -- Netopia M-7100-C -- Netopia R-7100-C About FlowPoint FlowPoint is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cabletron Systems that designs, manufactures, and markets Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) network access products. The Company's mission is to create superior-quality, full-featured products allowing seamless network integration for businesses and home offices using the Internet and corporate Intranets. Founded in June 1993, FlowPoint is headquartered in Los Gatos, Calif., and distributes its products worldwide through system integrators, distributors, and private-label OEMs. FlowPoint can be found on the World Wide Web at flowpoint.com or call toll free at 888/867-4736.