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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 (2226)	12/26/1998 3:25:00 PM
From: Stephen B. Temple	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 3178

idt to challenge competitor's claims HACKENSACK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)IDT (NASDAQ: IDTC) Corporation, a leading provider of domestic and international long distance telecommunications services, announced today that it intends to vigorously contest the law suit that has been filed against it by PT-1 Communications, Inc. In this legal action, PT-1 has alleged that a number of IDT's prepaid calling card products copy the trade dress of PT-1's long-distance calling cards. The action was filed on December 16th, and based upon its review, IDT believes that the action is without merit, and that it expects to prevail in such action. "I have personally discussed this issue with our attorneys, who have assured me that there is no merit to this claim," said IDT's President Jim Courter. "This is more of a tactic to suppress free market competitive forces from a fast-growing competitor." IDT is a leading emerging multinational carrier that combines its position as an international telecommunications operator, its experience as an Internet service provider and its leading position in Internet telephony to provide a broad range of telecommunications services to its wholesale and retail customers worldwide. The company provides its customers with integrated and competitively priced international and domestic long distance, pre-paid calling cards, Internet access and, through its Net2Phone product offerings, Internet telephony services including Net2Phone Direct, Net2Fax, and Click2Talk. This press release contains 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 include, among other things, the results of litigation relating to IDT. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and IDT assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and the other information set forth from time to time in IDT's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the year ended July 31, 1998. <<Business Wire, 12-17-98, 12:17 Eastern>> CONTACT: IDT Public Relations \| Sarah Hofstetter \| 201/928-2882 \| or \| IDT Investor Relations \| Janine Kutliroff \| 201/928-4391 [Copyright 1998, Business Wire]

To: Stephen B. Temple who wrote (2226)	12/26/1998 3:30:00 PM
From: Stephen B. Temple	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3178

Nokia Acquires Vienna Systems Corporation; Strengthens expertise in IP telephony NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)Nokia announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Vienna Systems, a privately held Internet Protocol (IP) telephony company, based in Kanata, Ontario, Canada, for a price of approximately USD 90 million. A recognized leader in the global IP telephony market, Vienna Systems designs and manufactures hardware and software products for the distribution of voice, fax and video communication over IP networks including intranets and the public Internet. Vienna Systems' customers range from alternate telecommunications service providers to multisite medium and large enterprises. The company's products will continue to be available through existing distribution channels, including a collaborative sales and marketing relationship with Newbridge Networks. Pekka Ala-Pietila, Nokia's Executive Vice President and deputy to the Chief Executive Officer, said that while low-cost voice and fax services presently are key drivers in the IP telephony market, Nokia believes that IP telephony offers considerable growth potential for new applications to service providers. "Nokia and Vienna Systems share similar visions of two rapidly developing trends - the ubiquitous use of IP as a universal communications platform and the increasing use of wireless networks for transmitting data, video and voice, " said Mr. Ala-Pietila. "Time to market is crucial to success in this business. Vienna Systems' prominent position in IP telephony provides Nokia with additional technical expertise and access to leading customers in this rapidly developing market." T. Kent Elliott, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vienna Systems, said that Nokia's strong brand identity and customer base will be a springboard for his company. "Nokia's global strength combined with our broad product line and intellectual capital makes a powerful combination," Mr Elliott said. "Together, we will move rapidly to deliver new leading-edge services to our customers." Vienna Systems was founded in 1996 and currently employs 180 people, with research and development centers in Kanata; Richmond, British Columbia; and Ithaca, New York, and sales offices in the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan. Nokia is the world's leading mobile phone supplier and a leading supplier of mobile and fixed telecom networks including related customer services. Nokia also supplies solutions and products for fixed and wireless datacom, as well as multimedia terminals and computer monitors. In 1997, net sales totaled FIM 52.6 billion ($ 9.8 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on five European Stock Exchanges and on the New York Stock Exchange (NOK.A), has sales in 130 countries and employs more than 42,000 people worldwide. [Copyright 1998, Business Wire]

To: Stephen B. Temple who wrote (2226)	12/26/1998 5:09:00 PM
From: Stephen B. Temple	Respond to of 3178

Newbridge Networks Forms Agreement for Collaboration with Nokia KANATA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)NN(TSE:NNC) (NYSE:NN) Newbridge Maintains Full Access to Vienna Voice Over IP Technology and Forges Collaborative Development Agreement With Nokia Newbridge Networks (NYSE: NN; TSE: NNC) today announced it has entered into a collaborative agreement with Nokia Corporation of Finland to work together in areas of mutual interest, including cooperative sales, marketing and product development efforts. The agreement will leverage the complementary strengths of both companies to deliver business-class IP capabilities and services over broadband ATM wireless networks. As part of this agreement, Newbridge will tender its shares representing its approximately 30 percent ownership position in Vienna Systems Corporation to Nokia Corporation. The transaction values Vienna Systems at approximately Cdn$135 million. The agreement with Nokia enables Newbridge to strengthen and extend its business relationships with Vienna Systems under Nokia's ownership, including full access to an expanding Vienna product line, which will continue to be sold through the worldwide Newbridge sales channel and branded in certain key markets under the Newbridge name. The collaborative development agreement will also focus on product development to ensure that the expanding family of IP telephony products is optimized for Newbridge broadband multi-services ATM networking solutions. This includes undertaking joint development to optimize IP telephony solutions for broadband wireline and wireless networks. "Our core business is building carrier class, fully managed multi-services networks, including scalable, high-quality IP networks for delivering business class IP VPNs," said Alan Lutz, President and Chief Operating Officer, Newbridge Networks. "This new arrangement with Nokia is good for Newbridge because it enables us to stay focused on our core business and to collaborate with Nokia on many new complementary fronts, including cooperative research and development and sales and marketing. "It is particularly beneficial to both Nokia and Newbridge in that we both will be focused on selling and marketing an expanding IP telephony product line resulting from Nokia's association with Vienna Systems. "The sale of Vienna is another sign of the growing dynamism and momentum of the Newbridge Affiliate program. "The proceeds from this transaction give us the ability for even greater flexibility to invest in additional core Newbridge technology to increase the depth and breadth of our product offering. The program and our commitment to it will continue to strengthen." Newbridge Networks designs, manufactures, markets and services networking solutions to organizations in more than 100 countries. The Company leverages its relationship with a growing family of Affiliate companies and strategic alliances with Siemens and 3Com Corporation to deliver seamless, end-to-end solutions. Newbridge customers include the world's 300 largest telecommunications service providers and more than 10,000 corporations, government organizations and other institutions. Founded in 1986, the Company employs more than 6,000 people on five continents. News and information are available at www.newbridge.com. Newbridge and logo are registered trademarks of Newbridge Networks Corporation. MainStreetXpress is a trademark used by the Siemens / Newbridge alliance for comprehensive solutions in broadband communication. No agency relationship, partnership, or joint ownership of a legal entity is to be inferred or implied by the term alliance. [Copyright 1998, Business Wire]

To: Stephen B. Temple who wrote (2226)	12/26/1998 6:36:00 PM
From: Stephen B. Temple	Respond to of 3178

Cable High-Speed Internet Can Expect Competitive Challenge by 2002 WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/Cable modems are the dominant provider of residential high-speed Internet services in the US. Cable Internet will face competitive challenges from alternative technologies in 2002, according to a new study by The Strategis Group, High-Speed Internet: Demand, Technology, and Strategy. The study predicts that in 2003, cable modems will still control over two-thirds (68%) of the residential market-down from about 90% at the end of 1998. Digital subscriber line (DSL) will emerge as a price-competitive residential product by 2002. DSL has so far been a tool for CLEC arbitrage in the business data market, but standardization and the continued development of "G-Lite " (splitterless DSL) will help make DSL into a residential reality. " DSL and cable technologies have fundamentally different economics. DSL investments are scalable, giving LECs the option to choose the timing of their deployments," said David Eiswert, consultant with The Strategis Group. Cable modem service is priced more competitively than DSL. If DSL and cable high-speed access are close substitutes, DSL prices will have to come down. "DSL providers must either justify $20 to $30 price premiums, bring price in line with cable, or accept the role of niche provider in the residential market," said John Zahurancik, director of The Strategis Group's Internet and Competitive Telephony Group. "We think recent LEC price announcements signal that DSL prices are on their way to the $40 per month level. The question is how quickly will they fall?" Interest in High-Speed Internet Access Price per Month $60 $40 $25 Percent of Users 5.4% 11.4% 42.2% Source: The Strategis Group, Inc. High-Speed Internet: Demand, Technology, and Strategy utilizes primary survey data, economic modeling techniques, and extensive secondary market research to forecast high-speed Internet trends and identify potential market obstacles. This report describes the struggle for strategic market positioning by local exchange carriers, ISPs and cable operators. It examines DSL, cable modem, and wireless solutions, detailing how differences in technology produce distinct business economics and strategies. High-Speed Internet: Demand, Technology, and Strategy includes: * User interest and pricing sensitivity for high-speed Internet access * Forecast of high-speed subscribers, service revenues, and equipment sales * DSL, cable, and wireless technology overview * Discussion of potential regulation's impact on strategy * Analysis of market strategies and deployment of DSL, cable, and wireless technologies The Strategis Group, an edr company -- with offices in Washington, D.C., London, and Singapore -- publishes in-depth market research reports, provides customized consulting services, and supplies continuous information solutions to the cable TV, satellite, Internet, competitive telephony, broadband and wireless communications industries. The Strategis Group's market studies, valuations, and strategic planning provide crucial information to communications industry leaders throughout the world. High-Speed Internet: Demand, Technology, and Strategy is available for US$1,800. Please contact David Eiswert at 202-530-7500 (voice), 202-530-7550 (fax), or deiswert@strategisgroup.com. You may also visit www.StrategisGroup.com for more information. [Copyright 1998, PR Newswire]

To: Stephen B. Temple who wrote (2226)	12/26/1998 7:43:00 PM
From: Stephen B. Temple	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3178

One day, this will be as normal as picking up the phone. Corporations want to change call center applications from manual intervention systems to automated solutions that tap the power of the Internet and the Web. Interest in Web-enabled call centers is rising because companies are marketing more and more of their wares on the Internet. When potential purchasers show interest in a product, a company wants to transform them from prospects into buyers. To do that, a customer service representative may need to talk to the person, answer questions and assuage any fears. For that to occur, a company must connect its Web servers and call center systems. The change could offer new revenue opportunities for resellers. Corporations will need help moving from traditional- to Web-enabled call center applications. When customers find information of interest, they can enter personal data and later receive a call from a customer service representative. Products that offer this option have begun to make their way into the market. A second option is for a Web page to route an inquiry directly to an agent via an IP telephony service. However, IP telephony is an emerging technology and does not offer as clear a connection as a public-switched telephone network connection, said industry observers. Response time can be another problem with IP telephony, experts said. After a customer enters information on a Web page, the request may move off the Internet, onto the telephone network and to a company's call center. The corporation needs equipment to translate a Web message into a format understood by the call center application's database. Next, the request is queued up until an agent is free to place the call. There are numerous places for potential slowdowns. A request could travel slowly through the Internet if traffic is heavy; a call center computer may not have sufficient processing power to translate the message, and a flood of Web calls could overwhelm agents. Suppliers have just begun to tackle such issues. In addition to technical concerns, the new call center applications raise managerial questions. For example, corporations may have to retrain their call center staffs. Because of these issues, resellers are shying away from these products. Information Products Inc., a Hartford, Conn., reseller that specializes in CTI applications, has had a lot of success selling call center applications to small and midsize companies. We are now watching how Web-enabled call center applications will evolve and expect to adopt it eventually. But right now, it is not mature enough for use to offer to our customers.

To: Stephen B. Temple who wrote (2226)	12/26/1998 8:29:00 PM
From: Stephen B. Temple	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3178

Well I guess sense the convergence of voice/data, it was inevitable that charges related to voice/data/video would bring the by-the-bit by-the-app charges. A player from last SI-Post> kool-webpage, kool-services> xacct.com Temp

To: Stephen B. Temple who wrote (2226)	12/26/1998 8:59:00 PM
From: Stephen B. Temple	Respond to of 3178

Who sweet it is> &M's' Chocolate Candies Selects IDT To Be Exclusive Calling Card Provider December 24, 1998 HACKENSACK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE) IDT (NASDAQ:IDTC) today announced it has signed an exclusive multi-year supply and distribution agreement with "M&M's"(R) Chocolate Candies, the No. 1 confectionery brand in the world, to provide specially-branded prepaid phone cards. Through a strategic marketing relationship, "M&M's"(R) cards will be available to all of the retailers that currently carry "M &M's"(R) Chocolate Candies, a product manufactured by M&M/MARS. The phone cards will feature the likenesses as well as voices of the "M &M's"(R) Brand Characters currently featured in the "M&M's "(R) advertising. Additionally, IDT will be providing its own distribution channels for the "M&M's"(R) cards through its partnership with Union Telecard Alliance, which distributes phone cards to newsstands and grocery stores throughout the United States. As the leading provider of end-to-end calling card solutions, IDT will handle the entire call process of the phone cards, including call routing, authorization, pre-paid platform and billing of the "M&M's"(R) cards. Ed Miller, Vice President of Corporate Sales for IDT stated, "The 'M& M's(R)' branded card using the characters' voices allows us to extend our product line with a universally recognized reputation that can differentiate IDT from its competitors. In the rapidly growing market for prepaid telephone services, this agreement provides IDT an immediate and significant advantage. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with 'M& M's'(R)." "The agreement with IDT is very exciting because it provides another great opportunity for showcasing the "M&M's"(R) Brand to its very important consumers," stated Pat D'Amato, M&M/MARS spokesperson. "The 'M&M's'(R) branded telephone cards build affinity between the 'M &M's'(R) Characters, brand and consumer." Red, the Headline Grabbing "M&M's"(R) Spokescandy had this to say, "When I heard I was going to be featured on phone cards and consumers will hear my voice when they place a call, I was overwhelmed with the idea. Then I learned I had to share the limelight with the other popular characters, Yellow, Blue and Green. Oh, well that's life!" Estimated to become a $3.6 billion market by 2001 (up from only $1.3 billion in 1997), the pre-paid disposable phone card market is growing at a rapid pace. IDT is keeping up with the growth, primarily due to its aggressive rates and extensive distribution channels. Prepaid telephone cards offer consumers an opportunity for substantial savings and convenience when placing domestic and international local and long distance calls. Private label phone cards, in particular, serve as a lucrative promotional item, generating brand name awareness by ensuring that the Company's name is in each customer's wallet at all times. For more information on IDT's promotional and private label prepaid calling services, call 1-800-786-8438. "M&M's"(R) is a registered trademark of Mars, Incorporated. M &M/MARS, a division of Mars, Incorporated, manufacturers and distributes a wide variety of high-quality snackfood products. IDT is a leading emerging multinational carrier that combines its position as an international telecommunications operator, its experience as an Internet service provider and its leading position in Internet telephony to provide a broad range of telecommunications services to its wholesale and retail customers worldwide. The company provides its customers with integrated and competitively priced international and domestic long distance, pre-paid calling cards, Internet access and, through its Net2Phone product offerings, Internet telephony services including Net2Phone Direct, Net2Fax, and Click2Talk. For more information about IDT's Internet telephony services, please visit www.net2phone.com. Except for historical information, all of the expectations and assumptions contained in the foregoing are forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, the competitive environment for Internet telephony, changes of rates of all related telco rates and services, legislation that may affect the Internet telephony industry, IDT's ability to operate the services described on a large scale commercial level. For additional information regarding these and other risks associated with the company's business refer to the company's reports filed with the SEC. <<Business Wire, 12-23-98, 09:04 Eastern>> CONTACT: IDT Public Relations \| Sarah Hofstetter \| 201/928-2882 \| sarah@net2phone.com \| or \| IDT Investor Relations \| Janine Kutliroff \| 201/928-4391 \| janinek@corp.idt.net [Copyright 1998, Business Wire]

To: Stephen B. Temple who wrote (2226)	12/26/1998 10:25:00 PM
From: Stephen B. Temple	Respond to of 3178

Enormous Growth Opportunities Ensured by Next Generation Internet, IP/Telecom Convergence December 24, 1998 MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif./PRNewswire/The past decade has experienced the dawn of a new technological revolution with the rising of the Internet. Challenges are many, as intensification of the competitive environment will further spur both corporate and consumer customers to expect more in terms of service quality and pricing. We are entering a period of dynamic flux in the Internet industry that will change the competitive structure of the Internet for the next century. On the cutting edge of this technological revolution is the Next Generation Internet (NGI) -- a new high-performance network delivering the increased speed and reliability lacking with the existing Internet. Frost & Sullivan will assemble the industry's foremost authorities for "The Second Annual Next Generation Internet Conference and Exhibition, " Feb. 11-12, 1999, with the pre-conference seminar, Feb. 10. This conference is specifically designed for high-technology telecommunications and Internet companies seeking to grow their market share and drive profits through the NGI. Frost & Sullivan's NGI conference will include three days of intense learning through both informal and roundtable discussions with industry leaders and colleagues. Each day will consist of a morning and an afternoon module. The focus of the first day will be Internet infrastructure and applications, while the second day will center around implementation of new technologies. Independent companies will give market overviews and forecasts, and competitive benchmarking techniques will be presented. Key speakers will share their experience and knowledge, including Keynote Speaker William Perren, President of Networks Telephony Corporation, who will discuss "The Rise of the IP-Driven Networks: The New Telecommunications Revolution." In this session, Mr. Perren will highlight the necessary steps for success in Next Generation Internet, pitfalls to avoid in the new telecommunications market. He will conclude with how ISPs are poised to become the communications carriers of choice in the Next Generation Internet. ISPs and telecom carriers are beginning to mass market digital subscriber line (DSL) services for high-speed Internet access because DSL operates over the existing phone wires already hooked up. In addition, cable companies are promoting cable modems that can connect to their existing CATV network infrastructure. In a panel discussion, "The Emerging New Internet Infrastructure," panel members will discuss high-speed routing and switching, multimedia applications, Internet hardware and software, and IP design and deployment. Included on this panel are Victor Alan Hannan, director, network architecture at Frontier Global Center, Hugh J. Goldstein, marketing manager, call centers of VocalTec Communications, and Mark Yurgelevic, director, product marketing, Exodus Communications. The conference will be preceded by an intense, full-day growth engineering management seminar, "Growth in Information Technology Markets: Utilizing the Growth Engineering Systems to Accelerate Growth and Identify Market Opportunities," Feb. 10. Led by David Frigstad, chairman of Frost & Sullivan, this seminar covers the growth engineering system and how you can use this system to identify opportunities to keep your company growing faster than your competitors in the market. It is a systematic, measurement-based system that integrates market growth challenges, company goals, market research, growth strategy, implementation and monitoring into a practical and useful methodology that can benefit each and every department in a company. The conference and the seminar will be held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in San Francisco, California. As a bonus, all conference attendees will receive free of charge Frost & Sullivan's best-selling training manual, "Customer Engineering," a practical yet strategic approach to real marketing problems and the strategies necessary to create a highly profitable sales system in through measurements of effectiveness that ensures a company grows its business and improves the bottom line. This conference is sponsored by: Cisco, GTE Internetworking, Exodus, FVC.COM, eFusion, Nortel Networks, LEXIS-NEXIS, and VocalTec Communications. For more information on attending, sponsorship/exhibiting, advertising, and speaking opportunities, please contact: Attendance/Sales Inquiries: Devin Brown cfsales@frost.com 212-964-7000, ext. 237 Press Inquiries: Nanci Besser nbesser@frost.com 650-237-4329 Sponsorships & Exhibits: Dave Finley dfinley@frost.com 212-964-7000, ext. 232 Speaking Opportunities: Robert Valencia, ext. 381 rvalencia@frost.com 212-964-7000 Frost & Sullivan 90 West Street New York, NY 10006 Tel: 212-964-7000 Fax: 212-619-0831 Or, visit the Web site: frost.com Conference: 7000-06 Date: Feb. 11-12, 1999 Price: $1250 Seminar: 7002-06 Date: Feb. 10, 1999 Price: $750 Conference & Seminar Package: Price: $1850 SOURCE Frost & Sullivan /CONTACT: Nanci Besser of Frost & Sullivan, 650-237-4329, or nbesser@frost.com / /Company News On-Call: prnewswire.com or fax, 800-758-5804, ext. 573125/ /Web site: frost.com [Copyright 1998, PR Newswire]