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

To: Gary R. Owens who wrote (2523)	3/1/1999 10:15:00 AM
From: BuzzVA	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3178

Monday March 1, 9:08 am Eastern Time Company Press Release Franklin Telecom Introduces Internet PBX Product Debuts at CTExpo in L.A. WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 1, 1999-- Franklin Telecom (OTC BB: FTEL - news) today introduced the Franklin Internet PBX: A Voice over IP PBX that includes a router, firewall and T1 integrator. This client server office telephone system is designed to simplify and streamline communication among a geographically distributed work group. Peter Buswell, Franklin's President and COO explained, ''The Internet PBX is what corporate America has been waiting for. It allows corporations to place telephone and fax calls to all of their offices without long distance or local telephone charges. As an added plus, it's a fully functional PBX.'' The Franklin Internet PBX interconnects a Frame Relay based T1 from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) into the same telephone system that serves your Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) and Inter Xchange Carrier (IXC) allowing you to freely mix voice over IP with circuit switched phones calls. Each Line Interface Unit (LIU) supports 24 analog stations that can dial access either VoIP or circuit switched connections. For example, the system could be configured so that the user would dial ''9'' for a regular ''switched'' call and dial ''8'' for an Internet, free call. Multiple geographically distributed LIU's can operate under the control of a single Microsoft NT Call Controller. Buswell continued, ''This is a marriage made in corporate heaven--bringing all the sexy new IP applications to the established functionality of the PBX. This is absolutely great for corporate America. Up until now, a Data Voice Gateway (DVG) still had a local call at each end, and while long distance charges could be eliminated, there was still that local fee. Now, when your branch offices talk to each other via the Franklin Internet PBX, that is a completely free call. This is something to shout about!'' The Franklin Internet PBX (Voice Exchange) will be demonstrated at the CTExpo Spring '99 ctexpo.com which will be held March 2, 3rd and 4th at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Franklin Telecom will be in Booth 3301. This is the first of four product announcements which will be made prior to the show. The primary business of Franklin Telecom, founded in 1981, is the design and manufacturing of communications devices, high speed LAN, WAN, Telco and software. Franklin customers have installed over 100,000 nodes worldwide. Franklin's Internet subsidiary FNet provides Voice over Internet Protocol global Telco services. 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. For additional information about this announcement, visit the Officer's Message page at Franklin's Web Site: www.ftel.com www.franklin.net - for Internet Services and Access www.fnet.net - for Internet Telephony & Franklin's Next Generation Telephone Company Contact: Franklin Telecom, Westlake Village Helen West for Shareholder Relations, 805/373-8688 Debra Kent for Media Relations, 805/373-8688

To: Gary R. Owens who wrote (2523)	3/1/1999 4:05:00 PM
From: Stephen B. Temple	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 3178

Gary: p-email me, U S WEST Announces the Nation's First Internet-Based Enhanced TV Service With Telephony Related Items March 1, 1999 -- Imagine using your TV to check email messages between your favorite sitcoms, or view caller ID right on your TV screen before answering the phone during a crucial plot twist. U S WEST and Network Computer, Inc. (NCI) are teaming up to introduce U S WEST @TV, -- an innovative integration of telephone, television and Internet services. U S WEST @TV customers will send and receive email, place and answer telephone calls, surf channels and the Web -- or surf the Web and TV channels at the same time -- using high speed-DSL or dial-up connections on their televisions. U S WEST is the first telephone company in the United States to announce plans for expanding Internet access to non-PC platforms. Its service will reach the millions of consumers who have yet to connect to the Internet because they do not own a personal computer. U S WEST will trial U S WEST @TV in selected metro areas mid-year and begin launching the service throughout its 14 state region in late 1999. Today's announcement adds a major player in the U.S. telecommunications market to NCI's growing list of network operator customers in Europe and Asia. U S WEST customers will use a television set-top box equipped with a speakerphone and NCI software to receive and make telephone calls and access Internet-based features. Some of these features include programming guides, electronic commerce, news and electronic mail. In addition to access over conventional connections, U S WEST's advanced network will provide support for high-speed XDSL, VDSL and ADSL -- technologies that use existing copper-wire networks, offering data transmission speeds up to 200 times faster than dial up connections. "U S WEST has always been a pioneer in digital services and advanced networks," said Mitchell Kertzman, President and CEO of Network Computer, Inc. "By delivering the first television service that combines the Internet, telephony and entertainment, U S WEST will help shape the emerging enhanced television market in the United States." "With U S WEST @TV, households can enjoy the benefits of being connected without having to purchase a PC," said Eric Bozich, Vice President, Internet and Applications, U S WEST !NTERPRISE. "Catching the local news on TV or picking up the phone are part of peoples' daily routine. We are aiming to make Web tone as common as dial tone; the launch of U S WEST @TV moves us closer to this goal." U S WEST chose NCI's software technology based on the company's open business model and strong technology offering. On the client side, NCI TV Navigator software offers support for integrated telephony and enhanced television allowing U S WEST customers to display Internet content and applications while watching television and the ability to make and receive telephone calls. The platform provides the support required for both high-speed DSL and dial-up connections. U S WEST will use NCI Connect ISP Suite server software to manage the set-top boxes, provide security, and administer the network. Both NCI TV Navigator and NCI Connect enables U S WEST to customize and brand its own unique service, while retaining a relationship with its customers. U S WEST offers a range of telephony, Internet and data services to 25 million customers over 14 western states. U S WEST plans to attract additional customers through its U S WEST @TV service. Merging telephony features with television viewing will allow the company to increase revenue by tapping options from its existing service portfolio such as caller ID and three way calling. U S WEST becomes the latest network operator in an impressive list of companies worldwide to adopt NCI's software for deploying information appliances. To date, NCI has announced relationships with the three of the largest cable companies in the UK: Telewest Communications, Cable and Wireless Communications, and NTL Communications; Belgium's national telecommunications carrier, Belgacom; and five of the leading cable companies and ISPs in Japan.