(3)ToneSM Hosted Voice Service Augments or Replaces PBX, IP PBX and Centrex Systems
Service Can Deliver Total Savings of up to 40 Percent
Level 3 to Market Service through SBC and other Service Providers
BOSTON, Mass., September 22, 2003 - Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:LVLT) today launched an enhanced, business voice service designed to augment or replace PBX, IP PBX and Centrex enterprise communications systems. The new enhanced voice service can deliver combined capital and operating savings of as much as 40 percent.
Level 3 has agreements to market the service, called (3)Tone, through existing channel relationships with SBC and more than 20 other service providers and value-added resellers. The company expects additional partners to join its channel program, and is currently in discussions with U.S. and foreign carriers, CLECs, system integrators and other potential resellers.
“In effect, this service makes it possible for businesses to supplement or replace their existing communications systems at substantial cost savings, while maintaining the same reliability and ease of use,” said Jack Waters, president of Global Softswitch Services for Level 3. “We are excited about the (3)Tone service because it leverages the Level 3 network to create a sustainable competitive advantage. The
Level 3 network features co-carrier facilities that cover approximately 90 percent of the U.S. population and a patented softswitch platform that handles more than 20 billion minutes of dial-up traffic per month.”
“We believe (3)Tone services will help position us as a leading wholesale service provider to the growing VoIP market,” said Waters. “The (3)Tone service suite provides carriers and other wholesale partners a way to deploy a proven hosted voice service quickly, anywhere in North America, under their own individualized brands. And with more than 10 million enterprise line shipments expected to occur through 2005, we believe demand for enhanced, hosted voice communications represents a significant opportunity for Level 3.”
The (3)Tone service is an advanced version of the suite of services Level 3 obtained through its recent acquisition of Telverse Communications. The (3)Tone suite enables any size enterprise to deploy an array of enhanced voice services, including Class 5 features, universally and seamlessly throughout a single- or multi-site corporate environment.
The service significantly lowers up-front capital expenditures, eliminates long-distance charges for calls between branch offices, and cuts costs tied to corporate IT and IS administration. (3)Tone services interoperate with legacy/PSTN voice mail and e-mail systems, as well as with next-generation networks, protecting existing infrastructure investments.
With (3)Tone services, businesses installing new phone systems can save as much as 40 percent on communications costs compared with traditional PBX systems, taking both capital and operational costs into account. Enterprises with existing PBX, Centrex or Key systems in place can also realize substantial savings, estimated at between 25 and 35 percent.
In addition to substantially lowering costs, the (3)Tone suite delivers a number of features and benefits for end users, including the ability to access services through a Web-based graphical user interface or Microsoft Outlook® software. Other features include:
About Level 3 Communications
Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: LVLT), an international communications company, operates one of the largest Internet backbones in the world, connecting 180 markets in 18 countries. The company serves a broad range of wholesale, enterprise and content customers with a comprehensive suite of services including: Internet Protocol (IP) services, broadband transport and infrastructure services, colocation services, voice and voice over IP services, content delivery and media distribution services. These services provide the building blocks to enable Level 3’s customers to meet their growing demands for advanced communications solutions. The company’s Web address is www.Level3.com.
"Level 3 Communications,” "Level 3," the red 3D brackets and the Level 3 Communications logo are registered service marks of Level 3 Communications, LLC in the United States and/or other countries. Level 3 services are provided by wholly owned subsidiaries of Level 3 Communications, Inc. Any other service, product or company names recited herein may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.
Forward-Looking Statement
Some of the statements that we make in this press release are forward looking in nature. These statements are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs. These forward looking statements are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside our control, which could cause actual events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements. The most important factors that could prevent us from achieving our stated goals include, but are not limited to our ability to: successfully integrate acquisitions; increase the volume of traffic on our network; defend our intellectual property and proprietary rights; develop new products and services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; successfully complete commercial testing of new technology and information systems to support new products and services; attract and retain qualified management and other personnel; and meet all of the terms and conditions of our debt obligations. Additional information concerning these and other important factors can be found within Level 3’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this press release should be evaluated in light of these important factors. Level 3 is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any such obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
