Level 3 VoIP Infrastructure Improves Audio Chat Feature
for MSN Messenger Users
BROOMFIELD, Colo., May 3, 2005 – Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:LVLT) today announced that its operating subsidiary has expanded its relationship with MSN to enhance the audio conversation feature of MSN Messenger, an instant messaging (IM) service with more than 155 million active users each month. The improved voice communication capability was announced by MSN in April as part of the introduction of the latest version of MSN Messenger.
“We’re happy that we’re working with MSN to deliver enhanced PC audio communication features for MSN Messenger,” said Kevin Dundon, senior vice president of Wholesale Voice Services for Level 3. “This agreement enables us to use our carrier class voice IP infrastructure to provide enhanced PC to PC audio to more customers than ever before through MSN Messenger.”
“MSN’s goal is to provide our customers with a variety of services, including PC-to-PC audio in MSN Messenger, that enables them to connect more easily with family and friends across the country or around the world,” said Phil Holden, director of MSN communication services at Microsoft Corp. “We're pleased to expand our relationship with Level 3. This new technology significantly improves connectivity helping to navigate firewalls and enabling a more seamless experience for our customers.”
Level 3 has been providing wholesale VoIP services since December 1999 to PTTs, inter-exchange carriers, enhanced service providers, cable operators and other companies in the U.S. and abroad. Today, Level 3 offers a broad suite of wholesale IP-based voice solutions for the residential and business markets over a robust softswitch-based network platform that reaches approximately 93 percent of the U.S. population and carries more than 30 billion minutes of IP-based data and voice calls every month.
“Many service providers have been using underlying Level 3 VoIP solutions to deliver a replacement to conventional phone services,” added Dundon. “This application with MSN demonstrates another of VoIP’s many capabilities, and illustrates another way that Level 3 can help enable innovative IP communication services.”
For more information about Level 3’s portfolio of voice services, please visit www.level3.com.
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.
