Level 3, Sylantro Systems and Bandwidth.com Deliver Nationwide VoIP Solution to CompUSA
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Spring VON, Booth 217) – March 15, 2006 – Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:LVLT) announced today that its partner programs have helped generate a significant increase in its VoIP subscriber growth.
Through its Level(3)EnabledSM Master Reseller Program and (3)VoIPSM Technology Alliance Program (“(3)VoIP TAP”), Level 3 collaborates with voice service providers (VSPs) and aggregators to build efficient and reliable VoIP services and joint go-to-market plans that facilitate the acceleration of VoIP end-user adoption. These programs have enabled participants in this program to significantly expand their indirect channel distribution efforts, resulting in approximately 100,000 new VoIP subscribers over the last 6 months.
Through its channel program, Level 3 is supporting CompUSA's initiative to deliver the first nationwide, retail, Small to Medium Business (SMB) VoIP offering. Working with Bandwidth.com (a Level 3 Master Reseller) and Sylantro Systems (a (3)VoIP TAP partner), Level 3 helped coordinate a customized solution for CompUSA. By combining Level 3's VoIP Enhanced Local service, with Sylantro’s Synergy VoIP platform and Bandwidth.com's offering, CompUSA can quickly provide full feature VoIP business to support businesses with 10 to 200 lines across multiple locations including business features, Quality of Service and a full selection of business grade telephones.
“The Level 3 Master Reseller program has been important to our success in landing larger deals such as CompUSA,” said Henry Kaestner, chief executive officer of Bandwidth.com. “Level 3 helps us target opportunities by building joint marketing and sales strategies and customized solutions that help us quickly penetrate new markets. Level 3 also facilitates collaboration with key industry leaders such as Sylantro, which ultimately enabled us to jointly deliver the VoIP solution to CompUSA.”
“Level 3 is clearly the network leader in providing wholesale VoIP services” said Peter Bonee, chief executive officer of Sylantro Systems. “By participating in the Level 3 Technology Alliance Program, we have accelerated our interoperability testing and solidified our technical relationship with Level 3, improving our ability to deliver quality solutions in a timely manner to our customers. The relationship also brings us closer to key VoIP service providers like Bandwidth.com, providing invaluable exposure to new opportunities such as CompUSA.
Through its robust portfolio of VoIP solutions and channel program, Level 3 provides multiple options for service providers. Larger wholesale customers have direct access to Level 3's VoIP solutions, while smaller service providers, resellers, value added resellers (VARs), agents, and other businesses can work directly with Level 3's select group of Master Resellers and TAP partners to form their own distribution relationships.
"Working with the industry's leading voice services platforms like Sylantro’s Synergy, as well as equipment and application providers, Level 3 is focused on creating customized solutions and enhanced VoIP applications that drive end-user adoption," said Craig Schlagbaum, vice president of channel development for Level 3. "Our robust VoIP portfolio and commitment to enabling our customers’ success, allows Level 3 partners to accelerate large-scale deployments of VoIP services that provide businesses and residential customers with simplified and streamlined VoIP solutions."
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.
