(3)VoIP MARKETPLACESM Delivers Local Calling Capability in Major Markets across North America
Service Lowers Communications Costs for Call Center Operators, Conferencing Providers, and Other Customers
BOSTON, Mass., September 23, 2003 - Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:LVLT) today launched a new voice service enabling customers to activate local calling capability in major markets across North America.
The service, called (3)VoIP MARKETPLACE, significantly reduces communications costs for any business requiring a reliable local-calling infrastructure. Initial target customers include call center operators, voice portals and conferencing providers.
"The ability to activate local calling capability is a critical component of voice communications, and one that we believe will deliver value to a broad set of customers and applications," said Jack Waters, president of Global Softswitch Services for Level 3. "We believe this is a significant addition to our portfolio of voice services, and that it increases our position as a leading provider of wholesale, IP-based voice products."
The (3)VoIP MARKETPLACE service allows customers to establish a local presence on the PSTN and receive locally dialed calls. By converting the calls into IP and directing them across Level 3's MPLS-enabled backbone for delivery at their own IP voice application, customers can leverage the power, scope, and economics of IP networks.
The (3)VoIP MARKETPLACE service rides Level 3's patented softswitch platform, which has successfully processed more than 300 billion minutes in calls to date. The service also utilizes Level 3's extensive local networks, offering industry-leading geographic coverage.
The (3)VoIP MARKETPLACE service enables customers to:
"We have been using the (3)VoIP MARKETPLACE service to support our call center solution and are very pleased with its reliability and performance," said Bill Trenchard, president of LiveOPs, a Florida-based call center operator. "The (3)VoIP MARKETPLACE solution has enabled LiveOps to control and manage our solution based on our business requirements. This is something that we weren't able to accomplish with traditional providers."
Today's announcement follows the launch yesterday of Level 3's new (3)ToneSM enhanced, hosted voice service the company is marketing to enterprises through service providers and other channel partners.
"Our ability to deploy new, IP-based voice services over our existing, proprietary softswitch infrastructure creates an important market advantage for Level 3," Waters said. "In coming quarters we expect to be rolling out additional enhanced voice products that complement these new services. We look forward to delivering value to our customers and helping them take advantage of the inherent cost efficiencies of voice-over-IP."
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.
