TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 13, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Z-Tel Communications, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Z-Tel Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ZTEL) and leading provider of local, long distance and enhanced telecommunications services, has announced that the new virtual address book features within Personal Voice Assistant(tm) (PVA) enable consumers to utilize their wireless and wireline services seamlessly. PVA, named "Best of Innovations" by 2004 CES, is a voice-activated, online address book that allows users to access their contacts from any phone, anywhere, any time and uses the latest in voice-activated technology.
With PVA, retailers now can sell a convergence tool that enables them to offer their consumers a single communications solution. Consumers can utilize the voice-activated features of the PVA product, as well as tap into the Z-Tel wireless and wireline solutions. Retailers can expand their solutions, while also expanding their opportunity for incremental revenue.
Z-Tel provides PVA as a free add-on service to its residential telephone consumers. At the 2004 CES in Las Vegas January 8-11, Z-Tel released two new stand-alone PVA packages, the Special and Regular Editions, which consumers can use to converge their wireline and wireless services, beginning with address books.
PVA includes a centralized, carrier- and device-independent address book, ensuring users don't lose their contacts when switching wireless carriers or devices. This eases the transition from one wireless carrier to another, critical in an age of wireless local number portability. It alleviates the need for re-programming contact lists, offers convenience and helps people communicate more efficiently.
Accessible from any phone, PVA also allows users to send voice emails. Other product features include Telemail(tm) broadcast messaging (perfect for soccer moms, event organizers and corporate managers), automatic contact updater and voice dialing. By using PVA, the hundreds of names, numbers, emails and even birthdays of people that users talk to the most will always be available to them virtually, no matter how many times they switch their service provider or which communication devices they use.
Z-Tel president and chief executive officer Gregg Smith said, "PVA is a win-win for retailers and consumers. It's an important tool as consumers inevitably converge their communications systems, and it provides consumer electronic and wireless retailers a gateway to capture a greater share of consumers' communications budgets."
PVA was also recently recognized and awarded "Best New Technology," the RetailVision Award given by top U.S. retailers, such as CompUSA, Amazon.com, Radio Shack and Best Buy, at the Fall 2003 RetailVision event.
Recommended retail pricing for the stand-alone retail products ranges from $9.95 plus usage for 200 minutes to $19.95 plus usage for 500 minutes. Consumers and businesses that sign up for Z-Tel local or long distance services get Personal Voice Assistant free with their subscription.
About Z-Tel
Founded in 1998, Z-Tel offers consumers and businesses nationwide traditional and enhanced telecommunications services. Z-Tel's enhanced services, such as Internet-accessible and voice-activated calling and messaging features, are designed to meet customers' communications needs intelligently and intuitively. Z-Tel also makes its services available on a wholesale basis to other communications and utility companies, including Sprint. For more information about Z-Tel and its innovative services, please visit www.ztel.com.
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