PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 18, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Ontus Telecommunications Corp. (Pink Sheets:ONTT), an FCC licensed international and long distance communications carrier, today announced it has signed an agreement that makes Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:LVLT) the underlying Voice over IP (VoIP) provider for its VoIP phone service. Under the new contract, Ontus will use Level 3's (3)VoIP Enhanced (SM) Local service to round out its suite of voice over the internet telecom service offerings.
"Our agreement with Level 3 enables Ontus to provide our customers with unlimited calling packages and a broad selection of phone functions usually reserved for sophisticated business systems," commented Kenny MacDonald, President of Ontus. "Level 3 is the only global provider with the experience and infrastructure that will allow us to offer VoIP in the U.S., Canada and other major international markets. We can now reach over 80 percent of the US and Canadian population with the service, with coverage spanning over 300 metropolitan areas.
Ontus Telecommunications Corp through its wholly owned subsidiary, Ontus Advantage Inc., serves residential and SOHO (small office/home office) customers with VoIP phone services. Ontus Advantage Inc. offers a highly cost-effective and feature-rich alternative to traditional telephone services. Customers use the service via a simple telephone adaptor enabling continued use of their existing analog telephones. Ontus has contracted with several global-scale multi-level/ network-marketing (MLM) companies throughout to bring VoIP services enabled by Level 3's (3) VoIP Enhanced Local service offering to the MLM's residential, distributor and SOHO customer base.
Donna Lachance, Senior Vice President of Consumer Voice Services for Level 3 commented, "We are delighted that Ontus has selected Level 3 as the underlying infrastructure provider for their VoIP offering. Ontus is an aggressive player in the field and we look forward to many unique and innovative achievements from Ontus."
Ontus Advantage's VoIP
VoIP is the new way to make, receive and manage your phone service. VoIP converts customer phone calls into data that moves through your high-speed cable or DSL internet connection. The advantage is that customers can call or receive calls anywhere at anytime for a fraction of the cost of using the Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS). Customers can utilize VoIP for all state-of-the art phone services including video conferencing, caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, anonymous call rejection, do not disturb, multi line conferencing, call notify, emergency 911 and find me follow me, with the toll quality "pin drop" sound clarity to which customers are accustomed .
Level 3 (3) VoIP Enhanced Local Service
Level 3's (3) VoIP Enhanced Local service allows companies to enhance and develop voice services using Level 3 provided building blocks, including local phone numbers, interconnection with the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) for local and long distance services, local number portability and E-911 emergency services. Now available in more than 50 U.S. markets, (3) VoIP Enhanced Local service enables companies the flexibility to manage and control the features offered to their customers.
Key Features of (3)VoIP Enhanced Local Service include:
-- Local calling including access to the PSTN -- Local phone numbers -- Operator assistance -- Directory listings and assistance -- E-911 emergency services -- Local number portability
(3) VoIP is a service mark of Level 3 Communications, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. (3) VoIP services are offered by Level 3 Communications, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Level 3 Communications, Inc.
About Ontus Telecommunications Corporation
Ontus Telecommunications Corporation markets business quality VoIP phone service domestically and internationally to residential, small office and home office (SOHO) customers. The Company markets its services through innovative and alternative marketing programs. The programs provide an opportunity for any customer to reduce or eliminate their monthly telephone fees, and in some cases generate income from recommending others sign up for the service. Gross margins are expected to be above industry averages due to lower marketing and reduced communication costs by utilizing ONTT's international network. For additional information, see www.ontus.com.
Forward Looking Statement
This release may be deemed to contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding future events and the future financial performance of Ontus Telecommunications Corporation ("Ontus") that involve risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future events or results due to a variety of factors, including: business and economic conditions and growth trends in the networking industry and in various geographic regions; global economic conditions and uncertainties in the geopolitical environment; overall information technology spending; the growth of the Internet and levels of capital spending on Internet-based systems; variations in customer demand for products and services, including sales to the service provider market; the timing of orders and manufacturing lead times; changes in customer order patterns or customer mix; insufficient, excess or obsolete inventory; variability of component costs; variations in sales channels, product costs or mix of products sold; the ability to successfully acquire businesses and technologies and to successfully integrate and operate these acquired businesses and technologies; increased competition in the networking industry; dependence on the introduction and market acceptance of new product offerings and standards; rapid technological and market change; manufacturing and sourcing risks; product defects and returns; litigation involving patents, intellectual property, antitrust, shareholder and other matters; the ability to recruit and retain key personnel; our ability to manage financial risk; currency fluctuations and other international factors; potential volatility in operating results and other factors listed in Ontus' most recent reports. Ontus' results of operations are not necessarily indicative of Ontus' operating results for any future periods. Any projections in this release are based on limited information currently available to Ontus, which is subject to change. Although any such projections and the factors influencing them will likely change, Ontus will not necessarily update the information, since Ontus will only provide guidance at certain points during the year. Such information speaks only as of the date of this release.