Convergent Communications Signs $3.8 Million Enterprise Network Services Agreement with UPSIDE Media, Inc - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, August 16, 1999

Convergent Communications (Nasdaq: CONV), an Enterprise Network Carrier providing single-source integrated data and voice communication solutions, has signed a six-year, $3.8 million Enterprise Network Services (ENS) agreement with UPSIDE Media, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Convergent Communications will take over ownership and responsibility of UPSIDE's voice and data network infrastructures.

In the agreement with UPSIDE, Convergent Communications is providing Wide Area Networking, Web hosting services, video conferencing, increased network bandwidth, new email systems for group applications and network management and support for UPSIDE's entire enterprise network.

"UPSIDE is an ideal partner for Convergent Communications," said David Korba, vice president and general manager of Convergent Communications. "UPSIDE looks at high technology from the inside-out. That's the same approach we take in developing communications solutions for our clients."

Known for its cutting-edge opinions on the business technology industry, the magazine, Internet and book publishing company was looking for a viable way to operate with the same state of the art technologies and trends it writes about.

"We were experiencing many of the same technological problems faced by most companies," said David Bunnell, chief executive officer of UPSIDE. "It is hard to find excellent I/T support and we wanted to devote our time to creating great media, not managing the email system. Convergent's ENS offering allowed us to be out of the I/T business."

Enterprise Network Services (ENS) allows clients to gain and maintain complete control of their communications without having to own and support the infrastructure. Convergent Communications owns the data, voice and other communications equipment within a customer's premises in exchange for a monthly service agreement to manage and maintain that network.

"Convergent Communications has the solution to the technology nightmare that corporate America has faced for years," Bunnell said. "ENS allows clients to work with the latest tools in business technology, without the headaches of owning, monitoring, managing and maintaining them."

UPSIDE Media, Inc. is dedicated to providing high quality, insightful media products that uniquely position the company as a leader in the information technology field. Leveraging off its flagship magazine, UPSIDE has created a number of products in different media, including Internet, books, conferences and television.

Founded in November 1989, today UPSIDE is the most widely read business technology magazine, boasting a circulation of 150,000 business technology decision makers.

For more information on UPSIDE Media, Inc., visit the company's Web site at http://www.upside.com.

Convergent Communications Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Convergent Communications, Inc., is an Enterprise Network Carrier providing single-source integrated data and voice communications solutions. With operations in 35 markets, the company's services include the design, implementation, support and monitoring of data and voice networks and Internet services. Through its Enterprise Network Services (ENS) offering, Convergent Communications owns, manages, maintains and monitors client data and voice networks under long-term service agreements.

For more information on Convergent Communications, visit the company's Web site at http://www.converg.com.