Voicenet Selects NorthPoint for Launch of First DSL/VoiceOver IP Network - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, July 5, 1999

Voicenet, the mid-Atlantic's largest regional Internet Service Provider (ISP), Monday announced that it has selected NorthPoint Communications to deliver high speed voice and data services via DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) technology to businesses in the Philadelphia region, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Baltimore. Voicenet, the first ISP with a fully functional VoiceOver IP Network, will utilize NorthPoint's award winning DSL network to bundle low-cost, high-quality voice communications with broadband Internet access for small and mid-sized businesses at an affordable price.

"Our relationship with NorthPoint is a tremendous advancement for Voicenet's Internet Telephone Network because the market thirsts for a viable offering of bundled voice and data services," said Carmen A. DiCamillo, Voicenet president. "While many companies are discussing and developing VoiceOver IP and VoiceOver DSL, Voicenet is rapidly deploying a switchless Internet Telephone Network. Combining DSL and VoiceOver IP provides a unique opportunity for businesses to use a single connection for high-speed Internet access and telephone service at tremendously low rates."

Voicenet's Internet Telephone Network has grown tremendously since it was launched in November of 1998, offering low-cost, high quality telephone to telephone calling services via the Internet. Presently, calls to anywhere in PA, NJ, DE and metropolitan New York City are five cents a minute. Calls anywhere in the continental U.S. are seven cents a minute. According to DiCamillo, businesses with multiple locations connected with SpeedLine DSL will enjoy free calling between offices.

Voicenet's SpeedLine DSL uses NorthPoint's symmetric DSL (SDSL) service, which provides equivalent bandwidth upstream and downstream. SpeedLine DSL, a dedicated, "always on" connection, is available immediately in speeds ranging from 160 Kbps to 1.5 Mbps. Pricing begins at $79.95 a month. Voicenet is expected to deliver voice services over DSL this fall. NorthPoint was recently named "best built local network" at the SuperCOMM '99 Conference and Exhibition for its design and construction of high-speed DSL networks on a national scale.

"SpeedLine DSL is ideal for a wide-range of high-bandwidth business applications including connecting an entire office network to the Internet or running a server," said DiCamillo.

"NorthPoint is pleased to partner with Voicenet to deliver high quality, affordable DSL service to businesses," said John Stormer, vice president of marketing at NorthPoint. "Voicenet's leadership in the Internet marketplace and VoiceOver IP networking creates a tremendous opportunity for both companies."

"NorthPoint's DSL network is designed to support business critical services, including voice, which fits well with Voicenet's mission," said DiCamillo. "Voicenet is committed to working with NorthPoint to provide the highest quality DSL and making economical access to VoiceOver IP a reality for businesses."

Voicenet's SpeedLine DSL is presently available in Philadelphia, New York and Baltimore. For additional details, call 800-835-5710.

The Internet was a virtual unknown when Voicenet was founded in 1990 by Carmen A. DiCamillo. Today, this privately held company is considered an industry pioneer, offering innovative applications and the fastest, most reliable Internet connectivity for individuals, businesses, and educational institutions. Voicenet is the first Internet Service Provider (ISP) to offer an Internet Telephone Network, offering high quality, low coast telephone to telephone service for consumers and businesses via the Internet. Voicenet's ultra high-speed National Backbone is directly connected to the Internet at multiple Network Access Points. This direct connection to the Network Access Points gives Voicenet "Peer Provider" status, a designation reserved for less than 1% of all Internet Service Providers. In addition to dial-up access and a full range of dedicated Internet services, Voicenet provides web design and development, web hosting, e-commerce and specialized Internet instruction at the company's state-of-the-art training facility in Ivyland, Bucks County. With well over 100,000 users, Voicenet is ranked the number one ISP in the Philadelphia Area by the Philadelphia Business Journal. Further information about Voicenet is available via the Internet (www.voicenet.com).

NorthPoint Communications, based in San Francisco, is a national, facilities-based competitive local exchange carrier dedicated to providing affordable, dedicated high-speed Internet access over existing phone lines using digital subscriber line (DSL) technology. The company operates DSL-based local networks in 20 major metropolitan areas, encompassing 33 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), and will expand its service to 28 metropolitan areas (68 MSAs) by the end of 1999. Upon completion of its planned expansion, NorthPoint's DSL network will pass 4 million businesses and 30 million homes. NorthPoint provides DSL-based Internet access service -- at speeds up to 1.5 Mbps, more than 25 times faster than common dial-up modems -- through national and regional Internet service providers, CLECs, long distance carriers, value-added resellers and other partners. FMI: www.northpointcom.com.