PixelMEDIA Expands Long-Standing Relationship with Cbeyond Communications to Include Portal Development

Business Wire, April 14, 2003

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

PORTSMOUTH, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 14, 2003

New Customer Self-Service Portal Promises to Be One of the Most Comprehensive in the Industry

PixelMEDIA, Inc., a full service company offering strategy, design and implementation services for Web, multimedia and IT initiatives today announced that Cbeyond Communications has selected the firm to provide best practices, usability and user interface design for the company's updated customer portal.

Cbeyond Communications, an Atlanta-based communications provider since 2000, has a successful two-year relationship with PixelMEDIA that has included the development, design and maintenance of Cbeyond's corporate web site. Preliminary work on the enhancements to the customer-facing portal began last month, with a go-live date in June.

"We believe that the electronic approach to individualized customer interaction creates a better customer experience and promotes operational efficiencies," said Terry Trout, Vice President, eCommerce at Cbeyond. "We were looking for a technology partner that would help us embrace that vision."

Cbeyond has been devoted to eCommerce from the start. Cbeyond has instituted the telecommunications industry's only 100% electronic billing delivery system and has 30% of its customers pay online.

Cbeyond looked to PixelMEDIA to help the company further drive enhancements in functionality, such as real-time access to account information, informational help content and organization, and customer self-provisioning of new services.

"In an effort to meet their overall goals and objectives, Cbeyond needed an experienced partner they could rely on for a variety of integrated services," said Thomas Obrey, COO, PixelMEDIA. "Our strong user interface design and usability experience was key to the success of this project. We are working very closely with Cbeyond to leverage industry best practices and quickly gather customer feedback during the design and development process to ensure the initiative meets the established objectives."

Cbeyond is uniquely structured to deliver this kind of e-business tool since it provides each of its customers with broadband access. Also, its single IP network allows for dramatically increased abilities to manage communication services remotely.

"Rather than take a big-agency approach, PixelMEDIA has taken the time to understand our issues, learn our objectives and solve our problems with seamless technology that is both attractive and user-friendly," said Trout. "Over our two year relationship, Pixel's customer-focused approach and expert advice have solidly placed them as one of our most important technology partners. Their timely, cost-efficient delivery of services has been one of the key reasons we've been able to rapidly grow our business and break new ground in our industry in areas like our 100% electronic billing process and our rapidly-advancing customer self-service functionality."

PixelMEDIA worked closely with Cbeyond executives to determine overall goals and objectives of the new portal and is working with the marketing, engineering and eCommerce teams to design and test new concepts with real customers. The result will be the development of a new online portal, which will consist of several unique features including:

-- A self-management feature for online accounts

-- Knowledge based self-help services to reduce operational costs while maintaining a high level of quality service.

-- An Integrated global navigation system interface that provides a seamless user experience

-- An improved overall user interface to ease navigation

About Cbeyond Communications

Cbeyond Communications, the world's first 100% Internet Protocol (IP) local phone network, is a privately held, Atlanta-based services carrier. Using Internet Protocol (IP) architecture and a 100% Cisco network, Cbeyond delivers to small business customers an integrated package of carrier-grade local and long distance telephony services, high-speed Internet access and Internet-based applications for prices significantly less than what they are typically paying now for voice alone. Cbeyond serves customers in Atlanta, Dallas and Denver. Cbeyond is fully funded for the markets it operates in, with investment being led by Madison Dearborn Partners. Additional investors include Battery Ventures, Vantage Point Venture Partners, and company management. For more information on Cbeyond Communications, visit the website at www.cbeyond.net.

About PixelMEDIA

PixelMEDIA, Inc. is an experienced Web strategy and development company focused on methodical client execution. PixelMEDIA's cost-effective solutions combine innovative designs with powerful, functional technology. The company specializes in full-service Web design and development, user interface design, Flash and multimedia tools, search engine optimization, hosting and maintenance, dynamic lead generation tools, and implementation of IT initiatives. PixelMEDIA is a privately held, employee-owned company and has built a solid reputation by developing practical Web enabled solutions that create tangible results. PixelMEDIA's customers include industry leaders CIGNA Corporation, C-Port Motorola, CVS/pharmacy, Liberty Mutual, LogicaCMG, MatrixOne, Nokia, RSA Security, and Teradyne. For more information, contact PixelMEDIA's headquarters in Portsmouth, NH at 603-430-2033 or visit www.pixelmedia.com.