XO Communications Launches Industry-Leading Voice over IP Services Bundle for Businesses [March 15, 2005]

RESTON, Va., March 15, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- XO Communications, Inc. (XOCM) today announced the availability of its industry leading Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services bundle, XOptions(R) Flex, in the Baltimore, Boston, New York and Washington, DC metropolitan markets. XOptions Flex is a simple, integrated VoIP services solution that gives business customers enhanced features, functionality and value for their voice and Internet services.

XOptions Flex is the industry's first VoIP services bundle for businesses that combines unlimited local and long distance calling, dedicated Internet access and web hosting services at flat monthly price. XOptions Flex leverages XO's awarding-winning national IP network and softswitch technology to provide businesses with a single source solution of voice and data services with enhanced capabilities such as unlimited voice calling, dynamic bandwidth allocation, and voice virtual private networking (VPN). With a broadband connection on the XO IP network, businesses can take full advantage of all of these IP-enabled capabilities and features without having to replace their existing analog phone systems.

"VoIP is truly revolutionizing the telecommunications industry, and XOptions Flex leverages the power of IP to provide a high quality and reliable communications solution that integrates voice and data over a single broadband connection," said Craig Collins, vice president of product management at XO Communications. "Once again, XO has revolutionized the bundle by delivering more valuable features for the small and medium-sized business that save them time and money."

"Small and medium-sized businesses need solutions allowing them easy transitions to integrated IP environments for voice and data communications," said Steve Hilton, senior analyst for the Yankee Group's SMB Strategies division. "Service providers that offer flexible solutions like XOptions Flex with capabilities such as unlimited local and long distance calling and dynamic bandwidth allocation help small and medium-sized businesses overcome some of their unique business constraints and allow them to focus on their core businesses."

Features

XOptions Flex includes more than twenty standard voice features for each phone line including call forward, three-way calling, and voice mail. Key features of the service include:

-- Dedicated Internet Access up to 3 Mbps

-- Dynamic bandwidth allocation

-- Unlimited local calling

-- Unlimited inbound and outbound domestic long distance calling

-- Easy-to-use Administrator Web Portal to configure features

-- Web Basic Hosting Package

-- Additional voice lines, hosting and other applications can also be
added on an a la carte basis.

"XOptions Flex enables businesses to get a better return on their telecommunications budget. In contrast to traditional offerings that waste voice lines when they are idle, XOptions Flex can maximize the speed of data by making use of capacity dedicated to unused voice lines. When there are calls, voice traffic will always have priority. In this way, businesses get maximum utilization and value from their integrated access circuit while ensuring the highest quality of service for voice calls," added Collins.

Availability

XOptions Flex is now available in the Baltimore, Boston, New York and Washington, DC metropolitan markets. XO plans to launch XOptions Flex nationally later in the second quarter of 2005.

For more information about XOptions Flex or to contact an XO sales representative, please call (866) 963-9696.

About XO Communications
XO Communications is a leading provider of national and local telecommunications services to businesses, large enterprises and telecommunications companies. XO offers a complete portfolio of services, including local and long distance voice, dedicated Internet access, private networking, data transport, and Web hosting services as well as bundled voice and Internet solutions. XO provides these services over an advanced, national facilities-based IP network and serves more than 70 metropolitan markets across the United States. For more information, visit http://www.xo.com.

SOURCE XO Communications, Inc.