[November 8, 2004]

Level (3) and NextWeb to VoIP Corporate California

BY JOHANNE TORRES

Level 3 Communications, Inc. (quote) has teamed up with NextWeb—a California-based fixed wireless ISP to offer businesses in the state core infrastructure services, including voice services based on Level (3)'s VoIP ( define - news - alert) Tone business platform. According to the new agreement, NextWeb will be joining the Level (3) Enabled Partner Program. This partnership would enable both companies to serve close to 250,000 business customers addressable by NextWeb's California-based carrier-class microwave network.

Level 3 operates Internet backbones providing Internet connectivity to broadband subscribers, through its cable and DSL partners. NextWeb serves over 2,000 business customers in the state of California with fixed wireless Internet service through its carrier-class microwave network.

"There have been many announcements this year in the VoIP space, and indeed many WISPs have announced plans to provide VoIP," said Graham Barnes, NextWeb's chief executive officer. "As with all of our business planning, NextWeb has taken its time and carefully selected an industry leading partner, Level 3, for its VoIP service. Our primary goal is to bring to market a service offering that gives our customers the same combination of value and flexibility that we offer in our SuperT, Office Plus and ConT1nuity Internet services. We believe that the (3)Tone Business platform enables us to do this and we are delighted to be partnering with Level 3. NextWeb plans to work closely with Level3 to make these new VOIP service offerings extremely successful."

Aided by Level (3), NextWeb will offer a wide range of voice services, including hosted IP-PBX solutions based on the feature-rich (3)Tone Business platform. Such services provide local and long-distance calling plans, as well as advanced PBX features including follow-me, conference calling, integrated messaging and others. NextWeb says it will offer these services to existing customers, as well as new customers signing up for Internet service. NextWeb's business-class Internet service is currently available in more than 175 cities throughout California.

NextWeb, Inc.
http://www.nextweb.net

Level 3 Communications, Inc.
http://www.level3.com