[January 6, 2005]

Staples to Offer AT&T�s CallVantage

BY JOHANNE TORRES

AT&T’s (quote - news - alert) CallVantage (news - alert) just went retail. Starting today, the residential VoIP ( define - news - alert) service will now be sold at 1,200 Staples retail stores nationwide and online. The office supplies giant will now sell the AT&T CallVantage Service Starter Kit for around $130.

The kit includes a Linksys wireless router with an integrated analog telephone adapter, which will enable phones to work over high-speed Internet connections instead of traditional circuit-switched phone networks. Customers then sign up for service with AT&T directly over the Internet with instructions found inside the Starter Kit box.

"Small office and home office workers depend on Staples to offer them innovative solutions to make their work life easier. VoIP is rapidly changing the way people communicate and do business," said Bruce Bresser, Staples vice president of technology. "AT&T CallVantage Service is clearly a service that will offer our customers exciting new communication capabilities and savings."

AT&T CallVantage Service is generally available to consumers wanting local area codes and numbers in 39 states and Washington, D.C. The service offers customers typical features such as call waiting, three-way calling, and call forwarding, as well as advanced features such as:

- "Call Logs," to track incoming and outgoing calls;

- "Do Not Disturb," to receive calls only when wanted;

- "Locate Me," which rings up to five phones, all at once, or sequentially;

- "Voicemail with eFeatures," to listen to messages from any phone or PC and forward them to anyone on the Web;

- "Simple Reach Number," which enables AT&T CallVantage Service customers to add up to nine telephone numbers with area codes anywhere in the country where AT&T offers residential VoIP service for $4.99 each

- and "Conference Calling," to set up meetings with up to nine additional callers.

"Two decades ago, Staples founded the office supplies superstore concept and hatched a new industry," said Cathy Martine, AT&T senior vice president for Internet telephony. "Today, we're looking to Staples to help expand the distribution channel for AT&T CallVantage Service. Our strategy is to make the service available to as many consumers as possible."

Staples Inc.
www.staples.com

AT&T
www.att.com