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Lingo Is First Major Internet Phone Service to Offer Customers Their Own International Phone Numbers
MCLEAN, Va. --(Business Wire)-- Aug. 16, 2004 -- Starting today, Lingo (www.Lingo.com), the high-speed Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) phone service launched in June, will offer customers the opportunity to select international telephone numbers from cities in 12 international countries for their broadband phone service. When a U.S. Lingo customer selects a number from an available country for their service, their family, friends, and business associates in that country can call the Lingo customer on that number at the price of an in-country local call.
Lingo, introduced by Primus Telecommunications, Inc., is the first and only major U.S. Internet broadband phone service to provide international phone numbers outside of North America to its customers.
These numbers, referred to as Lingo "International Universal Numbers," allow a customer, for example, to add a local Tokyo phone number to their Lingo service, even though their primary home or business office is actually located in Chicago. Callers in Tokyo can then dial that number from their phone in Tokyo to reach the Lingo customer - all at the cost of a local call to them.
Lingo customers currently may sign up online for two phone numbers on their Lingo phone line. They have the opportunity to keep their existing phone number, or may select from a broad range of phone numbers in over 220 U.S. area codes. Now, in addition, they can select International Universal Numbers outside of North America, available in:
-- Australia -- Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
-- Brazil -- Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro
-- France -- Paris
-- Guatemala -- Guatemala City
-- Hong Kong
-- Italy -- Milan, Rome
-- Japan -- Tokyo
-- Netherlands -- Amsterdam
-- Puerto Rico -- Caparra (San Juan)
-- South Korea - National, Seoul
-- Taiwan -- Taipei
-- U.K. - London
Frost & Sullivan's VoIP Program Director, Jon Arnold, said that, "Adding international phone numbers is a natural extension for Lingo, as it builds on Primus's global voice network. Primus already has extensive reach into markets outside North America, and by offering phone numbers in major centers such as London, Paris and Tokyo, Lingo truly becomes a global product, with a strong value proposition for anyone with international voice communication needs."
"Being able to pick from a group of International Universal Numbers is another compelling reason for Lingo customers to take advantage of the unmatched coverage that a global communications company like ours can provide to VoIP customers," said John Melick, co-President of Primus Telecommunications, Inc.
About Lingo
For customers with high-speed Internet access, Lingo is the most affordable of the major broadband telephone services on the market today -at savings of up to 80 percent over the traditional phone companies.
Lingo service is currently offered free for the first 3-months, and costs $19.95 per month thereafter. The service includes:
-- Unlimited local and long-distance calls in the U.S., including Hawaii, Alaska, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
-- Unlimited international calls to Canada and Western European countries
-- Very low rates to over 230 other top international locations
-- The opportunity to keep your current phone number
-- A free Lingo Analog Telephone Adapter ("ATA")
-- Over 25 calling features at no charge
-- Unlimited calls between Lingo customers
-- A primary U.S. Universal Number (pick from over 220 area codes in 46 states)
Customers who want to add a U.S. or International Universal Number to their account can sign up on line at www.Lingo.com.
About Primus and VoIP
Primus Telecommunications, Inc., the company that created Lingo, is the principal U.S. subsidiary of Primus Telecommunications Group, Incorporated (Nasdaq:PRTL), a Fortune 1000(R) global telecommunications company with over $1.3 billion in annual revenue. Headquartered in McLean, VA, and founded in 1994, the company is among the largest international telecommunications concerns.
The company offers voice, Internet, Voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP), digital subscriber line (DSL), and other data services to corporate customers, small- and medium-sized businesses, residential customers, and other communications carriers located throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Primus owns and operates an extensive global network, including a VoIP "backbone" that reaches over 150 countries through 550 points-of-presence (POPs) throughout the world. Primus first entered the VoIP market in 1999, and now carries more than one billion minutes of VoIP traffic annually.
In addition to offering consumer and business VoIP services to customers outside of North America, this year Primus was the first communications company in Canada to roll out a broadband telephone service for residential customers, called TalkBroadband(TM).
Lingo is a trademark of Primus.
For more information about Lingo, visit: http://www.Lingo.com
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