[June 07, 2004] PRIMUS Launches 'Lingo' High-Speed Internet Phone Service MCLEAN, Va. --(Business Wire)-- June 7, 2004 -- "Lingo" Offers 3-Months Free, Unmatched $19.95 Monthly Rate For Unlimited Local and Long-Distance Calling in U.S., Plus Unlimited Calling to Canada and Western Europe Primus Telecommunications, Inc. ("PRIMUS") today eclipsed existing Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telecommunications companies in the United States by introducing "Lingo," a VOIP service that offers unmatched value and geographic coverage. Leveraging PRIMUS' global presence, and a VOIP network that reaches over 150 countries, the new Lingo service offers consumers free, unlimited calling to Western Europe - something no other broadband phone service provides. Lingo brings consumers with a broadband connection an alternative to their traditional U.S. telephone company- at savings of up to 80 percent. Lingo is available free for a three-month period to consumers, and includes unlimited local and long-distance calling in the U.S., unlimited international calling to Canada and Western Europe, and over 25 popular calling features at no additional charge. Consumers can learn more about Lingo and sign up online for the service by visiting http://www.Lingo.com. The Lingo Offer After three-months free, the same Lingo service will cost $19.95 per month, and be offered on a month-to-month basis without extended contract requirements. The plan includes: -- Unlimited local and long-distance calls in the U.S., and unlimited international calls to Canada and Western Europe -- 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 "The Internet knows no geographical boundaries, so why should telephone services?" said John Melick, co-president of PRIMUS. "As a multi-national company, it is second nature for PRIMUS to provide quality, unlimited domestic and international calling opportunities at an inexpensive price. We are delighted to have Lingo customers join millions of residential and business customers served by the PRIMUS network here in the U.S., and around the globe." How It Works All that customers need for the Lingo high-speed Internet phone service is a broadband Internet connection - either cable or digital subscriber line (DSL) -- an analog telephone adapter (ATA) provided by PRIMUS, and a standard telephone. Lingo customers may place calls and simultaneously use the same broadband connection with PCs and other devices. Other Lingo Calling Plans and Features Lingo offers a series of calling plans to meet the needs of residential and small/home-based businesses, ranging in price from $14.95 to $99.95 per month. All Lingo calling plans provide a variety of enhanced features at no additional charge, including: -- Online Web portal for customers to personalize their services, set features, and manage their account -- Do Not Disturb, Call Forwarding, Call Blocking, and Caller ID services -- Voicemail to email delivery -- "Distinctive Ring" tones for each number, so the customer may distinguish between one phone number and another -- "Simultaneous Ring," allowing important calls to be sent to several other telephone numbers at the same time (e.g., your cell phone) -- Emergency Calling Service -- Anonymous Call Rejection, Redial, *69 About PRIMUS PRIMUS 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. 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. 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. The company first entered the VOIP market in 1999, and now carries more than one billion minutes of VOIP traffic. This year, Primus was the first communications company in Canada to roll out consumer broadband telephone services, and, in 2002, brought VOIP-based PC-to-phone service to the desktop through a partnership arrangement with Microsoft MSN(R) Messenger. Lingo is a trademark of PRIMUS. Microsoft Messenger and MSN are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. For more information about Lingo, visit: http://www.Lingo.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]