TMCnet News

8x8 Announces Availability of Virtual and Toll Free Numbers for Packet8 Virtual Office Business VoIP Service
[September 30, 2004]

8x8 Announces Availability of Virtual and Toll Free Numbers for Packet8 Virtual Office Business VoIP Service

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 8x8, Inc. the Packet8 broadband voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and videophone communications service provider, today announced the availability of several new optional features for its Virtual Office internet-based PBX service for small to medium sized businesses.


Effective immediately, Packet8 Virtual Office users can now choose various new services including Virtual Phone Numbers, Toll Free Numbers, and Switchboard Operator Console.
Virtual Phone Numbers allow Virtual Office subscribers to provide local inbound telephone numbers from areas outside of their main number or extension DIDs. Subscribers can select Virtual Numbers from all United States area codes Packet8 supports for a small monthly fee of $4.95 per number and a one-time activation fee of $9.95. Adding Virtual Numbers offers benefits such as enabling an enterprise to show a local presence in a geographic area without physically residing there and facilitating a cost-savings local calling capability for an organization's customers or colleagues.
The second new Virtual Office service is Toll Free Numbers, an inexpensive way for Virtual Office subscribers to offer clients the ability to contact them at no charge regardless of their location inside the United States or the company's location worldwide. Packet8's Toll Free Service Plan involves a flat monthly fee of $4.95 including 100 minutes of inbound toll-free calls and an industry low of 3.9 cents a minute thereafter for inbound calls. A one time $9.95 activation fee per number applies.
Finally, Virtual Office users can now expand the functionality of their system with Switchboard, Virtual Office's Operator Software Console Application, available for $19.95 per month with a $9.95 activation fee. Switchboard improves the efficiency of an operator's call management by providing a receptionist with a graphical overview of the users on the virtual office service and a simple way to manage an organization's telecommunication activity. Switchboard works on a PC in conjunction with the Internet and the Virtual Office telephones. Additionally, Switchboard enables operators to have:
-- Direct status view of extension's status: DND, On-line, idle
-- Click to call, click to transfer call control
-- Direct transfer to extension and voice mail
-- Supervised transfers


The Packet8 Virtual Office service costs just $39.95 per extension, per month. For initial set-up costs, subscribers pay only $99 for the equipment (special business telephone and broadband adapter), $14.95 for shipping and $39.95 for activation.
About 8x8, Inc.
8x8, Inc. offers the Packet8 VoIP (voice over internet protocol) telephone and videophone communications service, the DV 326 Broadband VideoPhone and the Packet8 Virtual Office.
The Packet8 service (http://www.packet8.net/) enables high speed internet users to subscribe to monthly voice over internet protocol (VoIP) telephone and videophone communications service. For 19.95/month, Packet8 subscribers can make unlimited calls to any telephone number in the United States and Canada, and unlimited calls to any other Packet8 subscriber anywhere in the world. All Packet8 accounts come with voice mail, caller ID, call waiting, call waiting caller ID, call forwarding, hold, line-alternate, 3-way conferencing, web access to account controls, and real-time online billing.
The Packet8 Videophone, introduced in June 2004, delivers high-quality, full-motion video and clear, delay-free audio over any broadband (high-speed Cable, DSL or corporate LAN) Internet connection. Using 8x8's Packet8 broadband phone service, Packet8 Videophone subscribers receive unlimited video calling and regular voice calling in the U.S. and Canada for $29.95/month as well as unlimited worldwide video and audio-only calling to other Packet8 subscribers.
The Packet8 Virtual Office service allows users anywhere in the world to group multiple Packet8 lines into a virtual business telephone system that includes extension-to-extension dialing, auto attendants, conference bridges, ring groups and a host of other business class PBX features. Packet8 Virtual Office subscribers also enjoy unlimited phone calls anywhere in the United States and Canada and the same low, per-minute international rates available in Packet8's residential plans.
For additional company information, visit 8x8's web site at http://www.8x8.com/.
NOTE: 8x8, the 8x8 logo, Packet8, the Packet8 logo and Packet8 Virtual Office are trademarks of 8x8, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
8x8, Inc.



CONTACT: Joan Citelli of 8x8, Inc., +1-408-316-1290, [email protected]


Web site: http://www.packet8.net/
Web site: http://www.8x8.com/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]