[July 20, 1999]

HelloDirect.com Offers Free Unified Messaging

Business people interested in trying unified messaging can do so at no cost through HelloDirect.com, a provider of business telecommunications products and information. Hello Direct Message Center Lite is a free service initially available in 21 U.S. area codes (see following list). The service enables users to check all their messages -- fax, e-mail and voice -- at one time with their web browsers.

Each subscriber receives his or her own unique local telephone number for voice and fax messages. This telephone number can be dialed directly, or can be used to capture calls forwarded from the subscriber's primary home, office, or cellular phone when it is busy or unanswered. Unlike telephone company voice mail offerings, this service can be used as a consolidated in box for multiple phones: office, home, and cellular.

An enhanced version of the Hello Direct Message Center Lite allows users to retrieve messages by phone or e-mail, record custom telephone greetings, enable paging on message receipt, integrate additional e-mail accounts, and more, for a small monthly fee. A suite of other powerful communication and collaboration tools is available for web-initiated conference calling, online presentations, and telephone call-backs at the Hello Direct Communications Center.

The Hello Direct Message Center Lite is powered by TelePost, a leading global provider of advanced business communications services that leverage internet technology. ``We are always looking for innovative ways to deliver maximum benefits to our customers, and selected TelePost because it offers the best unified messaging service at extremely attractive prices,'' said Brian McConnell, Hello Direct's Director of Electronic Commerce. ``Like the voice mail services provided by local phone companies, there's no equipment to buy or software to install to use the Hello Direct Message Center Lite. This is the first true business class unified messaging service we've reviewed, and we're pleased to offer it to our users.''

``Business professionals need a convenient, simple way to access, manage and respond to all their messages, and they don't want to spend a lot of time or money to experiment with solutions,'' said Bruce Runyan, TelePost president and chief operating officer. ``As the leading online telecommunications resource for small businesses and home workers, HelloDirect.com offers us a great way to introduce the benefits of unified messaging to this audience.''

Hello Direct's Information Network, an authoritative online buyers' guide, offers unbiased information about unified messaging and a comparison of various messaging solutions. The Hello Direct Information Network is a comprehensive collection of original articles and media reprints on business communications. It covers topics such as selecting office phone systems, comparing cellular services, and determining whether DSL is the right broadband connection for your firm. In addition, there are current product reviews and tutorials, as well as user discussion groups that enable visitors to learn from the experience of other business people.

Available in 21 U.S. markets
Effective July 19, local access numbers that enable voice and fax messages to be forwarded to your Hello Direct Message Center Lite account are available in the following markets: New York (212), Los Angeles (213), Chicago (312), Washington D.C. (202), San Francisco (415), San Jose, California (408), Oakland, California (510), San Mateo, California (650), Walnut Creek, California (925), Boston (617), Dallas (214), Houston (713), Atlanta (404), Seattle (206), Cleveland (216), Phoenix (602), Minneapolis (612), San Diego (619), St. Louis (314), Denver (303) and Portland, Oregon (503). More markets are expected to be added in the near future.

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