MILWAUKEE -- Aug. 21, 2006 -- Norlight Telecommunications, Inc., a facilities-based communications company headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin, with over 30 years experience providing Internet Protocol and enhanced services and network services to commercial and wholesale customers in the upper Midwest, today announced plans to offer businesses integrated communications bundles that combine local voice, long distance, Internet services and enhanced data services over a private Internet Protocol (IP) connection. The same private IP network will deliver Norlight's hosted IP telephony services and enable managed premise-based IP solutions targeted at small and medium-sized businesses.
Norlight's newest integrated communications offering, called IPLive(R), will be available this fall to Madison- and Green Bay-based businesses, with future market deployment planned for Norlight's other Midwestern markets. The integrated communications bundles delivered by a private IP network are specifically designed to help small and medium-sized businesses by providing them with the same kinds of timesaving calling features, enhanced services and money-saving economies typically enjoyed by big businesses that have been the early adopters of Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology.
In addition to local voice, long distance and Internet services, Norlight's three IPLive bundles include caller ID and direct inward dial, and deliver enhanced data services free of charge, such as email with spam blocking and virus protection, Web site and file hosting, Web and voice conferencing capabilities, remote VPN connections, and managed firewall protection. An Advanced Features Package and a variety of a la carte services are also available, allowing businesses to tailor an IPLive bundle to their unique needs.
According to a study by Sage Research, 60 percent of surveyed decision makers cited productivity savings as a motive for IP telephony deployment, along with another 75 percent citing cost savings. "We believe that every business can benefit from the ease of management and greater cost efficiencies delivered by Norlight's IP telephony solutions," said Tom Szews, Norlight's IP telephony and local service category manager. "With an array of IP telephony solutions tailored to fit businesses of all sizes, rather than older technology, one-size-fits-all services offered by many of our competitors, Norlight thinks it's time for an 'IP for All' revolution."
Norlight is touting its IP for All movement via radio and direct mail to Wisconsin businesses. "We believe it's important for small to medium-sized business owners, in particular, to know there are affordable VoIP solutions that can provide productivity gains and help them grow their business. And that's what Norlight's IP for All revolution is about," explained Kris Palen, Norlight's director of marketing communications. "The productivity-enhancing features available from IPLive are now truly available to businesses of all sizes, not just larger enterprises."
Norlight's IPLive service is designed to extend the life of a customer's existing phone equipment and provides at least a full T-1 of broadband Internet bandwidth, which is double that typically offered by traditional (non-IP) service packages using older technology. "Customers will enjoy greater data bandwidth using dynamic allocation. This allows customers to maximize the use of data traffic, while ensuring quality of service for voice calls. Dynamic bandwidth allocation is not possible when services are delivered via non-IP networks, as is the case with many of our competitors", said Kamlesh Sethi, Norlight's product manager for IP telephony and local services.
In addition to its suite of IP telephony solutions, Norlight's services include managed network security, business continuance solutions, audio and Web conferencing services, and traditional voice, Internet and data transport services.
About Norlight Telecommunications
Norlight Telecommunications, Inc., a Journal Communications company, is a full-service telecommunications provider of customized integrated voice and data solutions and wholesale transport solutions. Headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin, the Norlight Guardians of Data have been serving business customers for 34 years. In addition to its Brookfield headquarters, Norlight has sales offices in Green Bay and Madison, Wisconsin; Chicago; Grand Rapids, Lansing and Plymouth, Michigan; Minneapolis/St. Paul; and Indianapolis.
About Journal Communications
Journal Communications, Inc. (NYSE: JRN), headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a diversified media and communications company with operations in publishing, radio and television broadcasting, telecommunications and printing services. We publish the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and about 90 community newspapers and shoppers. We own and operate 37 radio stations and nine television stations in 12 states and operate two television stations under local marketing agreements. We own and operate a regional fiber optic network in the upper Midwest, provide integrated data communications solutions and offer network transmission solutions. We also provide commercial printing services and operate a direct marketing services business.
