New Covad Integrated Phone and Internet Service Available for Small Businesses

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Oct 15, 2008 -- Covad Communications Company, a leading national provider of voice and data communications, today announced its new Covad Integrated Access service, an affordable, all-in-one phone and Internet service for businesses with up to 35 employees per location.

Covad Integrated Access service is delivered over a powerful voice-optimized T1 line and works with customers’ existing phone systems so businesses can leverage their equipment investment while saving money and simplifying operations.

“Covad Integrated Access service has been completely retooled for reliability and flexibility,” said Jake Heinz, vice president and general manager, Covad VoIP. “With Covad Integrated Access service, businesses can start small and add phone lines as they need them. We don’t force them into bundles or service plans designed for much larger companies.”

Covad Integrated Access now also utilizes SIP trunking and supports a wide range of IP, digital and analog PBXs.

Pricing can start as low as $435 per month with no installation fees, depending upon contract length and services ordered. Customers can start with as few as four phone lines. New lines can also be added one by one, rather than in the more typical “blocks” offered by competitors, making it easier to grow the product with the company.

Integrated Access service uses Covad’s voice-optimized technology to dynamically allocate bandwidth between voice and data. By always prioritizing voice traffic and automatically allocating all remaining bandwidth to data traffic, it provides maximum call quality and data throughput.

Covad Integrated Access service is backed by expert 24x7 support and robust service level agreements. Since its acquisition by Platinum Equity, Covad has invested significant time and resources to further enhance the capabilities of its voice-optimized network. “Platinum Equity has made it clear it will support smart investments to ensure Covad can offer its partners and customers the reliability and functionality of an end-to-end carrier-grade network,” said Heinz.

About Covad

Covad is a leading nationwide provider of integrated voice and data communications. The company offers DSL, Voice Over IP, T1, broadband wireless, Web hosting, managed security, IP and dial-up, and bundled voice and data services directly through Covad's network and through Internet Service Providers, value-added resellers, telecommunications carriers and affinity groups to small and medium-sized businesses and home users. Covad broadband services are currently available across the nation in 44 states and 235 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and can be purchased by more than 57 million homes and businesses, which represent over 50 percent of all US homes and businesses.