BROOMFIELD, Colo., and SANTA ANA, Calif., -- Aug. 10, 2004 -- Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:LVLT) and Callipso, a leading provider of enhanced Internet Protocol (IP)-based services, today announced that Callipso has signed an agreement to use Level 3’s (3)FlexSM Ethernet service.
Callipso, which provides Voice over IP (VoIP) origination and termination services as well as enhanced applications for domestic and international telecommunications carriers, enterprises, and independent prepaid service providers, will use Level 3’s data networking service to manage voice traffic over its nationwide IP network. In addition to (3)Flex Ethernet service, Callipso, a Level 3 customer since 1999, also uses Level 3’s voice termination, private line, high-speed Internet access, and colocation services.
“Level 3’s (3)Flex Ethernet service will allow us to prioritize VoIP traffic across our network, enabling us to better manage network resources for improved performance, while also helping to control expenditures,” said Randy Mueller, Callipso’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Our relationship with Level 3 enables us to provide flexible, reliable, advanced IP-based services to our customers.”
“We’re pleased that Callipso has chosen our (3)Flex Ethernet service for managing its VoIP traffic,” said Scott Schaefer, group vice president of IP and Data Services for Level 3. “We believe this service, together with the other Level 3 services that Callipso has chosen, will provide a reliable, cost-effective, long-term data networking solution for meeting Callipso’s goals for performance, pricing, and aligning revenues with costs.”
Level 3’s (3)Flex Ethernet service extends the Ethernet standard to the Wide Area Network (WAN), providing a platform for converging voice, data, and video onto one network. (3)Flex Ethernet provides customers with ease of use, cost savings, and operational efficiencies in a flexible service to meet all their networking needs.
With (3)Flex Ethernet’s Class of Service (CoS) offerings, Callipso can tailor the service to match the requirements of specific applications, for example, using Optimized CoS to prioritize the delivery of high-quality voice, while establishing Enhanced Service virtual circuits for e-mail, file transfers, and other non-real-time data applications. Using the appropriate CoS for each type of traffic allows customers to more appropriately deploy and manage network resources and better manage network costs while providing the highest degree of reliability.
Benefits of (3)Flex Ethernet Service
Level 3’s (3)Flex Ethernet service offers customers the following benefits, whether implementing new applications or combining existing ones to run more cost-effectively over Ethernet:
-- Cost-Effectiveness. Pricing is usage-based and distance-insensitive, so customers pay only for what they use, wherever they use it, for all types of applications, and usage is aggregated across all virtual circuits for the best possible rate.
-- Bandwidth on demand and traffic flexibility. (3)Flex Ethernet service provides customers with immediate access to bandwidth as they can easily move ports and circuits between locations, and because (3)Flex Ethernet allows traffic to burst above committed bandwidth levels.
-- Scalability. (3)Flex Ethernet provides scalability from a DS-3 or 100BaseT to multiple Gigabit Ethernet interfaces as well as to OC-48 (2.5 Gbps) and beyond.
-- Incremental control. With (3)Flex Ethernet service, customers can access capacity in increments as usage demand dictates. Virtual LAN and virtual circuits can be provisioned in 1 MB increments, and customers also have port and VLAN/VC portability.
-- Security. (3)Flex Ethernet service leverages native Ethernet functionality in addition to a private addressing scheme to provide secure data transmissions equivalent to traditional ATM or Frame Relay.
-- Accessibility. Customers can access the (3)Flex Ethernet service via cross connects, fiber extensions, or metro Ethernet and SONET connections.
-- Rapid activation. Customers can set up service quickly and change designs with flexibility through Level 3’s rapid provisioning process.
The Level 3 (3)Flex Ethernet service is an integral part of Level 3’s suite of multi-protocol label switching (MPLS)-based data networking services, which also includes (3)Flex Network IP VPN, (3)Flex ATM, and (3)Flex Frame Relay offerings. This suite of services extends the ease of use and cost benefits of transporting data across WANs and provides secure data and voice transmission to and from more than 75 major markets in the United States and Europe.
About Callipso
Founded in 1996, Callipso provides enhanced IP services to telecommunications carriers, enterprises and the prepaid card marketplace. Callipso addresses today’s communications requirements with the industry’s leading enhanced IP services, including ProConferencer™, a Web-based audio conferencing service, and ProCaller™, a Web-based prepaid phone card platform. When combined with Callipso’s private managed IP network, these products serve to bridge the gap between IT and telecom to enable user-defined communications.
Callipso, a privately held company headquartered in Santa Ana, California, was recently named to the Orange County Technology Fast 50 by Deloitte & Touche LLP. Technology Fast 50 rankings are based on the percentage of growth in fiscal year revenues over five years. Callipso was also named a 2004 Investors’ Choice award recipient by VentureWire™ at its annual private equity conference. That award recognizes technology companies that are best positioned for long-term success in the communications industry. For further information, visit www.callipso.com.
About Level 3 Communications
Level 3 (Nasdaq:LVLT) is an international communications and information services company. The company operates one of the largest Internet backbones in the world, is one of the largest providers of wholesale dial-up service to ISPs in North America and is the primary provider of Internet connectivity for millions of broadband subscribers, through its cable and DSL partners. The company offers a wide range of communications services over its 23,000 mile broadband fiber optic network including Internet Protocol (IP) services, broadband transport and infrastructure services, colocation services, and patented Softswitch managed modem and voice services. Its Web address is www.Level3.com.
