TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2004--PRIMUS Telecommunications Canada Inc.
PRIMUS Canada's TalkBroadband(TM) offers local telephone service to
onsumers and home offices across the country that have high-speed
Internet
For the first time ever, Canadian consumers have a true alternative to traditional local service from the big phone companies, at an average 25 percent savings.
PRIMUS Telecommunications Canada Inc. (PRIMUS Canada) today launched TalkBroadband(TM), the first true alternative to traditional residential phone service in Canada, delivering 25 percent savings on average to consumers and home offices.
PRIMUS Canada, the wholly-owned subsidiary of McLean, Virginia-based PRIMUS Telecommunications Group, Incorporated (OTCBB:PRTL), a global telecommunications services provider offering an integrated portfolio of voice, data, Internet, and Web hosting services, is offering the new Broadband Voice Service(TM) immediately to all residential and home office high speed Internet subscribers across the country.
Starting at just $19.95 a month, TalkBroadband uses leading edge Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) technology to transform high-speed Internet service into a local telephone connection simply, reliably and securely.
"TalkBroadband begins a new era for Canadian consumers looking for a reliable, simple and less expensive alternative
to traditional phone service," says Ted Chislett,
president, PRIMUS Canada. "It's the perfect solution for DSL subscribers wanting a second phone line or for
cable high-speed Internet subscribers looking to replace
their existing phone line or add a second one."
TalkBroadband Benefits and Features.
- Customers receive a home telephone number that
can travel with them wherever there is access to high-speed Internet
service (telephone DSL or cable). So a customer could go away
for the weekend or overseas for a week and they could still
be reached at their home phone number.
- Customers have the option to keep their existing
telephone number (in serviceable areas) or add a new one, and can choose their area code.
- TalkBroadband is easy to set up, without the hassle
and expense of a service call.
- The service works with a regular telephone: PRIMUS Canada provides a Broadband Voice Gateway box that connects
easily to the phone and the subscriber's existing high-speed Internet
modem.
- Customers can surf the Internet while talking on
the phone.
- A wide selection of features is available, including
Call Answer, Call Display and Call Waiting.
- TalkBroadband offers additional features not available
on traditional phone services such as Call Transfer &
5-way Calling.
- TalkBroadband offers free long distance calling
between PRIMUS Canada Talk Broadband customers on their Broadband Voice
service.
- TalkBroadband customers can also select additional
numbers and area codes for a small additional monthly charge, providing
the customer a local presence in other areas of the
country.
- TalkBroadband is an ideal solution for residential
customers as well as small, home-based businesses. Customers
can select from Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Montreal,
Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton local numbers. Any high-speed
Internet user in Canada, or anywhere in the world -
no matter where they are located - can take advantage
of TalkBroadband by selecting an area code and number
from one of the cities above. For example, consumers
who live in Barrie (705) can select a Toronto (416) area code and number, ensuring that calls to and from
Toronto are not subject to long distance charges.
"Since Canada's high-speed Internet penetration
rate is the third highest in the world and is continuing
at double-digit growth, there are literally millions
of Canadians who can take advantage of PRIMUS Canada's
TalkBroadband service,"says Andrew Day, senior
vice-president, Residential Services, PRIMUS Canada.
"Our more than 900,000 retail customers also provide
us with a strong platform to reach Canadians with this
new service."
PRIMUS Canada will support the launch of TalkBroadband
via a multi-media advertising campaign across Canada.
In coming months, PRIMUS Canada will expand the service:
customers in other major Canadian centres will be able
to subscribe to TalkBroadband service using their own
area code. Operator services and 911 will not be offered
at launch, however development is underway and the services
will be enabled on a market by market basis in the near
future.
PRIMUS Canada also will introduce broadband phone services
tailored specifically for larger business customers,
at significant cost savings over traditional commercial
phone service in the near future.
Residential Pricing
- PRIMUS Canada's TalkBroadband offers basic phone
service for just $19.95 a month, 15 percent less on average than
the basic service customers pay now for traditional residential
phone service.
- PRIMUS Canada's TalkBroadband lowers the cost of adding
features, so customers can get the most out of their
home phone service. Bundles including basic phone service
plus Call Answer, Call Waiting and Call Display start at just
$29.95 a month, with savings of 30 percent on average over traditional
phone service (also available is a bundle including basic service plus 6 features, for $34.95).
- TalkBroadband offers great savings on long distance
plans, with flat rate calling as low as $2.95 a month for 60
Canada/U.S. minutes and unlimited Canada/U.S. calling
for just $20 a month. Subscribers also receive PRIMUS Canada's
best available overseas rates.
- Separate Commercial offers are available starting
at $29.95/month.
About PRIMUS Canada
PRIMUS Telecommunications Canada, Inc. is the largest
alternative communications carrier in Canada with over
900,000 retail customers. The Company offers facilities-based
voice, data, e-commerce, Web hosting and Internet services.
As a leading Internet service provider in Canada, PRIMUS
Canada has approximately 60,000 Internet subscribers
served by a national network of Internet points-of-presence
(POPs) for dedicated and dial-up access. PRIMUS Canada
also offers local services to businesses, bundling them
with its long distance and Internet services. The Company
has a fully redundant and diverse SONET network across
Canada, extending from Quebec City to Victoria. PRIMUS
Canada's national network consists of Nortel DMS 500
switches with international connectivity through its
parent company's global network, and ATM and IP nodes
at major cities across the country. These network elements
provide an integrated and converged backbone for all
of PRIMUS Canada's voice, data, Internet and private
line services. PRIMUS Canada is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of McLean, Virginia-based PRIMUS Telecommunications
Group, Incorporated (OTCBB:PRTL). PRIMUS Canada news
and information are available at the Company's Web site
at www.primustel.ca.
About PRIMUS Telecommunications Group, Incorporated
For PRIMUS Telecommunications Group, Incorporated and
PRIMUS Telecommunications Canada Inc.:
Statements in this press release concerning future
revenue, services and growth constitute "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of
the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are based on current
expectations, and are not strictly historical statements.
Factors and risks that could cause actual results or
circumstances to differ materially from those set forth
or contemplated in forward-looking statements include,
without limitation: changes in business conditions;
fluctuations in the exchange rates of currencies, particularly
any strengthening of the United States dollar relative
to foreign currencies of the countries where we conduct
our foreign operations; adverse interest rate developments;
whether we complete one or more financings; fluctuations
in prevailing trade credit terms or revenues due to
the adverse impact of, among other things, further telecommunications
carrier bankruptcies or adverse bankruptcy related developments
affecting our large carrier customers; the possible
inability to raise additional capital when needed, or
at all; the inability to reduce, repurchase, exchange
or restructure debt significantly, or in amounts sufficient
to conduct regular ongoing operations; changes in the
telecommunications or Internet industry; adverse tax
rulings from applicable taxing authorities; digital
subscriber line, Internet and telecommunications competition;
changes in financial, capital market and economic conditions;
changes in service offerings or business strategies;
difficulty in migrating or retaining customers, including
former Cable & Wireless customers associated with
our recent acquisition of this customer base, or integrating
other assets; difficulty in providing voice-over-Internet
protocol and wireless services; changes in the regulatory
schemes or requirements and regulatory enforcement in
the markets in which we operate; restrictions on our
ability to follow certain strategies or complete certain
transactions as a result of our capital structure or
debt covenants; risks associated with our limited DSL,
Internet and Web hosting experience and expertise; entry
into developing markets; the possible inability to hire
and/or retain qualified sales, technical and other personnel,
and to manage growth; risks associated with international
operations; dependence on effective information systems;
dependence on third parties to enable us to expand and
manage our global network and operations; dependence
on the implementation and performance of our global
asynchronous transfer mode + Internet protocol communications
network; adverse outcomes of outstanding litigation
matters; and the outbreak or escalation of hostilities
or terrorist acts and adverse geopolitical developments.
As such, actual results or circumstances may vary materially
from such forward-looking statements or expectations.
Readers are also cautioned not to place undue reliance
on these forward-looking statements which speak only
as of the date these statements were made. We are not
necessarily obligated to update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. You are advised, however,
to consult the discussion of risks and uncertainties
under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity
and Capital Resources-Short and Long-Term Liquidity
Considerations and Risks"; and "-Special Note
Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" contained
in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period
ended September 30, 2003, as filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
For more information about Lingo, visit: http://www.lingo.com.
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