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ElephantTalk Signs Agreement With France Telecom to Bring Greater China's Voice Traffic to Europe ElephantTalk Continues to Build Impressive Position in China's Telecom Sector
HONG KONG, May 14, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Elephant Talk
Communications, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: ETLK) announced the signing of a
bilateral carrier's agreement with Europe's prestigious telecom giant, France
Telecom, to transmit voice traffic from Greater China throughout Europe.
ElephantTalk estimates the agreement will generate additional telecommunications
traffic flow of approximately 60 million user minutes per month as a result of
more cost- efficient routes. ElephantTalk is a former majority owned subsidiary
of the Hartcourt Companies, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: HRCT).
"We look forward to working with France Telecom, one of the world's leading
telecommunications companies," commented Mr. Russelle K.P. Choi, ElephantTalk's
President and CEO. "ElephantTalk's services and networks will be significantly
enhanced by France Telecom's broad international network coverage and their
world renowned telecom research center. The infrastructure strength and
extensive industry contacts of ElephantTalk in Greater China's telecom sector
combined with France Telecom's world leading network hub positions our companies
to serve as China's preferred telecommunications gateway to the European
continent."
The Vice President of France Telecom's Network and Carriers Division -- Asia,
Mr. Jean-Francois Thomas, added, "Our agreement with ElephantTalk is the latest
example of our commitment to telecom growth in China and Asia more generally,
which we see as a key priority in France Telecom's international wholesale
strategy. By interconnecting with competitive service providers like
ElephantTalk, we are also opening up more quality routes for our 1,000 carrier
customers worldwide. We look forward to a long relationship with our new
partner."
