WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- WorldCom''s flagship business offering, The WorldCom Connection(SM), received top honors from INTERNET TELEPHONY(R) Magazine as a 2002 Product of the Year winner. WorldCom''s IP-based communications service, introduced last Fall, consolidates local, long distance and data services over one network, significantly simplifying network management, billing and support.
"The WorldCom Connection is a clear leader in the Internet Telephony sector," said Rich Tehrani, president of Technology Marketing Corporation(R) (TMC(TM)) and group editor-in-chief of Internet Telephony. "We''re proud to reward their hard work and innovation with a Product of the Year Award for 2002."
"This innovative service is more than just integrated local, long distance and data over IP," said Frank Grillo, senior vice president of Business Marketing for WorldCom. "It enables cost-efficient use of a company''s access facilities, simplifies pricing and offers new communications features that not only benefit companies today, but also pave a logical migration path toward new communications technologies in the future."
The WorldCom Connection breaks traditional industry pricing models by offering businesses flat rate pricing for local and long distance voice, and simplified data pricing. Companies can purchase a complete flat rate solution or they can purchase various components of The WorldCom Connection service on a separate, a la carte basis. The WorldCom Connection enables companies to reduce network management costs, IT staffing demands and overall capital expense.
According to industry analyst Jeff Kagan, The WorldCom Connection is an example of how the company continues to innovate the market by leveraging its unmatched global data and IP network. "Among WorldCom''s biggest advantages in delivering combined voice and data services is its worldwide data network. That, combined with its IP expertise, enables WorldCom to develop and deliver uniform services to companies with geographically dispersed offices. Because of its reach, this product is global in scale compared to the regional offerings of many of WorldCom''s largest competitors," Kagan said.
TMC(TM)''s Internet Telephony Magazine is solely dedicated to coverage of next-generation, IP-based telecommunications and provides readers with information necessary to learn about and purchase the equipment, software, and services they need to take advantage of Internet telephony.
The editors reviewed more than 150 applications before selecting this year''s winners, which demonstrate the vision, leadership, and attention to detail, that are the hallmarks of its Product of the Year award. WorldCom will appear in the January 2003 issue of Internet Telephony magazine as one of the 2002 market leaders for IP Telephony services.
This most recent award joins other top honors that WorldCom garnered in 2002. These include:
Product of the Year Award for IP VPN Dedicated Services Customer Directed -- Network Magazine Excellence in Workflow, Call Center Product Services -- WfMC, Giga Information Group, WARIA Outstanding Service Award, WorldCom Satellite Control Center -- Federal Aviation Administration Best Applications Service Provider -- America''s Network Best Remote Access Provider -- America''s Network Best ATM Provider -- America''s Network Best Private Line Provider, Up to 1.5 Mb -- America''s Network Channel Champion Award -- Computer Reseller News
For more information about The WorldCom Connection, go to www.worldcom.com/us/products/connection/.
About WorldCom, Inc.
WorldCom, Inc. (WCOEQ, MCWEQ) is a pre-eminent global communications provider for the digital generation, operating in more than 65 countries. With one of the most expansive, wholly-owned IP networks in the world, WorldCom provides innovative data and Internet services for businesses to communicate in today''s market. In April 2002, WorldCom launched The Neighborhood built by MCI -- the industry''s first truly any-distance, all-inclusive local and long-distance offering to consumers. For more information, go to www.worldcom.com/.
About INTERNET TELPHONY magazine
The convergence of voice, video, fax, and data has revolutionized the world of telecommunications. Internet telephony has been proven to drastically reduce long-distance costs and continues to provide unprecedented opportunities for service providers, resellers, developers, and end users alike. Internet Telephony(R) is the only magazine that focuses on providing the information that will help you take advantage of this exciting technology. Launched as a quarterly publication in January 1998, Internet Telephony(R) magazine has been published monthly since October 1998. Internet Telephony(R) provides readers with the best information necessary to learn about and purchase the equipment, software, and services they need to take advantage of Internet telephony.
WorldCom, Inc.
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