New Service Enables Internet Users to ‘See Who's Calling" and Answer the Call Without Losing Their Internet Connection

SAN DIEGO -- May 4, 2000
Web consumers throughout the continental US can now "see who's calling" when they are on-line and answer calls without losing their Internet connection, thanks to the introduction of Nortel Networks'* [NYSE/TSE: NT] Internet Call Waiting (ICW) by San Diego-based service provider Aplus.Net Internet.

Internet Call Waiting is the next hot Internet Telephony service for consumers, according to Yankee Group, which predicts subscribers will reach 10 million by 2001 and grow to 26 million by 2003. Internet Call Waiting also will generate more than US$400 million a year in new revenues for service providers by 2003, according to International Data Corporation.

"When we ask people what they want, many tell us that they want to be able to receive phone calls while they are connected. Today we are answering their call," said Arthur Ekroos, Vice President, Business Development, Sales and Marketing at Aplus.Net Internet. "We investigated ICW early on and liked Nortel Networks offering because it had the most complete set of options, and put the customer in control."

Nortel Networks' Internet Call Waiting combines the benefits of traditional answering machines, Call Waiting and Caller ID services with the Internet. From the call notification "pop up" on their computer screen, Aplus.Net Internet subscribers can manage incoming calls in different ways. A new "voice notes" feature functions as a virtual Web-based answering machine – permitting subscribers to screen messages left by callers. Through voice notes, subscribers can also intercept these incoming messages and talk to the caller immediately or they can listen to the message later. Alternatively, when answering an incoming call, subscribers can choose from different call technology options including: answering the call on their primary telephone line; through their computer using voice over Internet protocol (IP) technology, or on a second line (such as a cellular phone). Subscribers can also play one of two system-recorded greetings for the caller.

Until June 30th, consumers who subscribe to Aplus.Net Internet Call Waiting, by visiting www.aplusnet.extremevoice.com can use the service for free. In addition, they can make free long distance phone calls in the continental U.S. from the web, another service enabled through Nortel Networks' Internet Voice Button technology.

"The high penetration rate of traditional Call Waiting and Caller ID, coupled with skyrocketing Internet use, makes Internet Call Waiting a perfect fit for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) serving large, metropolitan markets. Nortel Networks is building a new, high-performance Internet, enabling our ISP and carrier customers to offer new Internet Telephony services quickly and easily," said Chris Fedorko, director, eXtremeVoice business development, Nortel Networks .

Aplus.Net Internet is a nationwide ISP with over 4,000 points of presence. Aplus.Net provides dial-up, dual modem, a variety of dedicated services including DSL and T1s, web hosting, server hosting and ecommerce solutions. In addition, the company is an ICANN accredited domain name registrar and as such provides domain name registration services to end users as well as other service providers. Visit Aplus.Net Internet at www.aplus.net

* Nortel Networks is a trademark of Nortel Networks.