SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 8x8, Inc.
(Nasdaq:EGHT) Chairman & CEO Bryan R. Martin issued a statement today
underscoring recommendations for broadband deployment and adoption in
California put forth in a report issued this morning by Governor
Schwarzenegger's California Broadband Task Force.
The report, titled "The State of Connectivity: Building Innovation
Through Broadband," represents the culmination of more than a year of work
by the Task Force, including maps of current broadband availability and
speed, recommendations to achieve universal access and increased use, and a
timeframe in which to meet these critical goals. Mr. Martin was appointed
to the Task Force by Governor Schwarzenegger in November 2006 and also
served as Chairman of the Task Force's Emerging Technologies and New
Applications Working Group.
"The benefits awaiting Californians when complete statewide deployment
of broadband is achieved should not be underestimated," said Mr. Martin.
"Broadband access affects everything from economic and community
development to education, health care and public safety to adoption of
emerging technologies such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). The
increased application of broadband in these areas will have a positive
impact on the lives of every California resident."
The Task Force report found that nearly 2,000 communities throughout
the state are still unable to access high-speed internet and only half of
Californians have access to broadband at speeds greater than 10 Mbps. In
addition, even though availability rates are at 96 percent, just over half
of California households use broadband.
In order to bring the tremendous advantage of high speed internet to
even more Californians, the Task Force has proposed seven recommendations,
each containing action items to be led by both the public and private
sector:
-- Build out high-speed broadband infrastructure to all Californians
-- Develop model permitting standards and encourage collaboration among
providers
-- Increase the use and adoption of broadband and computer technology
-- Engage and reward broadband innovation and research
-- Create a statewide e-health network
-- Leverage educational opportunities to increase broadband use
-- Continue state-level and statewide leadership
The California Broadband Task Force was created by Governor
Schwarzenegger in November 2006 as part of Executive Order S-23-06. The
Task Force is co-chaired by Business, Transportation and Housing Secretary
Dale E. Bonner and former Cisco Chief Development Officer, Charles
Giancarlo. The Governor appointed 19 other task force members, representing
a wide array of the public and private sectors.
The full report can be viewed at
http://www.calink.ca.gov/taskforcereport.
About 8x8, Inc.
8x8, Inc., the second largest standalone VoIP service provider in the
U.S, offers internet-based telephony solutions (http://www.packet8.net) for
individual residential and business users as well as small to medium sized
business organizations. In addition to regular Packet8 VoIP service plans
priced as low as $24.99 per month for unlimited anytime calling to the
U.S., Canada and eight additional countries, 8x8 offers the Packet8 Tango
Video Terminal Adapter along with accompanying monthly service plans also
priced at $24.99 per month. Packet8 Virtual Office, 8x8's VoIP phone system
for small to medium sized businesses, is a hosted PBX solution comprised of
powerful business class features. Companies subscribing to Virtual Office
pay just $49.99 per month per extension for enterprise class PBX
functionality along with unlimited local and long distance calling in the
U.S. and Canada. The Packet8 Complete Contact Center™ is a hosted
multimedia call center distribution and management platform that works with
any broadband Internet service and provides enterprise class contact center
functionality combined with Virtual Office hosted iPBX calling features and
business calling plans. Packet8 Softalk Office™, 8x8's PC-based soft
phone client, offers high quality voice and video in-network calling as
well as outbound calling to the PSTN. Packet8 MobileTalk™ is a
breakthrough mobile service that dramatically improves the overall mobile
international calling experience by routing overseas mobile phone calls
over the award-winning, patent-protected Packet8 digital VoIP network. For
additional company information, visit 8x8's web site at http://www.8x8.com.
NOTE: 8x8, the 8x8 logo, Packet8, the Packet8 logo, Packet8 Virtual
Office, Packet8 Softalk, Packet8 Tango and Packet8 MobileTalk are
trademarks of 8x8, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.