LOS ANGELES, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- INTERNET TELEPHONY
CONFERENCE & EXPO WEST 2008 -- 8x8, Inc. (Nasdaq: EGHT), provider of Packet8
(http://www.packet8.net) business, mobile and residential communication
services, today announced it has executed a technology partnership and
marketing agreement with Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT) to offer Packet8
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone service for Microsoft's Response
Point small business phone system.
Bryan Martin, 8x8 Chairman & CEO, and Xuedong Huang, General Manager for
Response Point at Microsoft told members of the press at the Internet
Telephony Conference & Expo West 2008 in Los Angeles that too many small
businesses are frustrated with their existing phone systems and that solutions
like the Packet8/Response Point offering enable companies to quickly and
inexpensively deploy a complete, full featured IP telephony system within
their existing network infrastructure.
"We are very pleased to provision Packet8's broadband agnostic VoIP phone
service for Microsoft's innovative Response Point platform," said Mr. Martin.
"Our combined solution will allow small businesses, regardless of location or
network configuration, to experience the benefits of advanced IP telephony
technology while dramatically reducing recurring monthly phone charges. With
accessible and compelling telecommunications alternatives like this, no
company should feel forced to settle for inadequate, high priced or overly
complex telephony systems from legacy telecom providers."
"As a leader in VOIP telephony, 8x8 has been providing small businesses
with affordable, easy-to-use voice services that match the needs of Microsoft
Response Point customers," said Xuedong Huang, general manager for Microsoft
Response Point. "Businesses choosing the Microsoft Response Point phone
system with Packet8 service are assured reliable, high quality, fully
compliant phone service provisioned by one of the industry's most respected
VoIP providers."
Under terms of the agreement, Packet8 and Microsoft Response Point will
jointly market the combined solution through their respective VAR channels and
will also investigate potential collaboration in selling the combined offering
through business retail partners. In addition, both companies will promote the
offering on their websites and in select advertising channels. The Packet8
service has been tested and certified through the Microsoft Response Point
Certification Program.
Packet8 VoIP phone service is fully E-911, CALEA (Communications
Assistance for Law Enforcement Act), USF (Universal Service Fund), TRS
(Telecommunications Relay Services) and CPNI (Customer Proprietary Network
Information) compliant. Response Point customers using Packet8 as their
service provider automatically enjoy free calls to and from any other Packet8
subscriber worldwide. Response Point with Packet8 is available immediately
through select Microsoft agents and resellers nationwide.
Additional information about the Response Point/Packet8 solution can be
found at: http://business.packet8.net/virtual_trunking.
Additional information about Microsoft Response Point can be found at:
http://www.microsoft.com/responsepoint.
About 8x8, Inc.
8x8, Inc. (Nasdaq: EGHT) offers voice, video and mobile communications
solutions for business and residential customers. Marketed under the Packet8
brand name, these solutions leverage existing broadband Internet connections
and cellular networks to deliver advanced features and digital quality phone
service at a fraction of the cost of legacy, copper wire alternatives.
Businesses of any size, configuration or geographic location can benefit from
the cost, performance and operational advantages of VoIP technology by
selecting the Packet8 solution that best fits their needs, whether it's the
Virtual Office Hosted iPBX phone system, Packet8 Complete Contact Center,
Virtual Trunking IP dial tone solution or Packet8 Hosted Key System service.
All Packet8 communications solutions carry little or no upfront investment, no
maintenance or upgrade fees and no change in user behavior. For additional
company information, visit 8x8's web site at http://www.8x8.com. For
information about Packet8 products and services, visit http://www.packet8.net.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services
and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
SOURCE 8x8, Inc.
-0- 09/17/2008
/CONTACT: Joan Citelli of 8x8, Inc., +1-408-687-4320, jcitelli@8x8.com/
/Web site: http://www.8x8.com
http://www.packet8.net
http://www.microsoft.com/responsepoint /
(EGHT MSFT)