Exhibit 99.1
I. NEWS RELEASE
ePHONE Telecom, Comdial & Array Telecom finalize agreement set to create a
global IP network.
Herndon, VA - April 5, 2000 - ePHONE Telecom, Inc. (OTC:EPHO) announced today
that the strategic alliance with Comdial Corporation (Nasdaq:CMDL) to create a
worldwide network for Voice over the Internet has been finalized.
As a result of the agreement, ePHONE has made an initial payment to Comdial of
$3 million for the fixed assets of Array Telecom and the transfer of Array's
Herndon, Virginia facilities. The agreement creates an exclusive licensing
agreement for all Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology developed by
Array Telecom for a period of five years. During that period, ePHONE will make
royalty payments to Comdial with an option to acquire the technology at the end
of the period. Array Telecom, a wholly owned subsidiary of Comdial Corporation,
is a developer of world class, award-winning IP telephony software and provides
a full line of carrier class VoIP gateways.
ePHONE and Comdial entered into this renewable five-year strategic alliance for
the purpose of building a global IP network and providing a full complement of
telecommunications services, including phone-to-phone one-step dialing utilizing
Array's patented "VoIP" technology. Under the terms of this strategic alliance,
ePHONE will have full access to Comdial's distribution channel, which includes
over 2,000 dealers worldwide to complement ePHONE's own distribution channel.
ePHONE has an aggressive plan to establish itself as the premier provider of
advanced telecommunications services and is planning to begin deployment of over
300 points of presence (POP's) immediately.
About ePHONE
ePHONE is a "next generation" global telecommunications carrier, poised to
exploit the rapid advancement of Internet Telephony technology. ePHONE is
building a worldwide Internet Protocol (IP) network, to deliver a wide range of
telecommunications services. For additional information about ePHONE and its
products, log on to http://www.ephonetel.com
About Comdial
Comdial Corporation is a provider of integrated communications solutions. The
company designs, manufactures and markets digital switching systems and advanced
software solutions for small and mid-sized organizations. Comdial also provides
specialized communications solutions for computer telephony integration (CTI),
hospitality, senior housing and real estate businesses. Comdial trades on the
Nasdaq under the symbol "CMDL". For more information about Comdial and its
products log on to http://www.comdial.com
About Array Telecom Corp.
Array Telecom Corp, a Comdial subsidiary, is a provider of carrier-class and
enterprise IP telephony gateway products. For more information about Array
Telecom, visit http://www.arraytel.com.
II. FORWARD-LOOKING-STATEMENT
Statements in this news release looking forward in time involve risks and
uncertainties, including the risks associated with the effect of changing
economic conditions, trends in the development of the Internet as a commercial
medium and carrier of telephony traffic, market acceptance risks, technological
development risks, seasonality and other risk factors.
ePHONE Telecom, Inc.
Ben Langlais
Director, Investor Relations
888-799-3265
blanglais@ephonetel.com
Comdial Corporation
Cass English
Director, Investor Relations
804-978-2571
cenglish@comdial.com
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