SINGAPORE, Jan. 30 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pacific Internet Limited (Nasdaq: PCNTF), Asia Pacific's largest telco-independent Internet Communications Service Provider by geographic reach, today announced its entry into the voice carrier market with the launch of PacNet Vocal, a new IP telephony solution targeted at Asia Pacific's growing SMBs. PacNet Vocal is a quality-assured, enterprise-grade IP-based telephone service that offers a suite of value-added services tailored for a broad range of business customers. The regional roll-out commenced with a launch today in India, with launches also scheduled for Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines in the coming weeks.
Mr. Phey Teck-Moh, President and CEO of Pacific Internet Limited, said, "PacNet is focused on delivering real value and we are pleased that PacNet Vocal will improve communications for our customers. In the 2006 PacNet IP Index, a study commissioned by Pacific Internet to track Internet communication trends in Asia-Pacific's SMBs, customers told us that services that enabled them to extend their operations through IP technologies were very important to them. With PacNet's ability to deliver voice services across multiple geographies and our Vocal World Number service, smaller businesses no longer require expensive infrastructure to make the transition to IP worthwhile."
PacNet Vocal is a critical element of Pacific Internet's strategy to be the leading provider of converged Internet communication services to Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) throughout Asia Pacific, adding voice capabilities to its range of connectivity, mobility and security solutions already in the market. The new solution allows companies to deploy reliable voice services in a cost-effective and rapidly scalable manner, which help address some of the challenges that SMBs face.
Mr Phey added, "IP telephony is a compelling proposition for any business, but implementation has been limited due to factors including cost and size. PacNet Vocal balances these factors with real value through services that will be rolled out through our regional footprint over the next few weeks. When complete, Pacific Internet will have a highly competitive IP voice network spanning Asia Pacific, bringing new levels of functionality and reliability to SMBs."
Going beyond basic VoIP, PacNet Vocal offers voice services with a difference, including:
Direct Dialing Inwards (DDI) -- DDI allows businesses to maintain fewer lines than extensions. Using IP telephony networks, unique telephone numbers can be assigned for each extension as required, without having to subscribe to a dedicated line for each. In this way, DDI helps to reduce cost overheads as businesses scale upwards.
Vocal World Number and International Call Forwarding -- PacNet Vocal is the only IP Telephony solution in the region that allows businesses to purchase and maintain virtual telephone numbers from over 400 different destination cities through Vocal World Number. Calls made to these virtual numbers are forwarded over the IP network to a designated Session-Initiated Protocol (SIP) number, incurring only local call charges. Businesses can now maintain a presence in many countries without expensive physical infrastructure costs.
Free International Calls -- International calls made within the Vocal SIP Network (on-net calls) incur no International Direct Dialing (IDD) or local call charges. As the only truly multi-national provider in Asia Pacific, Pacific Internet's network delivers the greatest savings for business and residential customers in the region.
"PacNet Vocal comes with a wide range of value-added services as standard, including a number of firsts, based on our extensive analysis of how small and medium businesses today operate, and what they need to remain efficient and competitive. Pacific Internet is certainly the first regional provider to bring such a broad, business-grade service package to the market, "said Mr Phey.
The PacNet IP Index revealed that 30 per cent of medium and large businesses in Singapore were poised to adopt IP telephony in the next two years. In Australia, 19 per cent of SMBs were already using IP telephony in 2006. Usage in Hong Kong was 18 per cent overall, but higher -- at 25 per cent -- among Hong Kong companies with overseas offices. IP telephony spending in 2006 is estimated at US$3.6b globally, up 35 per cent from the previous year. In Asia-Pacific, excluding Japan, spending was up 67 per cent to hit US$600m. The uptrend is likely to continue through to 2008.
Mr Phey said, "We are all very excited about Vocal, as it marks a milestone in our business strategy -- a serious and competitive drive towards being the region's premier converged Internet communications partner. We are committed to continue the transformation of Pacific Internet into an IP-based communications and solutions provider."
About PacNet Vocal
PacNet Vocal is the latest addition to Pacific Internet's range of next-generation IP communication products and services. PacNet Vocal comprises a range of IP telephony solutions, designed to provide both business and residential users with quality Voice services that is cost-efficient, easy-to-use and highly mobile.
Pacific Internet Limited
Pacific Internet Limited or PacNet (Nasdaq: PCNTF) is the largest telco-independent Internet Communications Service Provider by geographic reach in the Asia Pacific region. The Company has direct presence in Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Australia, India, Thailand and Malaysia. PacNet delivers a comprehensive suite of data, voice and video services to both corporate business and consumer customers. For more information, visit http://www.pacnet.com .
Cautionary Statement
Statements made in this press release with respect to Pacific Internet's current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements about the future performance of Pacific Internet. Forward-looking statements include but are not limited to those using words such as "seek", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "project", "plan", "strategy", "forecast" and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "will, "would", "should", "could", "may" and "might". These statements reflect management's current expectations, beliefs, hopes, intentions or strategies regarding the future and assumptions in light of currently available information. They are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to (i) changes in the economic, regulatory and political environments in the countries where Pacific Internet operates; (ii) changes and developments in technology and the Internet marketplace; (iii) Pacific Internet's continued ability to develop and win acceptance of its products and services, which are offered in highly competitive markets; (iv) the success of its joint ventures and alliances; (v) exchange rates, particularly between the Singapore dollar and the U.S. dollar and other currencies in which Pacific Internet makes significant sales or in which its assets and liabilities are denominated; and (vi) the outcome of contingencies. In light of the many risks and uncertainties surrounding the Internet marketplace, the actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Pacific Internet assumes no obligation to update any such statements.
Media Contacts
Bernard Ho
Senior Corporate Communications Manager
Pacific Internet Limited
DID: +65-6771-0433
Mobile: +65-9782-3393
Email: bernard.ho@pacific.net.sg
Mark Chen
Associate
EastWest Public Relations
DID: +65-6429-0309
Mobile: +65-9636-8749
Email: mark@eastwestpr.com
