UniversalCom Selects Siemens for Switching
Solutions
Monday August 23, 10:18 am Eastern Time
Facilities-Based ICP Targets Commercial Customers Across Gulf States
BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 23, 1999--UniversalCom Inc., an
integrated communications provider headquartered in Destin, Fla., has selected Siemens
Information and Communication Networks Inc. for equipment to deliver local, long distance,
high-speed Internet access and other communications services to businesses in the Gulf
states.
The initial phase of the agreement is valued at approximately $3 million.
UniversalCom has completed installation and cutover of the first Siemens EWSD(r)
Digital Central Office Switch in its Destin headquarters. Installation is almost complete
on a second EWSD switch in New Orleans, La., and a third switch is planned for Mobile,
Ala.
``The installation of Siemens EWSD switches is an important step in our
evolution to providing total telecommunications solutions to our business customers,''
said Peter Bower, president of UniversalCom.
A dependable, feature-rich system, designed with the flexibility and scalability
necessary to grow with end-user demand, the EWSD switch offers a single platform for local
and long distance service, as well as voice and data network communications. Recently
named the most reliable switching system available today in an independent study, the EWSD
system has more than 180 million ports installed in over 100 countries, making it the
world's most widely deployed switching system. To expand its network, UniversalCom plans
to use Siemens' SmartRemote(tm) distributed network solution. The SmartRemote is a
next-generation remote unit that acts as a client for the EWSD switch and can serve up to
50,000 subscribers. Up to seven SmartRemote units are slated be installed in various Gulf
state locations over the next year.
``Complementary communication services and effective customer support from
vendors are critical to the success of all carriers, especially for new service providers
such as UniversalCom that are leading the way in this competitive market,'' said Eve
Aretakis, president of the Carrier Networks Division for Siemens Information and
Communication Networks.
Headquartered in Destin, Fla., UniversalCom is a privately held integrated
communications provider that serves commercial customers across the entire Gulf South
region with offices from Lafayette, La., to Panama City, Fla. The company's product range
includes local dial tone services, long distance, Internet access, telecommunications
equipment and data networking services. The company is controlled by New Orleans-based
Stewart Capital LLC, one of the Gulf South's largest privately held investment companies
with assets exceeding $300 million.
Based in Boca Raton, Fla., Siemens Information and Communication Networks Inc.
provides integrated voice, data and video communications networks to carrier and
enterprise customers. Last year the company's 7,000 U.S. employees generated sales of
nearly $2 billion. Its parent firm is Siemens, the pioneering electronics giant with more
than 400,000 employees worldwide and global sales of over $66 billion. For more
information, visit the company's web site at http://www.icn.siemens.com/.
Siemens is a registered trademark of Siemens AG. EWSD is a registered trademark
of Siemens AG. SmartRemote is a trademark of Siemens Information and Communication
Networks.
Contact:
Siemens Information and Communication Networks
Inc.
Tom Phillips,
202/434-4820
thomas.phillips@sc.siemens.com
or
UniversalCom, Destin,
Fla.
Peter Bower,
850/337-0077
pbower@universalcom.net
or
For Siemens product
information: 800/814-1680
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