Linksys And MCI Team for Hosted Communication Solution

Linksys (www.mci.com), a Division of Cisco Systems, Inc., and MCI, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCIP) today announced they are joining forces to offer Linksys One, an easy, affordable and complete hosted communications solution specifically designed for small businesses.

By combining the power of industry-leading, communication products from Linksys with MCI's global Internet Protocol (IP) network and services, the two companies together are providing small businesses with the features and services to operate with the sophistication and efficiencies of their larger business counterparts.

"Linksys One goes far beyond the convergence of voice and data technology by delivering a simple, cost effective IP platform that small businesses can rely on for their voice, video and data requirements," said Marthin De Beer, vice president and general manager of the Linksys Small Business Systems Business Unit.

The Linksys One/MCI solution will offer small businesses an extensible services platform that can provide all communications hardware and services, including business-class telephones, Internet broadband access, and data networking services, hosted business applications and local/long distance Voice over IP services on a single connection.

"MCI and Linksys are working together to create innovative IP solutions that specifically address the evolving demands of small businesses," said Phil Meeks, senior vice president of MCI Strategic Ventures and Alliances.
While many "solutions" claim to bundle services and simplify the communications requirements of small businesses, most of today's offerings require them to pick and choose from a menu of complex options that require varying levels of technical knowledge.
As a network-based solution, the Linksys One and MCI offering also helps small businesses strengthen their business continuity and disaster recovery protection.

According to Infonetics Research, an international market research and consulting firm, a small business is defined as having fewer than 100 employees.

The Linksys One solution will combine the intelligence and interoperability of MCI's IP infrastructure via the carrier-class Cisco Service Node with all-new Linksys One premises equipment (services router, voice gateway, SIP-based IP phones, etc). MCI will manage and maintain the Cisco Service Node, which acts as an aggregation point for Linksys One solution customers, within its global IP network.

By tapping into Cisco's extensive knowledge in Internet networking, Linksys is enabling the new customer premises equipment (CPE) to automatically determine the optimal configuration and be ready to provide service as soon as it's plugged in.

The Linksys One platform coupled with MCI's Internet and voice services enables new, collaborative routes to market for Linksys, MCI and their value-added resellers (VARs).

Linksys is scheduled to begin rolling out its line of Linksys One CPE in December 2005. MCI plans to start trials in early 2006 and launch its Internet and voice services with the Linksys One system in mid-2006. In the interim, Linksys and MCI are recruiting and training agents and VARs on the Linksys One solution.