Level 3 Partners with OnInstant for Voice-over-IP

September 30, 2004 - (HostReview.com) - Level 3 Communications, Inc. (www.Level3.com) announced yesterday that it has signed a network agreement with OnInstant, a leading, UK-based provider of Voice-over-IP and business communications tools.

OnInstant will rely on Level 3's (3)Voice® Termination service to support the latest version of its peer-to-peer business voice offering. OnInstant now allows business subscribers to make VoIP calls from their computer work stations to any phone anywhere in the world.

The service, which is targeted at small and medium-sized businesses, provides seamless interconnection to the public switched telephone network at a rate of 2 pence or less per minute to 30 countries. In addition, the service features a new capability called "FollowMe!," through which calls can be re-routed to any voice-enabled device. Other features include conference-call capability, text messaging, and directory assistance.

"With PSTN connectivity, OnInstant now offers a complete voice solution to its rapidly growing base of existing and prospective customers," said Brady Rafuse, president of Level 3's European operations. "We're very pleased to be supporting OnInstant and this compelling business offering, and we look forward to helping the company deliver the enormous benefits of VoIP technology to the market."

OnInstant launched its initial peer-to-peer VoIP and business communications service in May 2004. The company offers new customers a one-month free trial, after which they pay a nominal subscription fee and £4 per month for each user. The only infrastructure required is a broadband Internet connection, and users make calls using standard PCs equipped with headsets.

"OnInstant now provides a complete platform for the communication, collaboration and customer-management needs of any business," said Nick Ogden, OnInstant's chairman and chief executive.

"We're very pleased to be partnering with Level 3, and believe our customers will benefit enormously from the quality and reliability of  Level 3's network infrastructure, their industry-leading experience as a Voice over IP wholesaler, and their ability to deliver a seamless connection between OnInstant's IP-based calling environment and the PSTN."

Level 3's (3)Voice Termination service enables traditional and emerging carriers, enhanced service providers, ISPs, cable operators and other companies to terminate calls globally. (3)Voice Termination was the world's first long-distance voice service to offer customers voice quality indistinguishable from traditional telephone networks, but with the efficiencies of IP.

Level 3 sells voice termination, toll free and local inbound VoIP services directly to its wholesale customers. The company also offers a complete suite of business and residential VoIP services, which are sold through channel partners and value-added resellers. Level 3 delivers its voice services over the world's largest softswitch platform, terminating more than 30 billion minutes of voice and dial access every month. For further information about Level 3's voice services, go to www.Level3.com.

About OnInstant
OnInstant is a global business-to-business communications network. It delivers a range of collaborative services; business networking opportunities; automated CRM systems and news sources - all linked to its Internet-based phone network which delivers voice services to the desk- or laptop and out to the PSTN.

OnInstant can be accessed at any time from wherever an Internet connection exists: the office; home; hotel room; Wi-Fi hotspot or using a GPRS or 3G mobile network. For further information, visit www.on-instant.com.

About Level 3 Communications
Level 3 (Nasdaq:LVLT) is an international communications and information services company. The company operates one of the largest Internet backbones in the world, is one of the largest providers of wholesale dial-up service to ISPs in North America and is the primary provider of Internet connectivity for millions of broadband subscribers, through its cable and DSL partners.

The company offers information services through its subsidiaries, Software Spectrum and (i)Structure. For additional information, visit their respective Web sites at www.softwarespectrum.com and www.i-structure.com.