NEC Unified Solutions Strikes Agreement With Level 3 To Become A Preferred Provider Of CPE Fulfillment Services For Level(3)Enabled(SM) Partners

NEC Unified Solutions Strikes Agreement With Level 3 To Become A Preferred Provider Of CPE Fulfillment Services For Level(3)Enabled(SM) Partners

IRVING, Texas, Dec. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NEC Unified Solutions, Inc. (NEC), a leader in integrated communications solutions for the enterprise, today announced that it has signed an agreement with Level 3 Communications, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:LVLT). Under this agreement, NEC will become a preferred provider of CPE (customer premise equipment) fulfillment services to Level(3)Enabled Partners in North America who are reselling the company's (3)Tone(SM) Business VoIP service.

This agreement enables (3)Tone(SM) Business resellers who require CPE and CPE fulfillment services to access NEC's portfolio of award-winning enterprise IP communications products and professional services -- such as site surveys, IP assessments, implementation and installation, and monitoring and management -- at very competitive prices. In turn, end-users will benefit from immediate communications cost savings, access to enhanced VoIP features, and customized service and support.

The agreement effectively combines the complementary expertise of two market leaders committed to delivering unparalleled, cost-effective VoIP services. With years of proven experience in VoIP, Level 3 operates a world- class IP network that is among the world's largest MPLS backbones for voice and data. NEC is an experienced provider of traditional converged and pure-IP enterprise communications platforms, professional and managed services, and its market position in IP telephony solutions and services continues to grow.

In June, Eastern Management Group's Monitor report showed VoIP lines shipped by NEC increased 83 percent over the prior period. Organizations from healthcare to higher education, as well as other vertical markets, continue to achieve significant benefits through the implementation of NEC's IP solutions.

"NEC Unified Solutions has a distinguished history of providing innovative communications solutions to businesses," said Andrew Crouch, senior vice president of Channel-Ready Services for Level 3. "Level 3 and NEC will collaborate closely to provide enterprise customers and Level 3 resellers with unmatched VoIP solutions, provisioning and support."

"Level 3 and NEC joined forces to provide an alternative to end-user customers looking for a less complex and more cost-effective choice in hosted IP solutions," said Charlie Langdon, senior vice president of sales for NEC Unified Solutions. "The VoIP services business is a multi-billion dollar market; Level 3 and NEC are poised to lead the industry with this revolutionary distribution model, which enables resellers to strengthen their position in the IP market and differentiate themselves from their competition."

Level(3)Enabled Partner Program

Level 3 enables partners to provide today's most advanced, cost-effective communications solutions to their customers. The goal of the Level(3)Enabled Partner Program is to ensure that channel partners gain expertise and have access to the right tools for evaluating the best solutions for their clients' voice, Internet and data needs. The program includes extensive training on

Level 3 services, as well as financial programs, plus a partner portal to facilitate every aspect of the partner relationship.

(3)Tone Business Service

(3)Tone Business service is sold to businesses through local telephone companies, system integrators, CLECs, and value-added resellers, and can deliver combined capital and operating savings of as much as 40 percent. The service allows enterprises to deploy an array of enhanced voice services, including Class 5 features, universally and seamlessly, throughout a single-or multi-site corporate environment.

Level 3's (3)Tone Business service comprises a suite of enhanced voice and data services hosted on the Level 3 nationwide platform. (3)Tone Business service easily connects all company locations and remote employees with the same dialing plan, creating a virtual campus environment, allowing intra- company 4- or 5-digit dialing and forwarding of calls and voicemail messages between locations. With (3)Tone Business, users can manage all of their office communications needs through any Internet access, browser, or wireless device. With (3)Tone Business service, companies can enjoy significant capital and operating cost savings with an advanced communications system that allows users to manage their own communications needs in real-time.

About NEC Unified Solutions, Inc.

NEC Unified Solutions Inc., a leader in integrated communications solutions for the enterprise, delivers the industry's most innovative suite of products, applications and services that help customers achieve their business goals. With more than a century of communications and networking expertise, NEC Unified Solutions, Inc., a subsidiary of NEC America and affiliate of NEC Corporation (NASDAQ:NIPNY), offers the broadest range of communications services and solution choices, flexible product platforms and applications, and an open migration path to protect investments. NEC Unified Solutions, Inc. serves the Fortune 1000 and customers across the globe in vertical markets such as hospitality, education, government and healthcare. For more information, visit http://www.necunified.com/, or call (877) 463-2267.

NEAX and UNIVERGE are trademarks or registered trademarks of NEC Corporation.

Level(3)Enabled is a service mark of Level 3 Communications, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. (3)Tone is a service mark of Level 3 Enhanced Services, LLC in the United States and/or other countries. The Level(3)Enabled partner program and (3)Tone Business services are offered by Level 3 Communications, LLC and Level 3 Enhanced Services, LLC, respectively, both wholly-owned subsidiaries of Level 3 Communications, Inc.

Contacts: Dana Burger Alicia Dollard
NEC Unified Solutions, Inc. Ruder Finn
(214) 262-6059 (212) 593-6343
dburger@necunified.comdollarda@ruderfinn.com


Source: NEC Unified Solutions, Inc.

CONTACT: Dana Burger of NEC Unified Solutions, Inc., +1-214-262-6059,
dburger@necunified.com; or Alicia Dollard of Ruder Finn, +1-212-593-6343,
dollarda@ruderfinn.com


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