Optus announced today that its new Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) product for the Small and Medium Business market was available to Optus Business DSL customers. Optus offers two VoIP services - Optus ipPhone Premier and Optus ipPhone Express.

Paul Kitchin, Managing Director, Optus SMB, said Optus ipPhone Premier was specifically designed for the Small and Medium Business (SMB) sector, offering customers the chance to experience everything that VoIP technology had to offer without compromising on voice quality.

"Until now SMB customers have had to accept a consumer style voice product when implementing VoIP in their business. Optus can now offer a fully functioning VoIP solution that doesn't compromise the call quality SMB customers get with their traditional fixed service," Mr Kitchin said.

Optus ipPhone Premier offers excellent quality of service and 12 cent flat local and national calls for just $19.95 per month per service (minimum of two services). Optus ipPhone Express is a solution for customers who simply require a low cost, additional phone line with 12 cent flat national calls for just $12 per month per service with easy plug and play installation.

The Optus ipPhone Premier and Express offers a variety of features including call routing, call transfer, calling logs, line hunt, Find Me and Follow Me service, call hold, call wait, Calling Line Identification (CLI) and Voicemail.

Mr Kitchin said the Optus VoIP products were in line with the emerging SMB internet technology trends.

"Broadband penetration has really accelerated in the SMB market over recent years and as a result customers are now looking at how they can better utilise their communications infrastructure.

"Optus recognises that SMB's want and need more than the traditional core telecommunication products of fixed, mobile and internet to complete daily business operations," Mr Kitchin said.

Optus SMB is a total solutions provider offering value and variety with tailored products built specifically for SMB's including mobile caps, fleet offers, BlackBerry, internet, broadband, fixed, wireless solutions and now VoIP to ensure it delivers on its promise of making it simple for small business.

Media contact:
Siobhan Quinn
Optus Corporate Affairs
Tel: (02) 9342 8432

Note to Editor:

• For further information and a full list of terms and conditions on the Optus ipPhone please review the Optus brochure (Optus ipPhone Premier (pdf 298kb), Optus ipPhone Express (pdf 173kb) or visit www.optus.com.au/ipphone
• Optus ipPhone Premier is designed for customers who want to cut fixed line costs with VoIP without compromising on voice quality.
  
  - designed for customers with two to six lines
  - available in the Optus ULL (Unbundled Local Loop) footprint
  - offers excellent voice quality
  - $19.95 per service (minimum of two services)
  - 12 cent flat local and national calls
  - professional installation
  - some upfront set up costs apply
  - to be eligible to acquire an ipPhone Premier service customers must be and remain connected to a Business DSL Direct service from Optus and purchase the required equipment from Optus.
• Optus ipPhone Express is designed for customers who want a simple, low cost solution and who require additional phone lines.
  
  - designed for customers who need additional lines
  - available throughout the Optus ULL and Resale footprint
  - $12 per service
  - 12 cent flat national calls
  - plug and play installation
  - to be eligible to acquire an ipPhone Express service customers must be and remain connected to a Business DSL Direct or Business DSL service from Optus and Optus Local Direct or Local Access Resale service.
• To be classified as a small and medium business customer, customers must supply Optus with a valid and current ABN for their business.