OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- Sprint (NYSE: S) today launched a new Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) solution for enterprises that addresses the reality of modern business: dispersed workforces, multiple forms of access, the need to simplify administration and business continuity concerns. Sprint IP Voice Connect enhances user connectivity and simplifies network complexity by combining voice and data communications on a single IP network while securely supporting integrated and next generation applications.

Sprint IP Voice Connect is a network-based hosted telephony product offering local and long distance services as well as PBX and traditional Centrex features over Sprint's Dedicated IP or Global MPLS network. Sprint's secure carrier-grade service is enabled by Lucent Technologies' Hosted VoIP Solution for Enterprises through its Global Network Operations Centers. It can replace or integrate with customer premises-based telephony systems. Sprint IP Voice Connect service can:

Sprint IP Voice Connect allows enterprises to take advantage of advanced standards-based session initialization protocol (SIP)-based VoIP capabilities while still leveraging current investments in legacy voice systems. Existing dialing plans and telephone numbers are used, making implementation easy for both network administrators and end-users. Sites or individual users can be migrated one at a time, allowing a scaled implementation at any pace. Customers stay productive in or out of the office with advanced features made available from a variety of devices. These features include: simultaneous ringing to multiple phones, unified messaging and abbreviated dialing. Company administrators can easily manage and configure new and existing accounts and manage virtual dial plans on demand with a full-featured web-based administrator portal.

"Sprint is a leading provider of integrated voice and data services to customers, whether they are at their desk, at home or away from the office," explained Randy Ritter, Sprint vice president for product marketing. "IP Voice Connect is a building block for us to deliver a converged wireless and wire line customer experience." Sprint plans to deploy additional integrated wire line and wireless capabilities during 2006, using the Lucent Converged Voice for Enterprise Solution to provide subscribers all of the features of their office PBX system on their mobile phones.

Lucent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: LU)

Sprint Corp. (NYSE: S)