VocalData Launches VOIP in New Zealand

RICHARDSON, Texas -- VocalData, Inc., an application developer of hosted IP telephony solutions, today announced that New Zealand-based service provider ihug is using VocalData's application server to make VoIP services available to almost a million individuals residing in the Auckland, Hamilton and Pukekohe areas of New Zealand.

ihug is offering the first real alternative to incumbent telecom services in Auckland, New Zealand's largest residential market. The service provider estimates that its ihug Connect service will save households with a telecom phone line and a broadband Internet connection more than $50 per month. ihug Connect is unique in that it uses a wireless access network to support all phone calls and high-speed Internet usage, making it one of the first widespread VoIP deployments using broadband wireless in the world.

ihug chose VocalData because it offers the most cost-effective application server on the market today, supporting the greatest number of calls per second while also delivering carrier-class reliability. In addition, VocalData provides flexible feature packages for service providers, allowing those supporting residential services to support residential VoIP "must haves" such as caller ID, call waiting, and voice mail as well as advanced features such as conferencing and click-to-dial.

"The VocalData application server provides the best-value VoIP platform while offering the advanced Class 5 functionality required by our business," said David Diprose, general manager, networks and engineering of ihug. "We have been pleased by both the quality of the VocalData platform and the customer support provided by the company - particularly given that the company's headquarters is located across the globe from New Zealand."

VocalData Inc.