NTOP Net2Phone (MM)

Hughes Network Systems Europe and Net2Phone Announce VoIP via Satellite Service Integrated, Bandwidth Efficient VoIP Service Is Now Available for HNSE Customers Throughout Europe and the Middle East GERMANTOWN, Md., Feb 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Hughes Network Systems Europe (HNSE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hughes Network Systems, Inc. (HNS), the world's leading provider of broadband satellite solutions, and Net2Phone, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTOP), a leading provider of retail Voice over IP (VoIP) services, today announced that they have agreed to offer an integrated VoIP service to DIRECWAY(R) broadband satellite customers throughout Europe and the Middle East. The integrated Net2Phone VoIP capability is enabled through HNS' advanced DW6040 Voice Appliance terminal operating over its DIRECWAY satellite service. The jointly developed VoIP capability allocates prioritization to voice packets over data traffic, thereby significantly improving the quality of service over competitor's products and services. With this agreement, all of HNS Europe's DIRECWAY customers can take advantage of Net2Phone's high- quality, competitively priced, international long-distance service. "By working in partnership with Net2Phone, we are now able to bring DIRECWAY customers a single solution for high-quality data and voice services," said Bernhard Baer, vice president of sales and marketing for HNS Europe. "This service also provides our European DIRECWAY value-added service providers with an attractively priced, value-added option to generate additional revenue and enhance overall customer satisfaction." This innovative service offering opens up a new channel of opportunities for both companies. The integration provides HNSE with an effective telephony overlay for its existing DIRECWAY services and illustrates HNSE's commitment to continually enhance its DIRECWAY offerings and provide additional value to its customers. For Net2Phone, offering high-quality VoIP over satellite demonstrates market leadership and initiative while expanding Net2Phone's service offerings via HNS Europe's robust sales channels. "Net2Phone's core competency has always been to layer voice over data networks. Satellite, especially in conjunction with HNS Europe, the leading provider of satellite network services in Europe, extends the boundaries of communications in data networks through the addition of voice, and we are excited to blaze that trail together," said Uri Schechterman, general manager and vice president of sales for Net2Phone, EMEA. "Now both HNSE and Net2Phone can deliver a very dynamic product offering that is complementary to each of their existing product lines." About Net2Phone Net2Phone (NASDAQ:NTOP) provides VoIP, PacketCable, SIP, and wireless solutions around the world. As leaders in service providers with turn-key hosted VoIP telephony services, Net2Phone has routed billions of retail VoIP minutes globally, servicing more than 100,000 users in the U.S., as well as hundreds of thousands more overseas. Net2Phone's hosted SIP platform provides partners with residential broadband telephony, calling cards, prefix dialing, and enterprise services in over 100 countries. Net2Phone's PacketCable platform provides cable operators with the ability to deliver a primary line replacement service with guaranteed QoS and features such as E911. For more information about Net2Phone's products and services, please visit http://www.net2phone.com/. About Hughes Network Systems Europe Hughes Network Systems Europe (HNSE) is Hughes Network Systems, Inc.'s (HNS) operating and sales organization for the European market. HNSE has facilities in Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Utilizing its satellite hub earth stations and network operations centers in Griesheim, Germany and Milton Keynes, U.K., HNSE provides DIRECWAY(R) broadband satellite services throughout the continent, both directly and through a growing family of value-added service providers. HNSE designs, develops, installs and maintains a wide variety of enterprise network solutions such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), Business Continuity/Backup Services, Corporate Video and Audio Broadcasting, In-store Video Advertising/Point-of-Sale TV, Interactive Training and Distance Learning, Streaming Content, and IP Multicast Services. HNSE is the leading provider in Europe of high-speed, broadband Internet access and intranet/extranet managed solutions to enterprises of any size and a leading provider of broadband connectivity to Wi-Fi hot spots. Its customer base spans all major market sectors, including oil and gas, retail, automotive, banking, restaurants and governments, with more than 40,000 terminals ordered or shipped. For more information or to find a contact for your region, please visit http://www.hnseu.com/. About Hughes Network Systems Hughes Network Systems, Inc. (HNS), a wholly owned subsidiary of The DIRECTV Group, Inc., is the world's leading provider of broadband satellite network solutions for businesses and consumers, with more than 800,000 systems ordered or shipped to customers in 85 countries. HNS pioneered the development of high-speed satellite Internet access services, which it markets globally under the DIRECWAY(R) brand. Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., in Germantown, Maryland, USA, HNS maintains sales and support offices worldwide. The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (NYSE:DTV) is 34 percent owned by Fox Entertainment Group, which is approximately 82 percent owned by News Corporation Ltd. For additional information, please visit http://www.hns.com/. HUGHES, Hughes Network Systems, and DIRECWAY are trademarks of The DIRECTV Group, Inc. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. DATASOURCE: Hughes Network Systems, Inc. CONTACT: Judy Blake of Hughes Network Systems, +1-301-601-7330, , or Leslie Tullio of Brodeur, +1-202-775-2672, , for Hughes Network Systems Web site: http://www.hns.com/ http://www.hnseu.com/ http://www.net2phone.com/

Copyright