TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Orbit E-Commerce, Inc. ("Orbit" or "the Company") (OTCBB:OECI) today announced it has completed the deployment of its advanced Voice over IP ("VoIP") gateway system in Newark, New Jersey. This will enable the Company to provide its awarding winning Internet-based long-distance and Internet access service to consumers and businesses in New York City and surrounding communities. Built in partnership with IBM (NYSE:IBM), Orbit's first Point-of-Presence ("POP") in the United States allows Orbit's VoIP service to reach one of the most densely populated areas of North America.
Potential subscribers will be offered packages comprised of long-distance services and unlimited dial-up Internet connectivity on a flat rate basis across Canada and the continental United States, as well as competitively priced international calling. As recently announced, Orbit's partner for distribution, TeleWrx, Inc., will be establishing a sales and marketing presence in the New York City area to promote Orbit's services to individual consumers and small businesses in the contiguous local calling vicinity of Orbit's Newark POP. The Newark POP is connected to Orbit's Canadian network and represents the first step in the Company's goal of establishing a true North American VoIP and Internet access service.
Under the previously announced agreement with IBM, Orbit intends to implement its VoIP network in the United States to share in the US$110 billion American long-distance market. The Newark POP represents the first of seven to be implemented in the first phase of a series of agreements with IBM. This first phase calls for the deployment of US$2 million worth of network equipment and IBM services. Ultimately, in accordance with Orbit's agreement with TeleWrx and in partnership with IBM, Orbit intends to deploy at least 40 POPs in major population centers across the United States, with each POP operating as an independent profit center.
Douglas Lloyd, Orbit's President and CEO stated, "The deployment of the Newark POP represents an important first step in the building of our Internet Telephony network in the United States. We are proud of achievements to date in Canada where we have proven our technology and network design. Now we are genuinely excited about the imminent prospect of delivering our unique consumer-based VoIP and Internet access services to subscribers in New York City and across America."
Michael Brown, President and CEO of TeleWrx stated, "This marks an exciting opportunity which will allow us to showcase Orbit's technology and voice quality as well as the tremendous cost savings to residential and small business users in the New York City area. We are confident our network-marketing agents will be offering their customers the most competitive long distance and Internet access package in the industry today. We are committed to providing our telecommunications customers with "quality," "ease of use" and "cost savings."
About Orbit E-Commerce Inc.
Orbit E-Commerce Inc. (OTCBB:OECI), through its wholly owned subsidiary, Orbit Canada Inc., serves up to 85 percent of the Canada's populace with its advanced VoIP and Internet access network. Deployment and marketing of these services in the United States is underway in partnership with IBM (NYSE:IBM) and TeleWrx, Inc. respectively. Orbit's network allows subscribers to use their own telephone equipment to make Internet-routed long-distance calls rather than forcing consumers to connect through PC's or special Internet telephones. The development of this user-friendly VoIP format led Frost & Sullivan to award Orbit the research company's much-sought-after Product Innovation Award. In granting this award, Frost & Sullivan claimed that Orbit's network was a model for entrants into the telecommunications field who want to use the new VoIP technologies.
About TeleWrx, Inc.
Converge Global, Inc. (OTCBB:CVRG) has signed a Letter of Intent that could result in TeleWrx, Inc., a Florida corporation, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary. Converge Global has completed preliminary due diligence and the parties have agreed to work toward closing the transaction within the next few weeks.
TeleWrx is a communications company specializing in the sales and marketing of telecommunications products and services through the utilization of network marketing. The Company will offer residential and small business long-distance (VoIP), Internet dialup (56K), calling cards, toll-free service and wireless services including WAP (wireless application protocol) devices.
Home-based businesses have enjoyed explosive growth and experts predict that this growth will be fueled by the expanding markets and new technology in the telecommunications industry. TeleWrx has negotiated partnership agreements with telecommunication and technology industry leaders in order to offer its agents and consumers cutting edge services at the most competitive prices.
Forward-Looking Statements contained in this press release that are not based upon current or historical fact are forward-looking in nature. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of management with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions including potential issues relating to interoperability, inability to introduce new products, changes in market conditions, government regulations, technological changes and other factors. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein.