BLS Bellsouth Cp

- Businesses gain additional flexibility to link outlying locations with preferred network access method - ATLANTA, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- BellSouth (NYSE:BLS) today announced extended Ethernet coverage for access to business IP services, seamlessly linking DSL, Private Line, Frame Relay, ATM and Metro Ethernet connections onto a single corporate network. The company integrated Metro Ethernet as an access option on a limited basis in 2004 and has now expanded this capability throughout the Southeast. Many businesses have the challenge of connecting broadly distributed office facilities to corporate resources. Each location often has specific network access requirements and, in the past, companies have had to self- integrate and manage these disparate networks across the organization. BellSouth(R) Managed Network VPN service utilizes the security and flexibility of MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching) to allow internetworking of multiple access methods across networks for a consistent customer experience in any service location. "Integrating Metro Ethernet access with BellSouth's MPLS-based Network VPN solution expands the networking options available to customers," said Martin Chandler, vice president of product management - Business Markets, BellSouth. "BellSouth continues to enhance its Network VPN solution to enable businesses to support a broad base of enterprise applications in a managed environment." Metro Ethernet is the telecommunications industry designation for Ethernet transport service that moves data traffic between two or more customer Ethernet Local Area Networks (LANs). BellSouth(R) Metro Ethernet Service can now be used throughout the Southeast as an access method to Network VPN at speeds of 10Mbps, 20Mbps, 50Mbps, 100Mbps, 250Mbps and 500Mbps, providing a cost effective alternative for businesses supporting high bandwidth applications. BellSouth plans to integrate its recently announced Mid-Band Ethernet speed options of 2Mbps, 4Mbps and 8Mbps later this year -- further enhancing Metro Ethernet access to IP services. The MPLS-based IP routing of BellSouth Managed Network VPN creates a full mesh data network, allowing each customer site to cost effectively communicate directly with any of the other locations and conserving headquarters bandwidth for corporate functions. Network VPN includes Class of Service options that allow businesses to assign higher priority to voice over IP, video and imaging applications. BellSouth Managed Network VPN customers can designate traffic into four different classes: real-time, interactive, priority business and best effort. Real-time and interactive classes are suitable for applications that have a low tolerance for delays, such as voice and video. Priority business and best effort are used to distinguish higher priority business data from non-critical applications such as email and general Web surfing. For more information about BellSouth voice and data solutions for large business customers, visit http://www.bellsouthlargebusiness.com/. About BellSouth BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 500 communications company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. BellSouth has joint control and 40 percent ownership of Cingular Wireless, the nation's largest wireless voice and data provider with 57.3 million customers. Backed by award-winning customer service, BellSouth offers the most comprehensive and innovative package of voice and data services available in the market. Through BellSouth Answers(R), residential and small business customers can bundle their local and long distance service with dial-up and high-speed DSL Internet access, satellite television and Cingular(R) Wireless service. For businesses, BellSouth provides secure, reliable local and long distance voice and data networking solutions. BellSouth also offers print and online directory advertising through The Real Yellow Pages(R) and YELLOWPAGES.COM(TM) from BellSouth. BellSouth believes that diversity and fostering an inclusive environment are critical in maintaining a competitive advantage in today's global marketplace. More information about BellSouth can be found at http://www.bellsouth.com/. DATASOURCE: BellSouth Corporation CONTACT: Todd Smith of BellSouth, +1-404-829-8723, or Web site: http://www.bellsouth.com/ http://www.bellsouthlargebusiness.com/ Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/095650.html

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