Press Release
D&E COMMUNICATIONS, INC. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 17, 2005 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT PERSON: |
EPHRATA, PA -- Jazzd Phone Service for Broadband can now enable subscribers to keep their existing phone number when they switch to the money-saving Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service.
A service of D&E Communications, Jazzd Phone allows subscribers to make phone calls over their high-speed Internet connection.
"Jazzd Phone offers consumers a single low rate for unlimited local and long-distance calling, but some customers also want the convenience of keeping their current number when they switch to VoIP service. This latest enhancement allows them to do that," said Larry Buehler, D&E's Product Line Manager for VoIP, Broadband and Video. "This new technology is continually evolving, and we are designing Jazzd Phone around our customers' needs."
Jazzd Phone can transfer numbers from other telephone companies with which D&E has interconnection agreements, competitive telephone service providers and cell phone providers. Number portability, however, is not available in all areas, due to industry regulations.
Subscribers can determine if their phone number can be transferred to Jazzd Phone Service using the "Local Number Portability" tool on the website, www.jazzdphone.com. The website also includes directions and the authorization form needed to re-assign the number from the current provider to Jazzd Phone. Transferring a number can take approximately 30 business days after the authorization form is filed, and subscribers receive a temporary number to use until their existing number is ported.
Jazzd Phone calling service is available to customers who have a high-speed Internet connection (DSL or cable modem) from any provider; it does not have to be D&E. Jazzd Phone Service offers unlimited local and domestic long distance calling; calling features such as voicemail; the ability to receive and forward voice mail messages through email; and D&E's own telemarketing call blocking service -- all for $29.99 per month. By plugging a D&E Jazzd Phone Adapter into any provider's DSL or cable modem, customers can use their regular telephone to make and receive calls over their broadband Internet connection.
Recognizing the importance of emergency calling, Jazzd Phone has established enhanced 911 service (E911) with 14 counties in its service area in central Pennsylvania. Subscribers in these counties will be connected with their local emergency dispatch center when they call 911, and they also can set up an enhanced feature to provide their address to dispatchers when they call.
In addition to allowing existing numbers to be transferred, Jazzd Phone Service for Broadband offers local phone numbers in Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lebanon, Berks, Montgomery, Centre, Blair and Lycoming counties. For more information, visit www.jazzdphone.com or call 1-877-905-2993.
D&E Communications (Nasdaq: DECC) is a leading regional broadband integrated communications provider offering high-speed data, Internet access, local and long distance telephone, VoIP phone, voice and data network installation and maintenance, network performance management and security, and video services. Based in Lancaster County, D&E has been serving communities in central Pennsylvania for more than 100 years. For more information, visit www.decommunications.com.
This press release may include forward-looking statements regarding financial and other information. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of D&Ea^?(TM)s management concerning the development of our business, are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual developments and results to differ materially from our expectations. Those factors include, but are not limited to, the effect of the convergence of voice, data, and video technologies on our historical competitive advantages; the increasingly competitive nature of the communications industry; the significant indebtedness of the company; and other factors that we have indicated could adversely affect our business and financial performance contained in our past and future filings and reports, including those filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. D&E undertakes no obligation to revise or update its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.