Under the terms of the agreement, Tech Data will build awareness among its extensive channel partner network about the benefits of selling a turn-key unified communications solution. To ensure their success, channel partners will receive solutions training and product configuration tools by Cbeyond and Tech Data, including Cisco Select Certified Partner Training through the distributor’s TDEducation technical training and certification services team.

Rob Consolazio, Vice President and General Manager of channel development for Cbeyond noted, ”This is an exciting new partnership for Cbeyond as it extends our distribution reach to include Tech Data’s nationwide network of channel partners. Participating channel partners will benefit from Tech Data and Cbeyond’s combined marketing initiatives and local channel support. In addition, Cbeyond’s success-based compensation plans can double the value of a phone system sale when a channel partner integrates the Cbeyond BeyondVoice with SIPconnect service with the Cisco SBCS.”

The new partnership is hoped to leverage Tech Data’s network to resell a unified communications solution featuring Cbeyond’s BeyondVoice with SIPconnect service and Cisco’s Smart Business Communications System (SBCS).

Chuck Bartlett, Vice President, Networking Product Marketing at Tech Data remarked, ”Educating our customers on the latest technologies and enabling them to pursue new revenue opportunities is a key focus for Tech Data. Our partnership with Cbeyond underscores how Tech Data is bringing new service revenue opportunities to our networking channel partners and helping them grow their business among SMBs, where we see exciting growth for the latest voice and data technologies such as Cisco’s SBCS.”

Cbeyond’s BeyondVoice with SIPconnect service is an integrated package of local and long distance voice, high speed Internet and mobile services that leverages the SIPconnect specification to tightly integrate with Cisco’s SBCS. Cisco’s SBCS is an all-in-one communications solution for small businesses. Purpose-built to meet the unique needs of small businesses, it creates a new way to communicate by offering voice, video, data, security and mobility in an integrated single platform. When paired, Cbeyond’s BeyondVoice with SIPconnect and Cisco’s SBCS enhance small business productivity and improve responsiveness. Additionally, BeyondVoice with SIPconnect is included as a drop down choice in the configuration set-up interface for the SBSC, reducing the time required to install and implement the combined unified communications solution.

Richard McLeod, Senior Director of Unified Communications for worldwide channels at Cisco added, ”Small business presents a tremendous opportunity for channel partners. The combination of Cisco SMB solutions, powerful converged network offerings and business enhancing applications from Cbeyond, maximize our partners’ opportunity to sell and service the best solutions for small businesses profitably.”

Cbeyond, Inc. is an IP-based managed services provider that delivers integrated packages of communications and IT services to more than 35,000 small businesses in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles and San Diego. Cbeyond offers more than 30 applications including local and long-distance voice, broadband Internet, mobile, BlackBerry, broadband laptop access, voicemail, email, web hosting, fax-to-email, data backup, file-sharing and virtual private networking. Cbeyond manages the services over a private, 100-percent Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) facilities-based network.

To learn more about Cbeyond, please visit: www.cbeyond.net.

David McMorrow, General Manager of Covad Wireless noted, ”Covad Wireless is very proud to introduce this enterprise-class, business continuity service, which is enabled by our unique status as California’s largest fixed wireless broadband provider. Businesses that previously had costly or limited backup options can now have peace of mind by choosing Covad’s affordable, reliable, business-class service.”

Covad’s Business Continuity Service was developed to combine enterprise-class wireless broadband connection, with backup DSL service. Covad showcased the expansion of its portfolio of business continuity solutions, by combining fixed broadband wireless Super-T with Backup DSL service. This service provides business customers in California with a powerful alternative to standalone cable, DSL or T1 services, by including a backup connection to help ensure continuation of service in the event of a manmade or natural disaster.

Covad Wireless Super-T with Backup DSL service combines the performance of the Covad Wireless Super-T with the added reliability of Covad’s DSL service to create an integrated, redundant solution that enables businesses to keep critical broadband operable in the case of an outage of the wireless service. Covad Wireless Super-T with Backup DSL provides a single-source solution for fully-managed, redundant and path diverse access. Backup DSL, sold as an upgrade option for the Super-T product, is available in download speeds of up to 3.0 Mbps. Covad Wireless business continuity solutions also include a Super T with Backup T1, which is available in speeds of 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 Mbps. Super-T with Backup DSL or T1 provides automatic fail-over, usually in under 60 seconds, should the active circuit fail. The Backup options are available in most California locations where Super-T service is available.

The Tech Museum of Innovation, located in San Jose, California, has implemented Covad Wireless business continuity service to ensure that its operations are capable of withstanding unforeseen outages to provide a consistent and enjoyable experience for its visitors. The museum, which focuses on innovations in technology, has 132,000 square feet of exhibition space devoted to innovation, the Internet, and exploration.

Terry Boyle, Chief Operating Officer of The Tech Museum of Innovation noted, ”We are very satisfied with our choice of Covad Wireless to power the museum’s broadband operations. This fully redundant service, provided by a company with a long history of serving businesses in our community, enables us to operate with confidence, and fulfill the museum’s pioneering spirit and tradition of innovation.”

Covad Wireless operates California’s largest fixed broadband wireless network to serve businesses. Covad Wireless solutions range from T1 replacement to high-capacity service with data speeds up to 45.0 Mbps. These services provide high-speed, high-quality broadband that can be deployed in days, instead of weeks. Covad Wireless serves approximately 4,000 small and medium-sized businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area, greater Los Angeles area, Chicago and Las Vegas.

Covad is a nationwide provider of integrated voice and data communications, offering DSL, Voice Over IP, T1, broadband wireless, web hosting, managed security, IP and dial-up, and bundled voice and data services directly through its network and Internet Service Providers, value-added resellers, telecommunications carriers and affinity groups to small and medium-sized businesses and home users. Covad broadband services are currently available across the nation in 44 states and 235 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and can be purchased by more than 57 million homes and businesses, which represent over 50 percent of all US homes and businesses. Corporate headquarters is located at 110 Rio Robles San Jose, CA 95134. Telephone: 1-888-GO-COVAD.

For more information about Covad Wireless, please visit: www.covadwireless.com.

As the Official Communications Provider, Qwest will be the exclusive provider of high-speed Internet as well as voice and data lines for the COA. Qwest also will provide hosting services and 24/7 network management and technical support.

Maria Cino, Convention President and Chief Executive Officer noted, ”Qwest will be a terrific partner in planning the 2008 Republican National Convention, and we are pleased to have them on board as our Official Communications Provider. Qwest’s strong ties to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul community make for a natural partnership – and its services will be instrumental in helping us deliver our Republican nominee’s message to the American people.”

In anticipation of increased network demand in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Qwest plans to significantly expand its fiber infrastructure in and around the Xcel Energy Center, site of the 2008 convention. The company already has surveyed and verified existing network facilities around the Xcel Energy Center, as well as those serving more than 100 major hotels in the metro area, so it can quickly assess build-out requirements as technology decisions are made.

John Stanoch, Minnesota State President of Qwest remarked, ”When the Republican National Convention and kicks off in September, Qwest’s team of experienced and service-oriented employees, together with our next-generation communications services, will completely change how convention organizers, delegates and the media communicate seamlessly and in real time from the convention. Qwest’s network infrastructure and advanced technology investments for the 2008 Republican National Convention will continue to benefit Minneapolis-Saint Paul, our region, the state and the economy long after the delegates return home.”

The 2008 Republican National Convention will be held at Saint Paul’s Xcel Energy Center from Sept. 1-4, 2008. Approximately 45,000 delegates, alternate delegates, volunteers, members of the media and other guests are expected to attend the convention. Minneapolis-Saint Paul is expected to receive an estimated $150-$160 million positive economic boost from the convention.

Qwest’s Hosted Contact Center Solutions portfolio provides network based interactive voice response, intelligent call routing, multi-channel call distribution, multimedia contact management, network-to-desktop Computer Telephony Integration, CRM Integration and consolidated reporting.

Qwest CyberCenter facilities house more than three million feet of data cable and fiber optics, providing the extensive infrastructure features necessary to maintain a customer’s environment. Cooling towers, water pumps and chillers provide enough cooling capacity to air-condition the equivalent of approximately 1,820 private homes. With 19.5 mega-watts of emergency power to ensure network operations, Qwest CyberCenters generate enough power for approximately 5,000 households.

The 14 Qwest CyberCenters are located in 11 metropolitan areas, including Burbank, Calif.; Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; Denver; Minneapolis; Newark, N.J.; Sacramento, Calif.; Seattle; Sterling, Va.; Sunnyvale, Calif.; and Tampa, Fla. Qwest was voted ”Hosting Center of the Year” in an InfoWorld reader’s choice survey and was also ranked number one for providing application services in a recent America’s Network end-user survey. Business customers also ranked Qwest a top data provider in a recent issue of Spokane Business Catalyst magazine resulting in an award in the ”Best Web Hosting Business” category.

Qwest offers a combination of award-winning broadband, video and voice solutions for residential customers, businesses and government agencies. Customers coast to coast turn to Qwest’s industry-leading national fiber optic network to meet their evolving communications and entertainment needs. Qwest is a participant in Networx, the largest communications services contract in the world, to provide innovative voice, data and video services.

For more information about Qwest, please visit: www.qwest.com.

Mr. O’Hara made three investor presentations at the Merrill Lynch Communications ervices Forum in New York City.

In addition,. Mr. O’Hara will make an investor presentation at the Raymond James 29th Annual Institutional Investors Conference in Orlando, Fla. on Monday, March 3. Mr. O’Hara’s presentations are scheduled to begin at approximately 1:40 p.m. EST. A webcast of the presentation will be available at www.wsw.com/webcast/rj33/lvlt.

Level 3 Communications, Inc., an international communications company, operates one of the largest Internet backbones in the world. Through its customers, Level 3 is the primary provider of Internet connectivity for millions of broadband subscribers. The company provides a comprehensive suite of services over its broadband fiber optic network including Internet Protocol (IP) services, broadband transport and infrastructure services, colocation services, voice services and voice over IP services. The services are designed to provide building blocks that enable Level 3’s customers to meet growing demands for advanced communications solutions.The principal components offered by Level 3’s (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service include network trunking, local telephone numbers, local number portability, the safety of E-911, operator assistance, caller ID, directory listings, and directory assistance. The service is designed to allow Level 3 customers to retain the flexibility to manage and control end-user features without the difficulties of implementing complex interconnection arrangements.

For more information about Level 3, please visit: www.level3.com.

In addition, the Company also serves as an active member of a fingerprint sharing alliance. in order to more easily resolve cross-company network threats, with the Arbor Network Peakflow SP software solution. The network enhancement is designed to protect Covad’s network against distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, worms, and other network vulnerabilities and routing instabilities. The latter includes hacker-controlled botnets that can be used to attack a Website or network on command. This network enhancement helps to protect all of Covad’s customers at no additional cost to them. In addition to deploying the software solution, Covad also serves as an active member of the Fingerprint Sharing Alliance (FSA), a global coalition of Arbor’s telecommunications customers that have joined together to prevent cyber attacks that cross service provider and national boundaries.

Dr. Ron Marquardt, Chief Technology Officer for Covad noted, ”Continuing to ensure the integrity of our nationwide network is of the utmost importance as we deliver innovative and outstanding services to our customers. This network enhancement and membership in the FSA improves our traffic monitoring capability and has enabled Covad to save customers and partners thousands of dollars in losses due to security incidents.”

Paul Morville, Vice President of product management for Arbor Networks remarked, ”Given the global nature of distributed denial of service attacks, it is critical for service providers to work together and collaborate in order to stop these attacks as close to the source as possible. Service providers are increasingly interconnected and the Fingerprint Sharing Alliance has put in place an automated framework that dramatically speeds time to resolution.”

Denial of Service and bot and worm attacks are among the most costly security attacks suffered by businesses and other organizations that rely on IP communications. The 2007 Computer Crime and Security Survey released by the Computer Security Institute reported the following:

• 25 percent of respondents reported a denial of service attack, with total respondent losses approaching $2.9 million;
• 21 percent of respondents reported a Bot attack, with total respondent losses approaching $2.9 million;
• 52 percent of respondents reported a virus attack (including worm attacks), with total respondent losses of approximately $8.4 million.

Covad deployed Arbor’s Peakflow SP platform solution to analyze its transit, peering and routing traffic. Arbor’s Peakflow SP will also assist in proactively detecting, tracing and mitigating network-wide anomalies and attacks. These solutions will help Covad resolve DoS attacks and worms before they affect its network. This proactive response translates to tangible customer benefits including higher network availability and reduced exposure to common Internet threats.

As a member of the FSA, Covad benefits from the sharing of cyber attack profiles, or ”fingerprints”, to stop attacks more quickly and closer to the source. The FSA is the first effort in which telecommunications companies have been able to share attack profiles automatically, allowing providers to consistently protect one another and their customers from security threats. With the formation of the FSA, a formerly laborious and tedious process has been replaced with an efficient and automated process, and a larger community can be engaged to solve significant threats to the Internet.

In addition to these network and industry initiatives Covad also provides enhanced security options directly to its customers. Covad previously announced that is has entered into an agreement that allows Covad to bundle McAfee Total Protection for Small Business services with Covad’s award-winning broadband products to provide small business customers with a simple, affordable solution to meet their security needs.

A nationwide provider of integrated voice and data communications, Covad offers DSL, Voice Over IP, T1, web hosting, managed security, IP and dial-up, wireless broadband, and bundled voice and data services directly through Covad’s network and through Internet Service Providers, value-added resellers, telecommunications carriers and affinity groups to small and medium-sized businesses and home users. According to the company, as the first company to commercially deploy DSL in the United States, Covad has spent hundreds of millions of dollars building a network that passes more than 57 million homes and businesses in 44 states – the largest nationwide footprint of any DSL company. Covad broadband services are currently available across the nation in 235 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) which represent over 50 percent of all US homes and businesses. Corporate headquarters is located at 110 Rio Robles, San Jose, California 95134. Telephone: 1-888-GO-COVAD.

For more information about Purecom, please visit: www.purecom.com.

To learn more Covad, please visit: www.covad.com.