http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-13-2004/0002173497&EDATE=
RadioShack Introduces Broadband Internet Telephony Service in Nearly
4,000 Stores in 38 States
Consumer Electronics Retailer to Offer Vonage(R) Broadband Telephony Retail
Distribution Base Six-Times Larger Than Nearest Competitor; Expected to
Enhance Adoption Rate By Consumers
FORT WORTH, Texas, May 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- RadioShack
Corporation (NYSE: RSH), the leading consumer electronics specialty
retailer, today announced it is now offering broadband Internet
telephone service, commonly known as voice over Internet protocol
(VoIP), in nearly 4,000 of its retail stores across the country. This
gives RadioShack a retail distribution base for VoIP services that is
approximately six-times larger than the next closest retail chain. In
addition, more than 1,600 of these RadioShack stores are expected to
be offering in-store demonstrations as early as July.
The new VoIP service will be provided by Vonage, the nation's
leading broadband telephony service provider. Broadband phone service
allows people to make and receive phone calls using a high-speed
Internet connection instead of a traditional phone line. This service
will be available primarily through RadioShack's stores located in
U.S. markets that have wide-spread cable or DSL broadband Internet
penetration. Customers can sign up or inquire about Vonage broadband
phone service availability at their local RadioShack store, by
visiting http://www.radioshack.com/voip or by calling 1-800-877-0072.
According to RadioShack officials, broadband telephony is a
perfect fit with the company's strategy to offer products and services
that are creative, innovative and of high value that solve customers'
wants and needs.
"VoIP plays directly to the core strengths of RadioShack --
superior customer service and knowledgeable sales associates," said
Stu Asimus, RadioShack's senior vice president, chief merchandising
officer. "The low, yet rapidly growing number of subscribers shows
that broadband phone service is still in the early adoption phase of
the technology. VoIP is simply not quite ready for a self-service
environment.
"In fact, the majority of individuals and families either do not
understand VoIP at all or believe it's only for computer geeks, which
is where RadioShack can play a huge role," Asimus said. "With more
than 1,600 stores soon featuring in-store demonstrations along with
almost 2,400 additional stores offering the service, we are uniquely
equipped to explain to customers how this new technology works. We
can also help them understand why it can enhance their lives, how it
provides a superior, cost-effective value over traditional phone
services, and then hold their hand through the installation process to
remove any worries they may have about making VoIP work in their homes
or businesses."
"The national roll out of Vonage's broadband telephony product
presents a great opportunity, which will allow us to prove the value
of our products on retail shelves," said Matt Deatrick, vice president
Retail Channel Sales of Vonage. "We are changing the
telecommunications industry with the help of one of the nation's top
consumer electronics retailers, as RadioShack's market savvy and
educated sales representatives demonstrate the value of broadband
phone service to an untapped market segment."
According to Asimus, VoIP has been around since the mid '90s, but
slow connection speeds in major U.S. markets and restrictive equipment
severely hampered its adoption. "Today's explosive growth of
broadband DSL and cable Internet access, which is now in more than 20
million U.S. households, as well as major improvements in telephony
hardware, has put us on the edge of a disruptive communications
revolution that is quickly gaining momentum," said Asimus.
How does Broadband Telephony work?
The technology works by turning voice calls into data packets and
sending them over the Internet. When the data packs approach their
destination, they are reassembled, and delivered in the form of a
traditional call. Vonage customers require only a high-speed Internet
connection and a regular home telephone to utilize the service.
The Vonage offer through RadioShack allows customers to select
from monthly plans starting as low as $14.99. Rates for small
businesses will vary. In addition, new customers who sign up for
Vonage broadband phone service and purchase a Vonage starter kit
receive a free month of unlimited calling, no activation fee and a $30
Vonage mail-in rebate -- a $94 value. Certain restrictions may apply.
All rate plans include a full set of features, including caller
ID, call waiting, voicemail, call forwarding, and emergency calling
service. In addition, Vonage offers a number of enhanced voicemail
and code selection features, including:
-- Voicemail: Vonage offers three options for checking voicemail: you
can dial into a menu and listen over the phone; listen to voicemail
online, or listen to voicemail in your email box (a .wav file will be
sent to your account)
-- Area Code Selection: Vonage customers can choose any area code,
regardless of location.
Vonage's technology offers RadioShack's customers other
substantial benefits, including:
-- Cost savings versus traditional phone service
-- Increased functionality versus traditional phone service
-- Improved call quality versus traditional phone service
-- Free calls to other Vonage subscribers
-- Service portability, wherever broadband is available
About RadioShack Corporation:
Fort Worth-based RadioShack Corporation is the nation's most
trusted consumer electronics specialty retailer of wireless
communications, electronic parts, batteries and accessories as well as
other digital technology products and services. With nearly 7,000
outlets nationwide, it is estimated that 94 percent of all Americans
live or work within five minutes of a RadioShack store or dealer. The
company's knowledgeable sales associates and brand position -- "You've
Got Questions. We've Got Answers.(R)" -- support RadioShack's mission
to demystify technology in every neighborhood in America. For more
information on the company, visit the RadioShack Corporation Web site
at http://www.radioshackcorporation.com . For more information on
RadioShack products and services, visit its e-commerce Web site at
http://www.radioshack.com .
About Vonage(R)
Vonage is redefining communications by offering consumers and
small businesses an affordable alternative to traditional telephone
service. The fastest growing telephony company in North America,
Vonage's service area encompasses more than 1900 active rate centers
in over 125 North American markets. Vonage is sold directly through
http://www.vonage.com and retail partners such as Amazon.com, Circuit
City, Best Buy and RadioShack. Wholesale partners such as EarthLink,
ARMSTRONG(R), Advanced Cable Communications and the Coldwater Board of
Public Utilities resell the Vonage broadband phone service under their
own unique brands. With more than 135,000 lines in service, Vonage
continues to add more than 20,000 lines per month to its network.
Over 5 million calls per week are made using Vonage, the easy-to-use,
feature-rich, flat rate phone service. Vonage is headquartered in
Edison, New Jersey. For more information about Vonage's products and
services, please visit http://www.vonage.com or call 1-VONAGE-HELP.
Vonage(R), Vonage Digital Voice(TM), Toll Free Plus(SM) and Virtual
Phone Number(SM) are trademarks of Vonage Holdings Corp.
How to Distribute VoIP Throughout a Home:
http://michigantelephone.mi.org/distribute.html
If you live in Michigan, subscribe to the MI-Telecom group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MI-Telecom/