Covad Announces VoIP Deployment Plans

Covad Communications announced plans to offer VoIP to business customers and consumers in the majority of the country's top Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) by Q4 2004. Covad intends to initially launch three VoIP products targeted at business customers: Basic Voice, Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) Voice, and Virtual PBX for Enterprise users needing a virtual Private Branch Exchange.


A consumer VoIP offering will follow after the launch of Covad's business VoIP services. All three voice products will include unlimited local calling with the option of either bundled domestic long distance minutes, or unlimited domestic long distance calling. These products will support international and inbound toll-free calling. Local number portability, emergency 911 and directory assistance will be standard features. Pricing was not disclosed.


In addition to providing VoIP services directly to its customers and turnkey solutions for wholesale partners, Covad has made and will make investments in its broadband network to support the market entry of its wholesale partners offering their own VoIP products. http://www.covad.com