“With TeleVantage and MAS, our call volume is up over 20% for the same period a year ago. We can take more calls with fewer associates; and maintain higher levels of service to our customers.”

Donn K. Flipse
Director of Operations
Field of Flowers
Davie, FL

 

 

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Contact:
Alternate Access, Inc.
(919) 831-1860
Press@AlternateAccess.com

Roanoke Electric Cooperative Selects Alternate Access® to Install VoIP Phone System

Raleigh, N.C. (June 9, 2009) – Alternate Access®, a leading provider of converged communications solutions, was recently selected to install an 80-phone, state-of-the art VoIP phone system for Roanoke Electric Cooperative and its non-profit arm, The Roanoke Center. Alternate Access will also manage the moving of the system to the cooperative’s newly constructed facility later this year.

The VoIP system will enable field personnel and office staff at Roanoke Electric Cooperative, based in Rich Square, N.C., to communicate more productively. In addition, The Roanoke Center is taking advantage of call center capabilities to streamline communications with its members, including several customized applications developed by Alternate Access and specific to the company’s call center needs.

“We are excited to provide our services to Roanoke Electric Cooperative,” Kelly Lumpkin, Alternate Access CEO said. “They recognized that the perfect time to consider a phone system upgrade was prior to their move. Their employees now will have time to familiarize themselves with the system in advance, and we will be able to help move the system – ensuring that the new location is upfitted correctly and downtime is minimized.”

Alternate Access offers comprehensive assessment services to companies on the move, including review of the new location and a customized move plan that identifies how to make the transition smooth and cost-effective. Areas of assessment include, but are not limited to, cabling efficiency, cell phone integration, and proper configuration of the server room.

For more information on Alternate Access, contact Press@AlternateAccess.com or call (919) 831-1860.

About Alternate Access
Founded in 1993, Raleigh, North Carolina-based Alternate Access provides intelligent business phone systems to small-business and branch-office clients locally and nationwide. Their innovative phone system solutions help increase profits by boosting staff performance and efficiency, enhancing customer service, and adding management reporting capabilities - all while decreasing labor and infrastructure costs. Products include IP-PBX with Voice over IP, fax servers, unified messaging, Web collaboration, interactive voice response and call center applications, headsets and specialty phones. By employing extensive experience and best practices, award-winning Alternate Access works in partnership with its customers to build creative yet cost-effective solutions. For more information on Alternate Access visit www.AlternateAccess.com.

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Contact:
Alternate Access, Inc.
(919) 831-1860
Press@AlternateAccess.com

Alternate Access® President to be Panelist as part of “Women in Connection” Educational Series
Adrienne K. Lumpkin joins fellow Academy of Women members to provide different perspectives on the role of women leaders and growth-fostering relationships

Raleigh, N.C. (May 5, 2009) – Do women tend to define leadership differently than men? Are there leadership traits that are more frequently seen as female in origin? These are just two of the many questions Adrienne K. Lumpkin, president of Alternate Access®, a leading provider of converged communications solutions, and fellow Academy of Women members will discuss during the next session of the “Women in Connection” Educational Series.

A collaborative effort between the YWCA of the Greater Triangle and Meredith College, the Women in Connection leadership development program is based on the principles of the relational-cultural theory developed by Jean Baker Miller. As part of the series, Lumpkin and her colleagues have been asked to participate in the interactive discussion panel “Women’s Leadership: More Questions than Answers.”

“It is an honor to have been invited to participate in this panel with my peers from the Academy of Women,” Lumpkin said. “I believe in the mission of the YWCA. This partnership with the Meredith College Institute for Women’s Leadership will provide women a chance to become stronger leaders via interactive, non-judgmental dialogue and self-assessment.”

The other panelists include: Sepi Asefnia, president of SEPI Engineering Group; Dr. Anne McLaurin, district representative on the Wake County Board of Education; Billie Redmond, President and CEO of Coldwell Bank Commercial TradeMark Properties; and Maria Spaulding; Deputy Secretary for Long-Term Care and Family Services, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

Over the course of the six-session program, pre-registered participants will be given an opportunity to grow through connection as they develop clarity about themselves and others without judgment. They will also explore the negative impact of disconnection and examine the importance of difference as it informs the imbalance of power and privilege.

About Alternate Access
Founded in 1993, Raleigh, North Carolina-based Alternate Access provides intelligent business phone systems to small-business and branch-office clients locally and nationwide. Their innovative phone system solutions help increase profits by boosting staff performance and efficiency, enhancing customer service, and adding management reporting capabilities - all while decreasing labor and infrastructure costs. Products include IP-PBX with Voice over IP, fax servers, unified messaging, Web collaboration, interactive voice response and call center applications, headsets and specialty phones. By employing extensive experience and best practices, award-winning Alternate Access works in partnership with its customers to build creative yet cost-effective solutions. For more information on Alternate Access visit www.AlternateAccess.com.

About the YWCA
The YWCA of the Greater Triangle draws together women and men who strive to improve the social and economic conditions that affect girls, women and their families. Established locally in 1923, YWCA programs address the disparities that still exist in health, education and economics to create opportunities for women's growth and leadership. A private, non-profit organization, the YWCA is dedicated to the elimination of racism and the empowerment of women. www.ywcatriangle.org

About Meredith College
Chartered in 1891, Meredith College is an independent private women’s college. With more than 2,000 students, Meredith is one of the largest private women’s colleges in the Southeast. The College offers a comprehensive education with an emphasis on an innovative liberal arts curriculum. Meredith confers Bachelor of Arts, Science, Social Work or Music, and graduate degrees in business, nutrition and education. www.meredith.edu

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Contact:
Alternate Access, Inc.
(919) 831-1860
Press@AlternateAccess.com

Alternate Access® to Exhibit at the 2009 Business Expo
Visit booth #451 to view demonstrations of VoIP phone system solutions for SMBs, as well as the new Courtesy Text™ short message sender server

Raleigh, N.C. (April 23, 2009) – Alternate Access®, a leading provider of converged communications solutions, will be an exhibitor at the 2009 Business Expo on May 7. Hosted by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, the expo will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Jim Graham Building at the N.C. State Fairgrounds.

Visitors to the Alternate Access booth, #451, will be able to view interactive demonstrations of VoIP phone system solutions designed for SMBs at different stages of business growth. Alternate Access representatives will be available for one-on-one discussions to explain how combining VoIP systems with the latest in VoIP services can help SMBs reduce operational costs and increase employee productivity.

“In these tough economic times, businesses are seeking ways to reduce overall cost of operations. Alternate Access strives to help SMBs take advantage of VoIP and other communication technologies to meet that goal,” Kelly Lumpkin, Alternate Access CEO, said. “As a return exhibitor at the Business Expo, and a small business, Alternate Access values this event as a resource for businesses at every stage of development.”

Each Alternate Access VoIP phone system features an intuitive GUI interface and easy administration that makes them immediately useful to staff, whether they are in the office, mobile or working remotely. Onsite administration capability allows for quick turn around in making changes when needed.

Alternate Access will also demonstrate Courtesy Text™, a short message sender server that allows suppliers and customers to send simple, bi-directional communications – such as inclement weather notifications, prescription pick-up reminders and appointment confirmations – as a text message to cell phones. Users can send short messages to one or many people directly from a PC or from a database application straight to cell phones.

“We can integrate Courtesy Text with CRM software, so companies can easily contact one person, several people in a department, a specific set of prospects or an entire workforce,” Alternate Access CEO Kelly Lumpkin, said. “The Business Expo is an ideal setting to showcase this product and our wide range of VoIP solutions to the Triangle market.”

For more information on Alternate Access’s participation in the 2009 Business Expo, contact Alternate Access at (919) 831-1860 or e-mail press@AlternateAccess.com.

About Alternate Access
Founded in 1993, Raleigh, North Carolina-based Alternate Access provides intelligent business phone systems to small-business and branch-office clients locally and nationwide. Their innovative phone system solutions help increase profits by boosting staff performance and efficiency, enhancing customer service, and adding management reporting capabilities - all while decreasing labor and infrastructure costs. Products include IP-PBX with Voice over IP, fax servers, unified messaging, Web collaboration, interactive voice response and call center applications, headsets and specialty phones. By employing extensive experience and best practices, award-winning Alternate Access works in partnership with its customers to build creative yet cost-effective solutions. For more information on Alternate Access visit www.AlternateAccess.com.

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Contact:
Alternate Access, Inc.
(919) 831-1860
Press@AlternateAccess.com

Alternate Access® Picks Up Open Source, Hybrid-Hosted VoIP Solution
Provider of business phone system solutions becomes only approved trixbox® by Fonality® VAR in the Triangle area

Raleigh, N.C. (October 15, 2008) – Alternate Access®, a leading provider of converged communications solutions, has become the only approved reseller of the trixbox® Voice over IP solution in the Triangle. Developed by Los Angeles-based Fonality®, trixbox offers small and medium-sized businesses a reliable and flexible open source VoIP solution.

“We are constantly reviewing new products in an effort to provide our customers a wide range of quality communications solutions to meet their individual needs,” stated Kelly Lumpkin, Alternate Access CEO and director of business development. “Fonality’s trixbox is ready for prime time. It is easy to use and exploits both the open Linux operating system and open source Asterisk® communications engine – making the trixbox affordable and practical for customers familiar with point and click GUI interfaces.”

The trixbox system uses a patent-pending, hybrid-hosted architecture, combining the benefits of a premise-based solution and hosted IP phone system. As a hybrid-hosted solution, trixbox stores critical phone system data securely at Fonality’s hardened data centers. This feature ensures that in the event a customer’s phone system experiences an outage or is damaged, business will be up and running within one hour of rebooting the system or receiving new equipment.

Offering many of the features of a premise-based system, the trixbox appliance uses telephony interface boards or gateways to connect to legacy PSTN trunks, yielding high audio quality and reliability. The system is also proactively monitored and maintained.

Support contracts enable technicians to provide real-time updates and receive system alerts about the critical system components so that problems can be corrected before their impacts are felt. If a system is damaged, a replacement appliance is cross-shipped to remedy the issue. Software upgrades are also completed automatically and during non-business hours. Advanced features and call privacy round out the premise-based benefits.

Like a hosted solution, users can place free VoIP calls between offices; make moves, adds and changes from any PC connected to the internet, using the Web-based Control Panel; and monitor call flow and efficiency via reporting tools. Companies can also seamlessly connect telecommuters and branch office locations with no configuration required.

“The trixbox solution offers reliability and a feature set that our customers will love – and all at an affordable cost for small to medium-sized businesses,” Lumpkin added.

For more information on the trixbox by Fonality VoIP solution, contact Alternate Access at (919) 831-1860 or visit www.AlternateAccess.com.

About Alternate Access
Founded in 1993, Raleigh, North Carolina-based Alternate Access is celebrating 15 years of providing intelligent business phone systems to small-business and branch-office clients locally and nationwide. Their innovative phone system solutions help increase profits by boosting staff performance and efficiency, enhancing customer service, and adding management reporting capabilities - all while decreasing labor and infrastructure costs. Products include IP-PBX with Voice over IP, fax servers, unified messaging, Web collaboration, interactive voice response and call center applications, headsets and specialty phones. By employing extensive experience and best practices, award-winning Alternate Access works in partnership with its customers to build creative yet cost-effective solutions. For more information on Alternate Access visit www.AlternateAccess.com.

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Contact:
Alternate Access, Inc.
(919) 831-1860
Press@AlternateAccess.com

Alternate Access® Adds Solid State Fax Server to Product Lineup
Multi-Tech FaxFinder™appliance has no moving parts, providing greater reliability, and helps companies “go green” by reducing paper usage

Raleigh, N.C. (September 30, 2008) – Alternate Access®, a leading provider of converged communications solutions, has added a new solid state fax server to its product offerings. With no moving parts, the Multi-Tech FaxFinder™ fax solution provides greater overall reliability, as well as standard fax server benefits including reducing office paper and toner usage and waste.

“This economical solution provides distributed faxing capabilities, from a central office to small remote offices as well as to field sales people,” stated Kelly Lumpkin, Alternate Access CEO and director of business development. “In addition, it provides secure, convenient faxing from the desktop, offering a high degree of electronic filing for both sending and receiving faxes”.

This turnkey solution offers greater reliability than traditional fax servers due to the fact that it is a solid state appliance with no moving parts – meaning fewer outages and minimal maintenance. It also offers greater control than fax services. Since the system is installed in-house, companies have instant message delivery and freedom from any “per use” service fees.

The FaxFinder provides an easy transition from conventional fax machines and services, in part because it plugs directly into a power supply and the LAN. Users simply designate an e-mail account and follow a few configuration steps to send and receive faxes directly from the desktop PC.

Unlike fax machines, this fax appliance supports companies who seek to “go green” as it requires no paper or toner. Instead of automatically printing, inbound faxes arrive as PDF files attached to e-mails.

Faxes can easily be sent to multiple, direct fax numbers, reaching specific employees, or sent to one direct office number, reaching one employee’s computer, such as a receptionist, who then quickly forwards each fax to the appropriate employee via e-mail. By receiving faxes as e-mails, they can quickly be forwarded anywhere in the world while ensuring confidentiality.

For more information on the Multi-Tech FaxFinder fax server solution, contact Alternate Access at (919) 831-1860 or visit www.AlternateAccess.com.

About Alternate Access
Founded in 1993, Raleigh, North Carolina-based Alternate Access is celebrating 15 years of providing intelligent business phone systems to small-business and branch-office clients locally and nationwide. Their innovative phone system solutions help increase profits by boosting staff performance and efficiency, enhancing customer service, and adding management reporting capabilities - all while decreasing labor and infrastructure costs. Products include IP-PBX with Voice over IP, fax servers, unified messaging, Web collaboration, interactive voice response and call center applications, headsets and specialty phones. By employing extensive experience and best practices, award-winning Alternate Access works in partnership with its customers to build creative yet cost-effective solutions. For more information on Alternate Access visit www.AlternateAccess.com.

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Contact:
Alternate Access, Inc.
(919) 831-1860
Press@AlternateAccess.com

Alternate Access® Sponsors Strike for Survival 2008
Company participates as bronze sponsor, organizes bowling teams and provides volunteers for fundraising event

Raleigh, N.C. (September 9, 2008) – Alternate Access®, a leading provider of converged communications solutions, will be a bronze level sponsor at the Strike for Survival 2008 Glenwood area bowling event on Friday, September 12 at Pleasant Valley Bowling Lanes. The annual fundraiser, featuring four bowling events, raises money to support the American Cancer Society in its efforts to find a cure for cancer.

Alternate Access has also organized two bowling teams to participate in the Glenwood area bowling event and coordinated two teenage volunteers to provide face painting to children and the young at heart.

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 40,420 new cases of cancer were expected to be diagnosed in North Carolina in 2008 – more than 1.4 million were estimated nationwide.

“Cancer will affect most of us in some way during out lifetimes,” stated Adrienne K. Lumpkin, Alternate Access president and director of marketing. “Several members of the Alternate Access family have supported loved ones in their battles against various forms of cancer. We are proud to be a part of this event and to support, as a team, the efforts of the American Cancer Society.”

Three other Strike for Survival 2008 bowling events will take place as follows: Saturday, September 13, at Capitol Lanes on Capital Boulevard in Raleigh; Friday, September 19 at Durham AMF Lanes on Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard; and Saturday, September 20, at Cary AMF Lanes on Nottingham Drive. Proceeds from all events will benefit the American Cancer Society.

About Alternate Access
Founded in 1993, Raleigh, North Carolina-based Alternate Access is celebrating 15 years of providing intelligent business phone systems to small-business and branch-office clients locally and nationwide. Their innovative phone system solutions help increase profits by boosting staff performance and efficiency, enhancing customer service, and adding management reporting capabilities - all while decreasing labor and infrastructure costs. Products include IP-PBX with Voice over IP, fax servers, unified messaging, Web collaboration, interactive voice response and call center applications, headsets and specialty phones. By employing extensive experience and best practices, award-winning Alternate Access works in partnership with its customers to build creative yet cost-effective solutions. For more information on Alternate Access visit www.AlternateAccess.com.

About Strike for Survival
Strike for Survival, headquartered in Raleigh, NC is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization conceived in 2004 by Raleigh business owners who wanted to create an opportunity to give back to the community. Strike for Survival is a fun event where the entire family can participate and the small business is considered a major contributor. Strike for Survival has four mission points: raise money for the American Cancer Society, allow small business owners to be visibly involved in their community, help to raise the next generation of volunteers and allow for education and awareness on how to survive cancer. As a non-profit organization, 98 percent of monies raised goes to the American Cancer Society. The organization has expanded to include two Raleigh locations, Cary and Durham. For more information on how to get involved with Strike for Survival, visit www.StrikeforSurvival.com.

About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering, and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States. For more information anytime, call toll free 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

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Contact:
Alternate Access, Inc.
(919) 831-1860
Press@AlternateAccess.com

Alternate Access® Becomes First in North Carolina to Launch Sale of AastraLink Pro VoIP Phone System
New product provides small businesses an entry-level VoIP solution

Raleigh, N.C. (July 8, 2008) – Alternate Access®, a leading provider of converged communications solutions, has expanded its line of voice over internet protocol product offerings to include the AastraLink Pro 160. This new product will allow Alternate Access to offer small businesses, with as few as three employees, an entry-level VoIP option that is feature-rich and economical.

As the first reseller of this new VoIP product in North Carolina, Alternate Access is excited to introduce it to the local small-business community.

About the size of a notebook computer, the AastraLink Pro 160 offers small and start-up businesses the ability to implement an IP-PBX “out-of-the box” by plugging in to the business’s existing local area network. No license fees or added costs are involved, and, as a small business grows, adding additional users is as simple as purchasing additional handsets.

“More and more, small businesses want to take advantage of the cost savings and increased functionality of VoIP,” stated Kelly Lumpkin, Alternate Access CEO and director of business development. “This system allows both new businesses and very small businesses to reap the benefits of this technology.”

The AastraLink Pro 160 delivers a full suite of both PBX system and standard phone features while leveraging IP-based services, and it provides businesses that have multiple branches, such as staffing and insurance agencies, mortgage companies, and real estate and medical offices, a way to link all office locations via an internal extension-to-extension dialing plan.

The addition of this entry-level product rounds out the collection of VoIP phone systems Alternate Access offers – enabling the company to customize solutions for businesses of various sizes and budgets.

Lumpkin added, “The AastraLink Pro is very affordable for customers and enables us to provide a smooth growth path for customers who need to expand or want or greater functionality, including call center capability, in the future.”

The AastraLink Pro was developed by Aastra Telecom, the North American business unit of Aastra Technologies Limited. Headquartered in Canada, Aastra Telecom is a proven and reputable vendor and a leader in the global Enterprise Communication market. Alternate Access is a certified reseller of the AastraLink Pro 160.

For more information on the AastraLink Pro 160 VoIP product, contact Alternate Access at (919) 831-1860 or visit www.AlternateAccess.com.

About Alternate Access
Founded in 1993, Raleigh, North Carolina-based Alternate Access is celebrating 15 years of providing intelligent business phone systems to small-business and branch-office clients locally and nationwide. Their innovative phone system solutions help increase profits by boosting staff performance and efficiency, enhancing customer service, and adding management reporting capabilities - all while decreasing labor and infrastructure costs. Products include IP-PBX with Voice over IP, fax servers, unified messaging, Web collaboration, interactive voice response and call center applications, headsets and specialty phones. By employing extensive experience and best practices, award-winning Alternate Access works in partnership with its customers to build creative yet cost-effective solutions. For more information on Alternate Access visit www.AlternateAccess.com.

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Alternate Access® personalizes billing services for Management Services On-Call
Customized software-based phone system enhances customer service, improves workload management, and provides quality assurance measures

RALEIGH, N.C. (Oct. 30, 2007) – Alternate Access, a leading provider of converged communications solutions, was selected by Management Services On-Call to create and install an IP-PBX phone system to personalize its billing services, as well as improve management reporting capabilities and call control.

Located in Chapel Hill, N.C., Management Services On-Call provides medical billing, collection services and innovative management consulting solutions to small and medium-sized physician practices in seven states.

“When we first met with Management Services On-Call, they were clear that improving call workflow was a top priority,” said Kelly Lumpkin, Alternate Access chief executive officer and director of business development. “They also required increased reporting capabilities and quality assurance measures, as well as personalization of their billing services.”

Alternate Access configured the TeleVantage® IP-PBX phone system to meet the medical billing company's communication needs, for both inbound and outbound calls. The TeleVantage system provides Management Services On-Call a call recording feature, allowing for quality assurance of calls, and extensive management reporting tools, which help the company better distribute workload across its customer service agents.

Lumpkin added, “Management can easily generate reports based on number of calls handled by each agent and the length of each call, providing an accurate view of where work should be distributed.”

The system also provides Management Services On-Call the flexibility to personalize its services for doctors. Each doctor’s office is assigned a direct inward dial (DID) number. When a caller dials a specific DID, communicated via their doctor’s billing statement, TeleVantage recognizes it and routes it to the appropriate customer service agent. The agent in turn answers the call using the name of the corresponding doctor’s office – providing an individualized customer service experience.

“We chose the TeleVantage system because we really believe in its flexibility,” said Cameron Cox, president of Management Services On-Call. “This system has already helped tremendously in streamlining operations. We know that as our business continues to grow, and our phone system needs change, TeleVantage is flexible enough to also change and meet those needs.”

For more information on Management Services On-Call, visit the company’s Web site at www.msoconline.com or contact Cameron Cox at (919) 960-0336 or cameron.cox@msoconline.com.

For more information on Alternate Access, contact Lia Luisi at (919) 463-9680 or via e-mail at lia.luisi@thinkpartnership.com.

 

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Alternate Access® sponsors 25th annual YWCA Academy of Women awards event
Adrienne K. Lumpkin to introduce Entrepreneur inductee during reception at Governor’s Executive Mansion

RALEIGH, N.C. (Oct. 23, 2007) – Alternate Access®, a leading provider of converged communications solutions, will be a sponsor of the 25th Annual YWCA Academy of Women awards celebration on Nov. 7 at the Embassy Suites in Cary. With a membership of more than 200, the Academy of Women recognizes the outstanding leadership of accomplished women throughout the Triangle.

Prior to the awards event, Adrienne K. Lumpkin, Alternate Access president and director of marketing, will introduce the 2007 Academy of Women inductee in the Entrepreneur category, Michelle Rich Goode, during a reception at the governor’s executive mansion in Raleigh. At the invite only reception, on Oct. 23, all 2007 Academy of Women candidates will be inducted.

"This honor is reserved for women of the highest caliber in the Triangle who are making a real difference in bringing the YWCA mission alive,” said Lumpkin. “I was humbled to receive the award two years ago and am proud to participate in the induction of Michelle, a champion for women and trailblazer in real estate for many years."

Established in 1983 by the YWCA of Wake County, the Academy of Women honors local women who exemplify the organization’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. Through their daily interactions, at work and while volunteering, these extraordinary women demonstrate a commitment to that mission.

Every year one woman is selected per each of 11 diverse categories including: Arts & Entertainment, Business, Community Service, Education, Entrepreneur, Exercise & Sports Science, Government, Human Services, Professions, Service & Technology and Teen Woman.

Goode is the founder of Rich Commercial Realty, which she established in 1989 as one of the first tenant representative firms in the Triangle. She has served on several boards, including the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, Triangle Commercial Real Estate Women (past-president) and Meredith College Board of Trustees (past chair). Goode has also been honored with various awards during her 21 years in real estate and was most recently named a 2006 Woman Extraordinaire by Business Leader Magazine.

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About Alternate Access®
Founded in 1993, Raleigh, North Carolina-based Alternate Access® provides intelligent business phone systems to small-business and branch-office clients locally and nationwide. Their innovative phone system solutions help increase profits by boosting staff performance and efficiency, enhancing customer service, and adding management reporting capabilities – all while decreasing labor and infrastructure costs. Products include IP-PBX with Voice over IP, fax servers, unified messaging, Web collaboration, interactive voice response and call center applications, headsets and specialty phones. By employing extensive experience and best practices, award-winning Alternate Access works in partnership with its customers to build creative yet cost-effective solutions. For more information on Alternate Access visit www.AlternateAccess.com.

 

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Alternate Access® Imroves Call Efficiency for Asset Protectors and Advisors Group

Software-based phone system solution provides call center capabilities, linking two locations and enhancing productivity of sales team

RALEIGH, N.C. – Asset Protectors & Advisors Group has engaged Alternate Access®, a leading provider of converged communications solutions, to customize and install a phone system geared to improve call efficiency.

The software-based solution provides call center capabilities that will seamlessly link the company’s two office locations using one phone system.

“Asset Protectors & Advisors Group will realize increased control over call flow, ensuring that each call is handled quickly and effectively,” said Kelly Lumpkin, Alternate Access chief executive officer and director of business development.

Alternate Access used the TeleVantage® IP-PBX phone system as the foundation for the solution. Being software-based, the system allows users to maintain call functionality and call handling capabilities from any location – whether in the office or off site.

Lumpkin explained, “For example, when a salesperson is out of the office, calls are automatically routed to his or her cell phone. If the agent needs to transfer the call back to office staff, he or she can do so without having the caller hang up and redial the office.”

This system provides comprehensive call center functionality via distinctive features including call recording and management reporting. Call recording will allow the Asset Protectors & Advisors Group management staff to review sales calls for quality assurance and provide feedback to sales agents. At the same time, management can check call logs and develop detailed reports to ensure that required call volumes are being met.

Asset Protectors & Advisors Group, located in Raleigh, N.C. and licensed across the United States, is a group of independent representatives that provides training and lead generation for brokers, attorneys, insurance representatives and financial consultants to gain qualified prospects.

“This system provides more opportunity to better serve our agents and clients,” said Tom McDermott, president of Asset Protectors & Advisors Group. “It also provides reporting features for us to track our business.”

For more information on Asset Protectors & Advisors Group, call (919) 851-0846 or visit the company’s Web site at www.assetprotectorsgroup.com.

For more information on Alternate Access, contact Lia Luisi at (919) 463-9680 or via e-mail at lia.luisi@thinkpartnership.com.

 

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Oak Island Accommodations selects Alternate Access® to install integrated business phone system


Customized system establishes call center for 50 employees, enhances customer service

RALEIGH, N.C. (Sept. 10, 2007) – Alternate Access®, a leading provider of converged communications solutions, was chosen by Oak Island Accommodations to create and install a customized business phone system, which provides comprehensive call center functionality such as auto attendant, voicemail, call queuing, announcements, call recording and management reporting.

“We welcomed the opportunity to help this established company increase efficiency,” stated Kelly Lumpkin, Alternate Access chief executive officer and director of business development. “Oak Island Accommodations receives a high volume of customer calls daily. Our customized solution will streamline call flow, as well as provide easier system administration.”

Oak Island Accommodations is the largest vacation rental agency in Oak Island, N.C., employing a staff of 50 and boasting a selection of more than 700 rental homes. Family owned and operated, the 16-year-old company recently developed the need for a new phone system and turned to Raleigh, North Carolina-based Alternate Access.

Alternate Access customized a business phone system to meet the company’s specific needs. The Windows-based software solution featured a call center capability for easier and faster routing of customer calls and allowed the management staff to make changes or enhancements to the system during normal business hours without interrupting any employee’s work flow.

According to a statement issued by the Oak Island Accommodations management team, Alternate Access’s reporting system enables them to see what is going on behind the scenes in the call center. The statement further explained that their “guest services representatives find using this system to be easy and learner-friendly. The auto attendant feature allows us to provide customer support and service 24 hours a day, seven days a week from any location.”

For more information on Oak Island Accommodations, contact Guest Services at 1-800-243-8132 or visit the company’s Web site at www.RentalsAtTheBeach.com.

For more information on Alternate Access, contact Lia Luisi at (919) 463-9680 or via e-mail at lia.luisi@thinkpartnership.com.

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About Alternate Access®
Founded in 1993, Raleigh, North Carolina-based Alternate Access® provides intelligent business phone systems to small-business and branch-office clients locally and nationwide. Their innovative phone system solutions help increase profits by boosting staff performance and efficiency, enhancing customer service, and adding management reporting capabilities – all while decreasing labor and infrastructure costs. Products include IP-PBX with Voice over IP, fax servers, unified messaging, Web collaboration, interactive voice response and call center applications, headsets and specialty phones. By employing extensive experience and best practices, award-winning Alternate Access works in partnership with its customers to build creative yet cost-effective solutions. Customers discover sustainable competitive advantages while unlocking new business opportunities and reducing operations costs. For more information on Alternate Access visit www.AlternateAccess.com.

 

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Contact:
Lia Luisi
MarketSmart (for Alternate Access)
(919) 463-9680
lia.luisi@thinkpartnership.com

Alternate Access® president named Woman Business Owner of the Year
Greater Raleigh chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners selects Adrienne K. Lumpkin based on business aptitude, support of organization

RALEIGH, N.C. (June 28, 2007) – Alternate Access® president and director of marketing Adrienne K. Lumpkin has been named the 2007 Woman Business Owner of the Year by the Greater Raleigh chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners at the installation and award ceremony held last night at Brier Creek Country Club.

The annual award is presented to a local NAWBO member based on exemplary performance in several areas, including business accomplishments, ability to overcome obstacles, involvement in NAWBO, support of other women business owners, and civic and community involvement.

“I am honored to receive this award,” stated Lumpkin. “NAWBO is such an important, rewarding part of my life. NAWBO continuously provides numerous opportunities for women business owners to serve, share insights and learn from others, develop friendships and support each other’s businesses.”

Lumpkin was nominated by the 2006 award recipient, and fellow NAWBO member, Judy T. Smith, owner of Smith Seal of NC. Smith explained, “Adrienne lives and breathes NAWBO and has tirelessly, skillfully and cheerfully served the organization. She is an inspiration to women and a great motivator – and she does all of this with grace and charm.”

An 11-year member of the NAWBO Greater Raleigh, Lumpkin has served the organization in various capacities, including serving on the national nominating committee, serving on the local board for three years – as president for one year – and taking on myriad special projects.

Lumpkin’s company, Alternate Access, is a leading provider of converged communications solutions that has nearly tripled its installed base of clients over the past three years. It has also grown one of its niche markets, the florist industry, by 60 percent. Today the company has customers nationwide and in Canada.

For more information on Alternate Access, contact Lia Luisi at (919) 463-9680 or via e-mail at lia.luisi@thinkpartnership.com.

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About Alternate Access
Founded in 1993, Raleigh, North Carolina-based Alternate Access provides intelligent business phone systems to small-business and branch-office clients locally and nationwide. Their innovative phone system solutions help increase profits by boosting staff performance and efficiency, enhancing customer service, and adding management reporting capabilities – all while decreasing labor and infrastructure costs. Products include IP-PBX with Voice over IP, fax servers, unified messaging, Web collaboration, interactive voice response and call center applications, headsets and specialty phones. By employing extensive experience and best practices, award-winning Alternate Access works in partnership with its customers to build creative yet cost-effective solutions. Customers discover sustainable competitive advantages while unlocking new business opportunities and reducing operations costs. For more information on Alternate Access visit www.AlternateAccess.com.

About NAWBO
Founded in 1975, NAWBO propels women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide. Thirty years later, NAWBO is still the only organization that solely represents the interest of women entrepreneurs in all industries. The organization’s mission is to strengthen the wealth-creating capacity of its members and promote economic development; to create innovative and effective change in the business culture; to build strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations; and to transform public policy and influence opinion makers. Visit www.nawbo.org for more information.

 

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Contact:
Lia Luisi
WordSmith Communications, Inc.
(919) 463-9680
lluisi@thinkpartnership.com

Alternate Access® to feature call center solutions designed for the floral industry at Super Floral Show
Converged communications solution provider will demonstrate how FloralProfitCenter™ helps florists increase profits, optimize operations and build repeat sales

RALEIGH, N.C. (June 4, 2007) – Alternate Access®, a leading provider of converged communications solutions, will be an exhibitor at the Super Floral Show June 12 through June 15 at Columbus Center in Columbus, Ohio. Visitors to the Alternate Access booth, No. 2054, will learn how FloralProfitCenter™ combines Voice over IP and enterprise call center capabilities with existing, florist industry-specific point-of-sale applications.

FloralProfitCenter enables florists to provide better customer care, increase order handling, target advertising campaigns and up-sell products via sophisticated call tracking and in-depth reporting capabilities. By seamlessly integrating call center and point-of-sales applications, the Alternate Access team provides a unique customer service solution that increases profits, optimizes operations efficiency and builds repeat sales for clients.

Visitors to booth No. 2054 will be able to experience FloralProfitCenter firsthand via an interactive demonstration, view a presentation on the benefits of FloralProfitCenter, and meet with the Alternate Access team to discuss how a call center solution can help their business.

“We are excited to exhibit at a floral industry trade show of this magnitude,” stated Kelly Lumpkin, CEO and director of business development for Alternate Access. “The Super Floral Show will provide us the opportunity to talk one-on-one with decision makers and show them how FloralProfitCenter can be customized to achieve the goals of their individual businesses.”

Having an in-depth knowledge of florist business requirements, Alternate Access created FloralProfitCenter to offer the underserved florist market the ability to raise customer service to a new level. Alternate Access has created customized communications solutions for florists nationwide and in Canada, and is the only company in the nation that integrates TeleVantage™ and florist-specific point-of-sale applications.

For more information on Alternate Access’s booth, No. 2054, at the Super Floral Show, contact Lia Luisi at (919) 463-9680 or via e-mail at lia.luisi@thinkpartnership.com.

For more information on FloralProfitCenter, visit www.FloralProfitCenter.com or call 866-831-9277.

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About Alternate Access
Founded in 1993, Raleigh, North Carolina-based Alternate Access provides intelligent business phone systems to small-business and branch-office clients locally and nationwide. Their innovative phone system solutions help increase profits by boosting staff performance and efficiency, enhancing customer service, and adding management reporting capabilities – all while decreasing labor and infrastructure costs. Products include IP-PBX with Voice over IP, fax servers, unified messaging, Web collaboration, interactive voice response and call center applications, headsets and specialty phones. By employing extensive experience and best practices, award-winning Alternate Access works in partnership with its customers to build creative yet cost-effective solutions. Customers discover sustainable competitive advantages while unlocking new business opportunities and reducing operations costs. For more information on Alternate Access visit www.AlternateAccess.com.

 

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Contact:
Lia Luisi
WordSmith Communications, Inc.
(919) 463-9680
lluisi@marketsmart.net

Alternate Access® launches cutting-edge product to enhance florist telephone systems and call center applications
FloralProfitCenter Dashboard™ to debut at the Northeast Floral Expo Feb. 23-25

RALEIGH, N.C. (Feb. 21, 2007) – Alternate Access, a leading provider of converged communications solutions, will launch its cutting-edge FloralProfitCenter Dashboard™ product at the Northeast Floral Expo Feb. 23 through Feb. 25 in Hartford, Conn. This new application makes the state-of-the-art call center tool Vertical TeleVantage™ accessible to most florists, including nearly 23,000 in the $19 billion U.S. retail florist industry.

“Our team has developed a bridge between TeleVantage and most floral accounting and point-of-sale software,” stated Kelly Lumpkin, Alternate Access CEO. “Previously, TeleVantage could only be integrated with two point-of-sale brands, limiting the number of florists we could serve. Now almost any florist can realize the benefits of a customized Alternate Access solution to streamline high-volume phone calls to florists.”

Alternate Access’ FPC Dashboard works seamlessly with the TeleVantage IP-PBX to deliver call center capabilities to small to medium-sized businesses. By leveraging floral industry expertise and advanced technology, Alternate Access provides feature-rich, flexible phone system solutions to florists nationwide. These phone systems enhance customer service, increase staff productivity, and lower operations costs through utilization of myriad features.

For instance, call center agents can easily log in or out of call queues, enabling them to quickly assist with influxes of calls as needed. In addition, via queue monitoring and alerts, the FPC Dashboard provides management with real-time call center status and updates. Management staff can track how many agents are taking calls, how many calls are on hold, how long callers have been on hold, and many other statistics. Based on this information, management can program alerts to indicate when additional call center agents are needed, thus minimizing customer wait time.

Another beneficial feature, pop-up screens provide on-screen access to pertinent customer information. Upon receiving a call, caller ID information is immediately displayed on the monitor, and, due to integration with point-of-sale or accounting software, customer account information is also displayed. Call center agents provide better customer service by spending more time consulting the customer rather than searching through a database for customer information.

For more information on FloralProfitCenter Dashboard and how it can enhance floral businesses, visit www.FloralProfitCenter.com or call 866-831-9277.

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About Alternate Access
Founded in 1993, Raleigh, North Carolina-based Alternate Access provides intelligent business phone systems to small-business and branch-office clients locally and nationwide. Their innovative phone system solutions help increase profits by boosting staff performance and efficiency, enhancing customer service, and adding management reporting capabilities – all while decreasing labor and infrastructure costs. Products include IP-PBX with Voice over IP, fax servers, unified messaging, Web collaboration, interactive voice response and call center applications, headsets and specialty phones. By employing extensive experience and best practices, award-winning Alternate Access works in partnership with its customers to build creative yet cost-effective solutions. Customers discover sustainable competitive advantages while unlocking new business opportunities and reducing operations costs. For more information on Alternate Access visit www.AlternateAccess.com.

Alternate Access® selects MarketSmart Advertising
to expand public relations efforts in 2007
Agency’s public relations department, WordSmith Communications, to implement comprehensive public relations plan

RALEIGH, N.C. (Jan. 29, 2007) – Alternate Access®, a leading provider of converged communications solutions, has selected MarketSmart Advertising, a full-service, integrated marketing communications firm and part of Think Partnership’s (AMEX:THK) Think Advertising Division, to expand its public relations efforts. MarketSmart’s public relations department, WordSmith Communications, will implement a comprehensive plan, with a focus on increasing media coverage in select vertical markets.

WordSmith Communications will coordinate local and national media relations, assist with trade show publicity, promote coverage in trade publications, and enhance Alternate Access’ position as an innovative business leader locally and within its industry and vertical markets. Alternate Access’ diverse client base includes small to medium-sized companies in a variety of industries, including the floral, legal, printing and engineering fields.

Lewis Finch, president of Think Advertising, said, “Alternate Access shares our vision of putting the client first – not only by helping to grow each client’s business but growing solid relationships as well. We are thrilled to work with the knowledgeable, experienced Alternate Access team and look forward to helping them achieve their public relations goals.”

“We are impressed by the professionalism and experience that MarketSmart brings to the table,” stated Adrienne Lumpkin, president of Alternate Access. “Their approach of ‘telling the story’ behind the company and technology really intrigued us, and we are excited about the opportunity to have our story told – a story of positively impacting our clients’ businesses through the intelligent application of communications technology.”

Founded in 1993, Raleigh-based Alternate Access provides intelligent business phone systems to small-business and branch-office clients locally and nationwide. Their innovative phone system solutions help increase profits by boosting staff performance and efficiency, enhancing customer service, and adding management reporting capabilities – all while decreasing labor and infrastructure costs.

Products include IP-PBX with Voice over IP, fax servers, unified messaging, Web collaboration, interactive voice response and call center applications, headsets and specialty phones.

By employing extensive experience and best practices, award-winning Alternate Access works in partnership with its customers to build creative yet cost-effective solutions. Customers discover sustainable competitive advantages while unlocking new business opportunities and reducing operations costs.

For more information on Alternate Access visit www.AlternateAccess.com.

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About MarketSmart Advertising
MarketSmart Advertising is a full-service, integrated marketing communications firm located in Raleigh, N.C. Part of Think Partnership Inc. (AMEX:THK), an international leader in interactive performance-based marketing and related Internet technologies, MarketSmart Advertising has offered world-class advertising, marketing and branding services since 1991. Over the years, the agency has grown to meet its clients’ needs by adding an audiovisual production house, a public relations department and mystery shopping services. The advertising agency is ranked as the second largest in the Triangle region in the Triangle Business Journal’s 2007 Book of Lists. For more information, contact MarketSmart Advertising at (919) 782-2360 or visit the agency’s Web site at www.marketsmart.net.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Adrienne Lumpkin
Alternate Access
5623 Duraleigh Road
Raleigh, NC 27612-2700
Phone: 919-831-1860

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Alternate Access® Presents FloralProfitCenter™
at the Southern Retail Florist Show August 25 - 27

Raleigh, NC – 25 August 2006 -- Alternate Access, a leading provider of converged communications solutions, will showcase its particular expertise in propelling floral profits and growth when it presents FloralProfitCenter in Booth 514 at the 2006 Southern Retail Florist Show in Charlotte, NC. Visitors to the Alternate Access booth will learn how to improve their operations, build repeat customer sales, and increase profits using convergence technologies that merge voice communications, data, and customer relationship management; they will also have a chance to enter a drawing for a Plantronics 640 Wireless Headset.

Alternate Access CEO Kelly Lumpkin says, “FloralProfitCenter allows you to streamline operations, accurately target key market segments, and create a superior service experience for all customers doing business by phone. Increased productivity in these key areas provides a sustainable competitive edge, protects your best customers, and provides endless opportunities to grow your profits.”

Owners can be confident that every call is answered promptly and routed appropriately, in turn making their agents more productive and their customers more satisfied. FloralProfitCenter allows business owners the flexibility to implement the features that work for their business. Everything from priority handling of VIP customers to announcing time-sensitive specials can be customized to meet any business’ needs. FloralProfitCenter can be integrated with CRM applications such as MAS® to activate order entry screen pop-ups and point-and-click dialing.

With efficient call handling and call recording for quality control, FloralProfitCenter creates a positive impact on many areas of a florist’s business. In addition to these key features FloralProfitCenter can become a strategic partner in managing growth and success through statistics gathering and mapping to accounting, inventory and delivery functions to help florists improve their workflow. This functionality allows business owners to proactively measure the success of marketing campaigns; this information could be used to better forecast demand and adjust inventory accordingly. These are just a few of the ways that FloralProfitCenter can help streamline business operations.

Alternate Access offers comprehensive consulting and implementation planning in addition to their 360° Customer Centric Service Model. Blake Mobley, President of Zeidler’s Floral Company states,”…It is great to get support from Alternate Access, who understands their product and my business needs as well.” These services help florists identify and prioritize areas in their business to make maximum impact. Visit FloralProfitCenter online: www.floralprofitcenter.com

About Alternate Access®
Alternate Access, founded in 1993, improves worker productivity in both profit and cost centers through the implementation of comprehensive communication systems. Converging voice and data communication technologies with information systems such as accounting and customer relationship management, Alternate Access provides new standards of customer service and management control. We select hardware and software components specifically designed and configured to meet your unique business requirements. Alternate Access gets to the core of how your business works and delivers bottom line results. Converged Communications for Competitive Advantage. For more information, contact us at www.floralprofitcenter.com or call toll free at 866-831-9275.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Adrienne Lumpkin
Alternate Access
5623 Duraleigh Road
Raleigh, NC 27612-2700
Phone: 919-831-1860

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Alternate Access® Launches 2006 Floral Campaign


Raleigh, NC -- February 14, 2006-- Alternate Access®, a leader in the converged telecommunications field has launched a dynamic marketing initiative to spread the word of the success that their FloralProfitCenter has achieved since its inception in 2005. Alternate Access® has been providing creative communication solutions in the floral arena since 2002. The introduction of FloralProfitCenter was an effort to enhance and strengthen performance and features for maximum impact. Florists around the country are seeing measurable results positively affecting all areas of operations as a direct result of the FloralProfitCenter.

Creative mailings and print ads will attract the attention of florists, focusing on holidays like Valentines Day and Mother's Day when call volume is at its peak and traditional phone systems are overwhelmed, inefficient and often fail. The campaign is intended to create awareness throughout the floral industry about FloralProfitCenter and how effectively it allows floral agents to streamline operations, accurately target key market segments and create a superior customer service experience.

Alternate Access® President Adrienne Lumpkin says, "We want to leverage the success of the FloralProfitCenter and give all business owners the opportunity to increase productivity, sustain a competitive edge, protect their customers and provide endless opportunities to grow their profits

About Alternate Access®
Alternate Access, founded in 1993, improves worker productivity in both profit and cost centers through the implementation of comprehensive communication systems. Converging voice and data communication technologies with information systems such as accounting and customer relationship management, Alternate Access provides new standards of customer service and management control. Solutions include software based telephone systems, fax, interactive voice response, speech recognition, web collaboration, call center applications and headsets. Alternate Access gets to the core of how your business works and delivers bottom line results. Converged Communications for Competitive Advantage. For more information, contact us at www.floralprofitcenter.com or call 866-831-9277.

About FloralProfitCenter
Alternate Access® introduced FloralProfitCenter in July 2005. It was originally presented at the 2005 FTD Floral Extravaganza in Dallas, Texas. Those in attendance saw first hand how to improve their operations, build repeat customer sales, and increase profits using convergence technologies that merge voice communications, data and customer relationship management. Since its inception, FloralProfitCenter has become a valuable tool for florists across the country and propelled floral profits and growth. For more information please contact us at www.floralprofitcenter.com or call 866-831-9277.

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Alternate Access® is Offering TeleVantage 7.0
New release of IP-PBX and Contact Center significantly lowers a business' costs and improves its productivity

    Raleigh, NC - 30 November 2005 -- The converged communications specialists of Alternate Access are pleased to announce the addition of TeleVantage 7.0 to the company's comprehensive line-up of business phone system solutions. TeleVantage 7.0, developed by Vertical Communications of Cambridge, Massachusetts (ASFT.OB), extends the feature-rich capabilities of its award-winning predecessor. As a value-added reseller of the Vertical technology, Alternate Access provides its customers with phone system site surveys, custom application development, and premier support services.

    TeleVantage significantly increases employee productivity and improves customer service for small and medium-sized businesses by combining an innovative IP-PBX with a suite of high-value voice applications, including unified messaging, personalized call-handling rules, comprehensive call recording and a robust contact center. TeleVantage also features ViewPoint, an award-winning graphical user interface that increases employee effectiveness by giving them access to the hundreds of phone system features through an intuitive, Web- or Windows-based environment.

    Alternate Access CEO Kelly Lumpkin states, "We have built our business' reputation on providing business phone systems that are intelligent, intuitive, and indispensable in real-world operating environments. In so doing, in the twelve years since we opened our doors, we have made it possible for organizations to transform their voice communications from an expense item to a business asset. TeleVantage 7.0 is an important addition to our suite of telephony solutions. It has been designed to provide a cost-effective and long-term IP-PBX solution that can scale as customers' businesses grow and as they move to complete their IP environments."

    With the introduction of TeleVantage 7.0, Vertical is significantly lowering the total cost of ownership for phone systems in several key areas. Specifically, TeleVantage 7.0 supports legacy PBX phones, provides industry-standard SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) VoIP, adds skills-based routing to support sophisticated contact centers, and enables customers to deploy a 100% pure software IP-PBX through the support of Intel NetStructure Host Media Processing (HMP) software. With these and many other new features, TeleVantage 7.0 is designed to protect customers' investments in their existing infrastructure, while enabling them to adopt and deploy the latest technology in the timeframe that works best for their businesses.

    About Alternate Access®
    Alternate Access empowers service businesses to dramatically boost their productivity and customer service levels by delivering integrated, intuitive and indispensable business phone systems. Customers include real estate, construction, medical, staffing, florists, auto dealers and other service businesses. Alternate Access quickly gets to the core of how your business works and combines the convenience of your telephone with the intelligence of your computer - for bottom line results. Converged Communications for Competitive Advantage. For more information, contact us at www.AlternateAccess.com or call toll free at 866-831-9273.
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More Florists are Turning to FloralProfitCenter™ from Alternate Access® to Improve Operations, Build Repeat Customer Sales, and Increase Profits


Raleigh, NC -- 13 September 2005 -- Kelly Lumpkin, CEO of Alternate Access, a leading provider of converged communications solutions, announces that FloralProfitCenter is becoming a must-have communications enhancer for floral companies wanting to grow their profits and improve their customer service. Matlack Florist of West Chester, Pennsylvania and Norton Floral Company of Birmingham, Alabama are the most recent customers of Alternate Access' comprehensive consulting and implementation planning which helps florists identify and prioritize areas in their business through which maximum impact may be realized.

FloralProfitCenter helps florists improve their workflow by positively impacting most areas of operations. From handling calls more efficiently and recording calls for quality control to collecting statistics and mapping those with accounting, inventory and delivery functions, FloralProfitCenter becomes a strategic asset to managing a floral business' growth and success.

Matlack Florist, a large floral company in West Chester, Pennsylvania, contacted Alternate Access to help them increase order throughput during busy seasons, including proper staffing and spreading the work load evenly. After a thorough examination of Matlack's communications procedures, Alternate Access recommended TeleVantage® from Vertical Communications (ASFT.OB) combined with MAS-Link from Alternate Access, which connects to Matlack's integrated management system, for a powerful and intuitive call center that allows efficient call handling during peak periods. TeleVantage reports will show statistically how the work load is spread and give Matlack the opportunity to reward high performance. TeleVantage call recording will also help insure the owners always know the facts behind any complaint calls.

Norton Floral Company, with four locations in Birmingham, Alabama, contacted Alternate Access because they felt their company's phone system was inadequate, with no voice mail, no ability to organize call volumes, and no way to have remote locations team-up to handle call volume during peak times. Alternate Access installed TeleVantage with its powerful call center capabilities, which seamlessly integrates Norton's remote locations, allowing the company to more efficiently handle call volumes during its peak periods as well as in everyday usage. TeleVantage's plethora of reporting capabilities will also allow Norton to identify areas of growth potential through new and repeat sales while troubleshooting areas that need special attention.

Kelly Lumpkin says, "FloralProfitCenter enables floral businesses to bring together all the elements for a successful enterprise--efficient call handling, tight execution of product development and delivery, and excellent customer care. Florists around the country are recognizing FloralProfitCenter as their competitive advantage."

About Alternate Access®
Alternate Access, founded in 1993, improves worker productivity in both profit and cost centers through the implementation of comprehensive communication systems. Converging voice and data communication technologies with information systems such as accounting and customer relationship management, Alternate Access provides new standards of customer service and management control. We select hardware and software components specifically designed and configured to meet your unique business requirements. Alternate Access gets to the core of how your business works and delivers bottom line results. Converged Communications for Competitive Advantage. For more information, contact us at www.floralprofitcenter.com or call toll free at 866-831-9275.

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Alternate Access® Presents FloralProfitCenter™
at the FTD Floral Extravaganza July 22-24


Raleigh, NC -- 18 July 2005 -- Alternate Access, a leading provider of converged communications solutions, will showcase its particular expertise in propelling floral profits and growth when it presents FloralProfitCenter in Booth 140 at the 2005 FTD Floral Extravaganza in Dallas, Texas. Visitors to the Alternate Access booth will learn how to improve their operations, build repeat customer sales, and increase profits using convergence technologies that merge voice communications, data, and customer relationship management.

FloralProfitCenter helps florists improve their workflow by positively impacting most areas of operations. From handling calls more efficiently and recording calls for quality control to collecting statistics and mapping those with accounting, inventory and delivery functions, FloralProfitCenter becomes a strategic asset to managing a floral business’ growth and success.

FloralProfitCenter makes floral agents more productive and callers more satisfied. With it, owners can be confident that every inbound call is answered promptly and routed appropriately. Their business takes the controls for when and how to implement special features - such as priority handling for VIP callers or announcement of time-sensitive specials. They may incorporate CRM applications such as MAS® to activate order entry screen-pops and point-and-click dialing. FloralProfitCenter also helps owners proactively measure the effectiveness of their marketing campaigns, so they can better forecast demand and tighten inventory control.

Alternate Access CEO Kelly Lumpkin says, “FloralProfitCenter lets you to streamline operations, accurately target key market segments, and create a superior service experience for all customers doing business by phone. Increased productivity in these key areas provides a sustainable competitive edge, protects your best customers, and provides endless opportunities to grow your profits.”

Alternate Access offers comprehensive consulting and implementation planning to help florists identify and prioritize areas in their business to make maximum impact. “And,“ as Kelly Lumpkin adds, “FloralProfitCenter is backed by Alternate Access’s 360° Customer-Centric Service Model which keeps the needs of your floral business at the center of all our solution offerings.” Visit FloralProfitCenter online: www.floralprofitcenter.com

About Alternate Access®
Alternate Access, founded in 1993, improves worker productivity in both profit and cost centers through the implementation of comprehensive communication systems. Converging voice and data communication technologies with information systems such as accounting and customer relationship management, Alternate Access provides new standards of customer service and management control. We select hardware and software components specifically designed and configured to meet your unique business requirements. Alternate Access gets to the core of how your business works and delivers bottom line results. Converged Communications for Competitive Advantage. For more information, contact us at www.floralprofitcenter.com or call toll free at 866-831-9275.

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