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Preferred Voice's Carrier Pilot Program for BusinessConnect(SM) Underway
Success Rate Above 95% for Voice-Activated Call Completion to Area Businesses
for Wireless Users
DALLAS, TX. Jan. 2, 2002 /PRNewswire/ --
Preferred Voice, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board:PFVI) said today that its pilot
program for its new service BusinessConnect has reported over 95% success rate
to date. The pilot program has been underway for over a month with one of
Preferred Voice's carrier partners, Rural Cellular Corporation RCCC, a wireless
carrier based in Minnesota. This voice recognition service will offer wireless
and wireline users the ability to be connected to any subscribing business by
simply speaking the city and listing name. BusinessConnect will be available at
no charge for most telecom subscribers and businesses will pay a monthly fee to
be included in the voice directory's database. BusinessConnect will allow listed
businesses to insert custom confirmations or short advertisements the caller
will hear prior to call completion. Businesses Can justify the listing fees by
increased call traffic, which results in enhanced sales and reinforced branding.
According to Bill Schereck, Preferred Voice President and Chief
Operating Officer, "This service provides our carrier partners with a
potentially significant new revenue source." He added, "We believe this gives
our carriers a real competitive advantage and will increase user retention."
Telecom carriers and Preferred Voice will share in the revenues derived
by this new service. Preferred Voice will maintain the business database for
carriers, as well as deliver the service over its private VoIP network.
Preliminary data from the pilot program indicates that over 95% of calls placed
to the new service by pilot program participants are being completed to the
desired business without a need for operator intervention. Preferred Voice will
be launching two additional pilot programs by the start of the next quarter
2002.
About Rural Cellular Corporation
Rural Cellular
Corporation (RCCC) was established in 1990 and conducted its initial public
offering in February 1996. Headquartered in Alexandria, Minnesota, RCC provides
cellular, paging, long distance and PCS services to rural markets in 14 states
located in the Northwest, South, Midwest and Northeast portions of the United
States. Additional information about RCC is available at www.rccwireless.com.
About Preferred Voice
Based in Dallas, TX, Preferred Voice, Inc.
(OTC BB: PFVI) is a leading voice recognition technology company. Through its
Carrier Services Group, Preferred Voice markets its products and services to
wireless, ILEC and CLEC companies across the United States. These enhanced voice
services include Safety Talk voice activated dialing, voicemail navigation, VAC
voice accessed content, voice calling cards, BusinessConnect voice directory
assistance and EmmaPR voice telephone receptionist. Preferred Voice's Network
Services Group provides carrier connectivity, call management, provisioning and
service delivery solutions for carriers, voice portal providers, wireless
application providers and other enhanced features providers. Preferred Voice has
signed agreements with 45 telecom carriers. These telecom carriers serve more
than 5.5 million subscriber lines in 36 states. For more information please
visit www.preferredvoice.com.
SOURCE: Preferred Voice, Inc.
This
press release contains forward-looking statements. Since all statements about
Preferred Voice's plans, estimates and expectations are based on current
projections that involve risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change at
any time, the company's actual results may differ materially from expected
results. Readers should consider these risks and uncertainties, which are
discussed in documents filed by Preferred Voice, Inc., with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. These documents identify important factors that could cause
the actual results to differ materially from those contained in the
forward-looking statements. Preferred Voice, Inc. expressly disclaims any
obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
Company Contact:
Bill Schereck
President / COO
(214) 265-9580
wschereck@preferredvoice.com
Agency Contact:
Ira Weingarten
Equity Communications
(805) 897-1880
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