MCI Advantage Adds Microsoft Windows Messenger

-- Windows Messenger Allows Businesses to Implement MCI Advantage and Multimedia Applications from a Desktop--

ASHBURN, VA, April 30, 2003 - MCI today announced the addition of Microsoft Windows Messenger to MCI Advantage - MCI's award winning converged communication solution. By seamlessly integrating the real-time communications (RTC) capability within Microsoft Windows Messenger with MCI Advantage, businesses of all sizes can streamline day-to-day communications by empowering employees with a new generation of multimedia desktop applications.

Utilizing Windows Messenger with MCI Advantage, businesses can employ one communication tool to efficiently share voice, data and Internet information, whether working at an office, traveling or telecommuting. This capability, coupled with the power of Windows Messenger, facilitates collaboration by enabling real-time communications via MCI's IP network.

"Incorporating this advanced set of Microsoft products into MCI Advantage services allows MCI customers to reap even greater rewards from our innovative converged solution," said Ron McMurtrie, vice president of MCI global marketing. "Customers can now maximize their voice, video and multimedia applications anywhere, anytime. MCI Advantage is now an even more powerful productivity tool for anyone who needs to be accessible, regardless of their location."

Microsoft includes extensive support for real-time communications in its Windows operating system. RTC is a set of technologies that allows communications between users on a real-time basis including instant messaging (IM), real-time voice and video, application sharing, whiteboard sharing and file transfer.

"With the combination of Microsoft's software and MCI's Advantage service, customers can now travel anywhere in the world and retain a full set of communications capabilities," said Rogers Weed, corporate vice president of Windows Product Management at Microsoft. "A person's communications needs, email, voice calls, or instant messaging, can be met by any single device - a personal computer, smartphone or a PDA - with the integration of our Windows based software and MCI's voice and data solution."

Windows Messenger is a core feature of the Windows XP operating system. In addition to its RTC features, customers can use Windows Messenger to implement services such as PC-to-phone calling. Windows Messenger enables third parties to build their own communities and use their own authentication mechanism under the umbrella of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and SIP for instant messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions (SIMPLE) standards. The combination of these advanced features makes Windows Messenger the IM client of choice for businesses in managed environments.

With MCI Advantage and its new Windows Messenger capability, business users can complete and receive voice calls, instantly participate in real-time chat sessions and share information with colleagues directly from their desktop or any SIP enabled device. Customers can now take their MCI Advantage service and calling features with them to any location by simply connecting to an MCI IP network.

"Once again, MCI demonstrates that it is among the industry's innovators by partnering with Microsoft to integrate the real-time communications capabilities of Microsoft Windows Messenger into the MCI Advantage," said Counse Broders, Principal Analyst with industry research firm Current Analysis. "Business clients will find the MCI Advantage a compelling converged data and voice networking solution worth checking out."

MCI Advantage - formerly known as the WorldCom Connection - is a comprehensive managed solution that provides customers with everything they need to maximize their network investments and converge their local, long distance and data services. By consolidating services, customers simplify billing, reduce equipment and management costs and streamline day-to-day operations. In addition, customers can customize their user preferences, including dialing plans, voice mail and software upgrades, through a secure web site - The MCI Customer Center.

The MCI Advantage is the first network-based solution designed to meet the full range of needs from the solo remote teleworker to the largest campus environment. With this unique service, businesses can leverage existing voice and data equipment while increasing their communication options and overall costs savings. Furthermore, customers can take advantage of new multimedia applications, such as voicemail, that allow users to retrieve messages as an email attachment, or through a web interface.

Part of a long-standing relationship between Microsoft and MCI, both Windows Messenger and the MCI Advantage support SIP. This non-proprietary protocol allows for customized network solutions and the seamless integration of new services and applications. MCI is the first major carrier to implement SIP-based services into its network and one of the first carriers to incorporate Microsoft Windows Messenger into its service offering.

"Microsoft and MCI are working together to expand the capabilities of communications and deliver on the promise of convergence for our customers," McMurtrie said. "Microsoft's leadership and expertise combined with MCI's award winning IP and converged network solutions brings exponential value to the marketplace, as we revolutionize the way we communicate in an IP environment."

About WorldCom, Inc.
WorldCom, Inc. (WCOEQ, MCWEQ), which currently conducts business under the MCI brand name, is a leading global communications provider, delivering innovative, cost-effective, advanced communications connectivity to businesses, governments and consumers. With the industry's most expansive global IP backbone and wholly-owned data networks, WorldCom develops the converged communications products and services that are the foundation for commerce and communications in today's market. For more information, go to http://www.mci.com.

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