MCI And Getronics Introduce New Voice And Data Convergence Solution In Europe

Global business customers to benefit from substantial cost savings and improved functionality offered by integrated IP telephony services running on one seamless network

United Kingdom / Netherlands, 8 december 2003 - MCI (WCOEQ, MCWEQ) and Getronics (NL:GTN) today announced the availability of a new end-to-end, utility-based IP convergence solution for voice and data across Europe. The solution, which is available to global enterprises, offers customers simplicity, improved cost efficiency, and increased productivity by integrating telephony and data communication services on one seamless IP infrastructure.

According to research from Gartner, market share of IP telephony in Western Europe in 2006 is expected to grow to 50 percent of new end points installed. MCI and Getronics are addressing this demand with an IP convergence solution integrating telephony and data applications on one managed network utilising Cisco IP telephony technology and IP phones.

"By bringing together voice and data, MCI is creating a rich network environment for customers to achieve their immediate and future business objectives," said Jonathan Crane, MCI executive vice president of corporate development and chief strategy officer. "While the near term benefits of voice and data convergence include cost efficiencies and network simplicity, the far reaching capabilities of a converged IP network will enable truly automated business processes like order entry and trouble tickets to talk to each other across companies. MCI's leadership building and managing IP networks, coupled with leaders like Cisco and Getronics, is creating an engine for quickly delivering innovative products and services to the European business community.

The solution enables customers to reduce their operating costs and to improve productivity by leveraging modern digital technology. Converging services on one seamless network platform utilising low cost IP transmission reduces the total cost of voice and data communication requiring a low initial investment. The utility-based pricing model offers equipment and services for IP telephony at a fixed price per telephone unit per month allowing customers to make savings on capital expenditures, support, administration and telephone costs.

The availability of new and innovative applications bridging the gap between classic telephony and modern data and Internet services allows customer's employees to increase their overall productivity by accessing information in an integrated fashion. Users will have direct access to next generation telephony applications that streamline their communications by helping them manage how and where they want to be reached utilising personal call rules, speech recognition, and productivity services for IP phones. At the same time, the solution offers simplicity, both for end users and administrators by enabling configuration changes through point-and-click interfaces or by providing speed-dialling plans, which are automatically retrieved from the corporate directory.

Optional add-on services to the solution will include voice mail, unified messaging and fax-to-email conversion. To enable businesses to tap the extensive opportunities of the converged solution, the service will also be enhanced to offer Interactive Voice Response (IVR) as well as Automatic Call distribution (ACD). Both of these features are core elements to build processes and communication groups, which can be used by the customer to provide internal or external, call centre functionality.

"Getronics, MCI and Cisco offer international customers integrated solutions, such as IP Telephony. Especially with its "all inclusive price per telephone per month" bundle Getronics will help them to save substantially on direct and indirect costs," said Jean-Paul Adans, CIO of Getronics. "Our customer base has shown strong interest in this new offer and we are confident that it will drive innovation in the marketplace and pave the way for increased acceptance of convergence services in Europe."

About WorldCom
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, based on the number of company-owned POPs, 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.

About Getronics
With 23,000 employees in over 30 countries and revenues of EUR 3.6 billion in 2002, Getronics is one of the world's leading providers of vendor independent Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions and services. Getronics today combines the capabilities of the original Dutch company with those of Wang Global, acquired in 1999, and of the systems and services division of Olivetti. Getronics is ranked second world wide in network and desktop outsourcing and fourth world wide in network consulting and integration (Source: IDC September 2003). Getronics designs, integrates and manages ICT infrastructures and business solutions for many of the world's largest global and local companies and organisations, helping them maximise the value of their information technology investments. Getronics headquarters are in Amsterdam, with regional offices in Boston and Singapore. Getronics' shares are traded on Euronext Amsterdam ('GTN'). For more information, go to http://www.getronics.com