MCI Introduces IP Access to Audio and Videoconferencing

Helps Businesses Leverage Network Investments for Cost-Effective Collaboration

ASHBURN, Va., May 11, 2004 - MCI (MCIA.PK) today introduced IP access to its audio and videoconferencing services, enabling organizations to leverage their Internet Protocol (IP) investments for more cost-effective, enterprise-wide collaboration.

These new enhancements, available immediately, allow participants using either IP- or non-IP-based endpoints to join the same audio or videoconference. Customers with native IP connections will not be charged for "meet me" IP voice or video transport, allowing them to fully leverage their IP network investment.

"A growing number of companies are investing in public or private IP network solutions to run multimedia applications like voice and videoconferencing," said Phil Knell, MCI senior vice president of Conferencing. "MCI's new IP conferencing access is a perfect solution for companies that want to maximize their IP-enabled corporate networks and, at the same time, secure a greater return on that investment."

MCI now offers Voice over IP (VoIP) access to subscribers of Instant Meeting, the company's on-demand and most popular audioconferencing service. Instant Meeting customers with IP access can cost-effectively access their conference directly on MCI's IP-enabled bridges. Colleagues on the road, and meeting participants located outside the company's network, will also be able to connect to the Instant Meeting service-via either the public Internet or the traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

By supporting a variety of network access capabilities, MCI is empowering conferencing customers to leverage their existing infrastructure and transition to an IP-based conferencing environment at their own pace. MCI's IP conferencing customers can still enjoy all the features and functionality of Instant Meeting, including Web-based call-management tools, call recording and replay, and support for all access methods.

IP Videoconferencing

MCI customers can also access the features and functionality of MCI's video bridging service through the company's Private IP service, the public Internet, a traditional ISDN network, or any combination.

By incorporating the MPLS capabilities of MCI's Private IP service with its videoconferencing capabilities, customers can prioritize video traffic on their networks to ensure consistent, high-quality transmissions.

MCI is the world's largest provider of conferencing services. Its products include audio, video, and Web conferencing and related streaming services, which help organizations worldwide to meet more productively without the time and costs associated with business travel. To learn more, visit http://www.mci.com/conferencing.

About MCI
MCI, Inc. (MCIA.PK) 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 points-of-presence, and wholly-owned data networks, MCI develops the converged communications products and services that are the foundation for commerce and communications in today's markets. For more information, go to www.mci.com.