8x8, Inc. Partners With Aastra Telecom to Introduce Plug-and-Play IP Phones for Packet8...

8x8, Inc. Partners With Aastra Telecom to Introduce Plug-and-Play IP Phones
for Packet8 Business Phone Services

SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 8x8, Inc.
(Nasdaq: EGHT), provider of Packet8 (http://www.packet8.net) business, mobile
and residential communication services, today announced the launch of a new
line of broadband agnostic, plug-and-play IP phones designed to enhance the
features and functionality of Packet8 business phone services.
Developed in conjunction with Aastra Telecom, a global provider of
enterprise communication products, systems and solutions, the Packet8 675xi
series of IP phones incorporates 8x8's advanced NAT traversal technologies to
facilitate the same network-independent operational advantages Packet8
business customers currently enjoy with the existing Virtual Office business
class phones and terminal adaptors. These include the ability to simply plug
the phone into any public or private Internet connection and immediately make
or receive calls without performing any network configuration or firewall
manipulation. The Packet8 675xi IP phones also deliver enhanced equipment and
service features including corporate directory display and lookup, intercom
paging, shared line appearance and Power over Ethernet capability.
"We are pleased to be working with one of the most innovative
telecommunications equipment manufacturers in the industry to bring this next
generation of Packet8 business phones to market," said 8x8 Vice President of
Sales & Marketing Huw Rees. "Small, cost conscious organizations that are
migrating to IP telephony, particularly those that operate in multiple
locations with different network configurations, will value the ease of use,
sleek appearance, superior quality and geographic flexibility the
Packet8/Aastra solution delivers. The addition of the Aastra phones to Packet8
Virtual Office will significantly enhance the end user experience and enable
us to compete for even the most discriminating customer."
"Both 8x8 and Aastra pride themselves on their leading edge engineering
expertise," said John Drolet, Vice President of Sales for Aastra Telecom. "We
are very pleased to be working with 8x8, an established leader in the hosted
iPBX space, and look forward to developing innovative, user friendly products
and services with them in the future. An example of this partnership in action
is the work we did together incorporating the 8x8 Network Address Traversal
(NAT) code into our phones and interoperating this functionality with the 8x8
Virtual Office network. We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship
moving forward."
The Packet8 675xi IP phone series consists of three models -- the 6753i
entry level phone, 6755i intermediate phone and 6757i CT advanced phone --
each of which offers full duplex speakerphone functionality, programmable
softkey appearances, LCD display screens, embedded XML browsers and up to nine
call appearance lines. All models support "Power over Ethernet," eliminating
the need for a separate power supply for the phone, and come equipped with
dual auto-sensing switched Ethernet ports to eliminate additional wiring for a
computer and simplify installations. Additional features enabled by the
Packet8 675xi series include intercom paging and direct dial from a searchable
corporate directory. Prices for the Packet8 675xi series range from $129.99
for the 6753i to $349.99 for the high end 6757i CT model which includes a DECT
cordless phone as part of the bundled offer. The 6757i CT model's built in
DECT antenna allows the user to roam up to a 300 foot radius from the 6757i CT
base telephone.
To learn more about the Packet8 675xi IP phones or purchase them online,
visit http://www.packet8.net/equipment/business/ip_phones.aspx.
About 8x8, Inc.
8x8, Inc. (Nasdaq: EGHT) offers voice and video Internet-based telephony
services for business and residential customers. Marketed under the Packet8(R)
brand name, these hosted communications solutions enhance the value and
functionality of existing broadband Internet connections by delivering
advanced features and digital quality phone service at a fraction of the cost
of legacy, copper wire alternatives.
The Packet8 Virtual Office(R) service, currently in use by over 12,000
companies, eliminates the need for traditional business phone systems by
delivering all telephony services over managed or unmanaged Internet
connections. This affordable, easy-to-use alternative to traditional PBX
systems or Centrex class services allows high-speed Internet users anywhere in
the world to be part of a virtual PBX that includes automated attendants,
conference bridges, extension-to-extension dialing and ring groups, in
addition to a rich variety of other business class features normally found on
dedicated PBX equipment. 8x8's Packet8 Virtual Trunking services deliver a
broadband agnostic IP trunking solution that allows businesses to benefit from
the flexibility and cost efficiencies of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol),
while retaining their existing phones and phone system hardware and optimizing
the use of their existing connectivity to the Internet.
8x8 also offers residential, video and mobile digital phone services. For
additional company information, visit 8x8's web site at http://www.8x8.com.
For information about Packet8 products and services, visit
http://www.packet8.net.
About Aastra
Aastra Telecom is a North American business unit of Aastra Technologies
Limited ("Aastra"), a rapidly growing global company at the forefront of the
Enterprise Communication market. Headquartered in Concord, Ontario, Canada,
Aastra develops, markets, and supports a comprehensive portfolio of products,
systems, and applications for building and accessing communication networks.
Aastra's products include a full range of both open-standard Internet Protocol
(IP)-based and traditional networking solutions including; Enterprise Private
Branch Exchanges (PBXs), IP-PBX's, gateways, digital and analog telephone
terminals, VoIP telephones, wireless handsets, and advanced software
applications. For more information on Aastra, please visit our Web site at
http://www.aastratelecom.com .
SOURCE 8x8, Inc.

Joan Citelli of 8x8, Inc., +1-408-687-4320, jcitelli@8x8.com