Corporate | 12 July 2004 10:32

Connection reselling opens new DSL chapter for United Internet

Corporate-news announcement sent by DGAP. The sender is solely responsible for the contents of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– Connection reselling opens new DSL chapter for United Internet All-in-one DSL solution offers genuine one-stop-shopping – including internet telephony Montabaur, July 12, 2004. United Internet AG is to launch its own reselling of DSL connections under the 1&1 brand as of July 12, 2004. With its new “1&1 DSL Plus” product generation, United Internet is offering DSL connections under its own name for the first time. All new tariffs will also offer users the option of using their DSL connection for telephony (Voice-over-IP). “We are tightening the links between telephony, internet and broadband in order to offer our customers all the benefits of modern communication technology from a single source,” says Ralph Dommermuth, CEO of United Internet AG. Today’s customers expect an all-in-one DSL solution and genuine one-stop-shopping. They are also very interested in the possibility of using the internet for phone calls. “It is essential for us to ensure that our DSL offer is clearly differentiated from the rest of the market – in terms of quality, features and value for money. We have completely revised our 1&1 tariff system and can offer internet users a top-quality, all-in-one DSL solution with seamlessly integrated components from a single source,” explains Dommermuth. The new tariffs, which include all DSL speeds, offer more performance for the same money – as well as additional features. “We are particularly proud of the fact that all new 1&1 DSL tariffs provide the option of using the DSL connection for phone calls. Customers will be able to phone for 0 euros per minute within the Voice-over-IP (VoIP) network and for just 1 cent per minute when making calls to the German fixed-line network. What’s more, we’ve enhanced our offer and clearly differentiated it from conventional VOIP suppliers by offering 100 free minutes per month for all calls to German fixed-line subscribers,” adds Dommermuth. For its internet telephony package, 1&1 is offering a newly developed hardware product family which enables customers to phone with their existing devices via cable DSL modems and wireless (W-LAN) internet routers. Following tests by representatives of various special-interest publications, the initial feedback was that the voice quality of 1&1’s VoIP solution is equivalent to that of fixed-line and mobile connections. “In a first test, the sound quality of the VoIP connection was impressive: the sound quality was equal to that of the telephone network,” was the comment in today’s edition of “c’t” magazine. “We established our position as Germany’s second-largest DSL provider and main competitor of T-Online with innovations, such as the launch of volume-based tariffs and our ‘fair-price option’ for flat rates. Today’s introduction of DSL reselling and our VoIP option will help us expand our current position. Furthermore, the launch underlines our claim as innovation leaders among Germany’s DSL suppliers,” states Dommermuth. “We are also very happy to be able to offer our customers genuine one-stop- shopping with our new DSL connections: 1&1 provides the DSL connection via 1&1’s DSL internet access offer, together with 1&1 DSL software, 1&1 DSL features and the 1&1 DSL modem – powered by AVM – all from a single source.” United Internet’s one-stop-shopping strategy has also been applied to the field of support: whereas customers previously had to contact Deutsche Telekom about their T-DSL connection, their service provider about internet access and the hardware manufacturer about their DSL modem, 1&1 customers can now direct all questions to a central, 24-hour hotline (12 cents/minute). Dommermuth finally presented a further attractive feature of the new DSL Plus tariffs: “To celebrate the launch, 1&1 has also come up with an unusual introduction offer: no DSL provision fee will be charged during the period up to September 30, 2004. This represents a saving of 99.95 euros for the customer compared with standard T-DSL connections.” United Internet AG is one of Europe’s leading Internet Service Providers (ISP). The Group’s technical value-added services and fast internet connections are directed mainly at discerning private users, SoHos (Small Offices/Home Offices) and small to mid-size companies. Contact partner: Marcus Schaps United Internet AG Press spokesman Phone: +49 2602/96-1076 Fax: +49 2602/96-1013 E-mail: mschaps@united-internet.de end of message, (c)DGAP 12.07.2004 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 508903; ISIN: DE0005089031; Index: TecDAX, NEMAX50 Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin- Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart 121032 Jul 04