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Comcast to Launch IP-Enabled Home Phone Service in Elk Grove, California

Posted on: Wednesday, 5 September 2007, 09:02 CDT

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast announced today the launch of Comcast Digital Voice residential phone service in the Elk Grove area of Sacramento. Comcast's IP-enabled voice service offers customers digital-quality phone service with unlimited direct-dial local and domestic long-distance calling (including Canada, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico), Web access to voicemail, enhanced 911 (E911) service, and 12 of the most popular calling features (3-way calling, anonymous call rejection, call forwarding, call return, call screening, call waiting, caller ID, caller ID blocking, caller ID with call waiting, repeat dialing, speed dial and enhanced voicemail).

"Comcast is excited to offer the residents of Elk Grove the reliable and innovative voice services they want, with Comcast Digital Voice," said Dan McCarty, Comcast's Sacramento Area Vice President. "Our privately managed network serves as a strong foundation for the voice, television and high-speed Internet products of today and tomorrow, and will completely coordinate the home entertainment and communication experience, all on one integrated bill."

Comcast is launching Comcast Digital Voice throughout Central California using a phased approach. Since March, the service has already launched in Sacramento, Stockton, Merced, Modesto, Fresno, Visalia, Grass Valley, Nevada City, Chico, Marysville and Yuba City. Comcast anticipates launching Comcast Digital Voice to its remaining communities, including Biggs, Gridley, Corning, Willows and Orland in the next few months.

Comcast Digital Voice answers the call for a reliable phone service. Comcast Digital Voice is a less-expensive, fully featured alternative for traditional phone service with online call management, Web access to voicemail, and only one bill for all Comcast services. That is why Comcast guarantees that Comcast Digital Voice customers will be satisfied, or receive a refund for the first 30 days of service.

Comcast Digital Voice is designed to be easy for the consumer. Comcast technicians will professionally install Comcast Digital Voice in the home -- converting the jacks and existing wiring in the home. Customers can keep their current phone numbers and make and receive an unlimited amount of direct-dial local and domestic long-distance calls for a rate of $33/month for up to 12 months. Comcast also offers very competitive international rates, including unlimited calling to Canada and a low rate for calls to Mexico.

Comcast stresses quality and reliability. Unlike traditional Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) offerings that run on the public Internet, Comcast Digital Voice calls originate and travel over Comcast's advanced, proprietary managed network. Furthermore, if power goes out in the home, Comcast customers can rest assured knowing Comcast Digital Voice is equipped with up to five hours of battery back-up.

Comcast Digital Voice has Enhanced 911. Comcast has access to the network, systems and capabilities to handle 911/E911 calls the way that traditional phone companies do, ensuring that calls, location information and telephone numbers are transmitted to the correct local emergency responders.

Comcast Digital Voice customers will also receive innovative features including:

-- Web access to voicemail -- Compatibility with a majority of home alarm systems -- Ability to manage their account online -- Customers who have Comcast Digital Voice and Comcast High-Speed Internet have the ability to use the Digital Voice Center (Web portal) to manage their voice and email messages from one central location.

Comcast Digital Voice is currently available in more than 70 markets nationwide (including San Francisco/Bay Area, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Denver, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Detroit, Portland, Salt Lake City and Indianapolis), reaching more than 38 million homes. Comcast is one of the largest cable telephone providers in the United States, with more than 3.5 million phone customers and nearly nine years of experience in the phone business.

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation (http://www.comcast.com/) is the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. With 24.1 million cable customers, 12.4 million high-speed Internet customers, and 3.5 million voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.

Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, AZN Television, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, Comcast SportsNet and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast's Internet business. Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.

Fact Sheet Comcast Digital Voice(TM) Top Ten Things You Should Know About Comcast Digital Voice

1. Comcast Digital Voice uses Internet Protocol and not the Internet. Comcast Digital Voice calls travel on our private, managed network-not over the public Internet. That makes it superior to other 'Best Effort' services delivering phone traffic over the public Internet.

2. Comcast Digital Voice offers digital quality phone service with all of the features that customers expect from their phone service, plus enhancements like the ability to check voice mail online.

3. Comcast Digital Voice gives customers 12 of the top calling features, including: Caller ID; Call Waiting; Call Forwarding; Repeat Dialing and Speed Dialing.

4. Comcast Digital Voice offers E911 capability. Customers' 911 calls are routed to public safety answering points ("PSAPs") along with Automatic Location Information ("ALI") identifying the caller's location.

5. Comcast Digital Voice currently provides battery backup in the Multimedia Terminal Adapters (MTAs). The MTA will provide several hours of backup power to keep Comcast Digital Voice working when a customer loses power in their home.

6. Trained, professional Comcast technicians perform the whole standard installation for customers, and once set up, all of the telephone jacks in the home will work with Comcast Digital Voice - not just one phone next to the modem as with some voice over the Net providers.

7. Comcast Digital Voice provides customers with the ability to listen to and manage their home voice mail messages from anywhere. All they need is access to a computer connected to the Internet. They will also be able to view their Comcast Digital Voice billing information online.*

8. Comcast Digital Voice works with most home alarm systems using tone dialing and standard data communications protocols.

9. Comcast Digital Voice customers receive a single bill for all of their services, including Comcast Cable and Comcast High-Speed Internet services.

10. Customers can switch to Comcast Digital Voice and keep the same phone number and use their existing touchtone phone. If customers intend on keeping their current phone number, Comcast will handle the transition from their current service provider for them.

Comcast

CONTACT: Bryan Byrd of Comcast, +1-916-515-2821, cell, +1-916-826-7983,bryan_byrd@cable.comcast.com

Web site: http://www.comcast.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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