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Internet-Based Communications Technology Provider, Aptela, Inc., Secures $5 Million Series A Financing Led By JMI Equity

Posted on: Thursday, 12 January 2006, 12:00 CST

MCLEAN, Va., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Aptela, Inc., a leading provider of Internet-based communications technology that replaces traditional phone systems and service, announced today that it has secured $5 million in Series A financing. JMI Equity, a private equity firm exclusively focused on investments in the software and business services industries, led the investment. JMI and the other Series A investors have an option to invest up to an additional $3 million in Aptela.

Proceeds from the financing will help expand Aptela's sales and marketing efforts, enhance the Company's product development initiatives and provide general working capital. Brad Woloson, a General Partner at JMI, will join Aptela's Board of Directors, of which Al Peyser, former Chief Executive Officer of Cable and Wireless, is the Chairman.

"Companies have come to discover that the real value of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is in hosted voice applications like Aptela," said Howard Freidman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aptela. "They've come to this conclusion because the value proposition is compelling and because traditional phone systems were never designed for today's mobile, always-on world. Aptela is a technology leader and a key player in the VoIP market, and JMI's experience and expertise in software and technology-based services will allow us to accelerate our growth and pace of innovation."

"Aptela has distinguished itself in the competitive VoIP sector since its founding in 2001 by offering flexible and innovative technologies to help businesses communicate more efficiently and cost effectively," said Mr. Woloson. "Howard and his team have done a great job of building a company with a strong customer base and leading-edge VoIP technology offering that is well positioned for further growth and expansion.

"Aptela enables its customers to recognize significant cost savings by eliminating the traditional phone service and replacing it with a total communication solution in one package at a flat monthly rate that even the smallest business can afford. Aptela's technology delivers all of the features of traditional phone systems at a fraction of the cost and adds new cutting-edge capabilities for more efficient, intelligent and affordable business communications. Delivered on-demand via monthly subscription, the Aptela service complements and enhances traditional "land-line" phone service and delivers business-grade VoIP with "plug and play" simplicity. Aptela can also work with VoIP phone service from other providers.

While most of Aptela's 1,000 + business customers have less than 200 employees, the service appeals to any firm that requires mobility, total availability for its employees and advanced call handling. As such, Aptela also supports many larger companies.

About Aptela, Inc.

Aptela is a leading provider of Internet-based communications technology that replaces traditional phone systems and service. Delivered as a hosted service, Aptela delivers capabilities designed for today's mobile, always-on world with greater reliability than traditional alternatives, no maintenance hassles and unmatched flexibility and ease of use. The firm has a unique blend of cutting-edge technology and proven reliability, having pioneered pure Web-based hosted communications with its initial product release in 2001. Aptela sells its own branded Aptela service, provides white label solutions for partners and works closely with a select group of telecom- and IT-focused resellers. More information about Aptela and its services can be found at http://www.aptela.com/.

About JMI Equity

JMI Equity, based in Baltimore and San Diego, is a private equity firm exclusively focused on investments in the software and business services industries. Founded in 1992, JMI has invested in over 60 companies throughout North America and has approximately $700 million of capital under management. JMI invests in growing businesses. The firm's focus is on providing the first institutional capital to self-funded companies. JMI also invests in select recapitalization and management buyout financings. Representative investments include Blackbaud, Inc., DoubleClick, Inc., Jackson Hewitt, Inc., NEON Systems, Inc., Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. and Unica Corporation. For more information on JMI Equity, visit http://www.jmiequity.com/.

Aptela, Inc.

CONTACT: Chuck Dohrenwend or Kelly Hahn, The Abernathy MacGregor Group,for Aptela and JMI Equity, +1-212-371-5999

Web site: http://www.jmiequity.com/http://www.aptela.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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