Ring2 selects Alcatel solution and launches new audio conferencing solution for mobile devices

Paris, September 18, 2006 - Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) today announced that Ring2, an enhanced communications services provider with operations in the U.S. and the U.K., has selected Alcatel as their technology partner for an innovative new audio conferencing solution that runs on mobile wireless handheld devices.

Ring2’s service allows audio conference calls to be scheduled in advance (with invitations being integrated with various email applications) or set up spontaneously, allowing for maximum flexibility. During a call, the leader can monitor its integrity and ensure security through a real-time display of all participants. In addition, the leader can add participants (selected from their address book), exercise drop/hold/mute control over each participant, record the call and assign billing codes - all using a mobile wireless handheld device.

Ring2 developed this user-centric application using two products from Alcatel’s Managed Employee Interaction Services solution - the Alcatel 8628 MultiMedia Instant Conferencing brings a multi-tenant hosted service, while the Alcatel My Teamwork product allows service providers to offer their enterprise customers a dedicated, managed service. Based on the same Advanced Communication Server media and application server, both products offer significant flexibility and simplicity, with industry-leading scalability.

Although Alcatel’s solution supports additional features - including presence-based calling, large-scale audio-conferencing, secure instant messaging (IM), full web conferencing, application and desktop sharing and video capabilities - Ring2 focused on a number of key capabilities desired by the average user.

“We’ve made every effort to focus on simplicity and limit features to those that solve real, everyday problems for mobile conference callers,” said Michael Hughes, Co-CEO of Ring2 Conferencing. “The Alcatel Managed Employee Interaction Services solution allowed us to build prototype solutions quickly, then build components for our solution without delay. We looked at other competing solutions, but none compared to the flexibility offered by Alcatel’s solution.”

“The addition of new services is straightforward (from an implementation standpoint) because the Alcatel solution is based on a single platform, offering a common, scalable service environment and a multi-tenant, carrier-grade network-based solution,” said Jean-Christophe Giroux, President of Alcatel’s enterprise solutions activities. “We’re delighted to see companies like Ring2 leverage our technology to bring new, innovative services to market. We’ve participated in the beta launch and see great potential for this service in the market.”

About Ring2 Conferencing
Ring2 Conferencing combines genuine innovation with simplicity and reliability in business audio-conferencing services. Its services introduce simple, powerful call security, visibility and control from BlackBerry® devices and PCs. Ring2 is a privately-held company with offices in London and San Francisco. The company is a member of the BlackBerry ISV Alliance Program and a technology partner of Alcatel. For further information, please visit www.ring2.com.

About Alcatel
Alcatel provides communications solutions to telecommunication carriers, Internet service providers and enterprises for delivery of voice, data and video applications to their customers or employees. Alcatel brings its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks, applications and services, to help its partners and customers build a user-centric broadband world. With sales of EURO 13.1 billion and 58,000 employees in 2005, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com.

About Alcatel’s Managed Communication Services Solution
Alcatel draws on its worldwide expertise with both service providers and enterprises to deliver an industry-leading portfolio of Managed Communications Services. The Alcatel portfolio includes managed solutions for business communication, employee interaction, and customer interaction and is backed by full go-to-market support to ensure business success. Today Alcatel is working with many of the world’s leading service providers to rapidly roll out high-value Managed Communications Services for enterprises of all sizes. For more information, visit http://www.alcatel.com/mcs.

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Stéphane Lapeyrade

Corporate Media Relations

Alcatel

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