HIS Communications Services Chooses Covad Voice and Broadband with New Business Continuity Features

Covad ClearEdge Integrated Access now includes enhanced disaster recovery features to keep business customers up and running

San Jose, Calif. (Jan. 23, 2007) – Covad Communications Group, Inc. (AMEX: DVW), a leading national provider of integrated voice and data communications, announced today that HIS Communications Services has selected ClearEdge
Integrated Access with enhanced business continuity features for its Houston-based headquarters.
“We chose Covad ClearEdge Integrated Access primarily because of its ability to dynamically manage voice communications, which is vital to us in order to continue conducting business in the event of a hurricane or other natural disaster in the
Houston area,” said Brian Blanton, of HIS Communications Services. “Beyond that, we have been very pleased with the improved functionality and new features of the Covad solution. We are using it for improved call monitoring and control, and to enhance communications between our employees, customers and offices.”
HIS is deploying Covad ClearEdge Integrated Access in key locations where it serves the communication needs of businesses in the fields of aerospace, energy, hotel, retail, and financial services. Covad recently upgraded ClearEdge Integrated Access to provide its customers with business continuity features for premises-based phone systems. Similar features were already included in the company’s hosted solutions.
“With the addition of business continuity features to our ClearEdge Integrated Access solution, Covad continues its commitment to providing for our business customers’ needs,” said Eric Weiss, Covad chief marketing officer. “We are proud that HIS
Communications Services chose a Covad solution for its business needs in the Houston area.”
Weiss is a presenter today at the 2007 Internet Telephony Conference and Expo
East, where he is discussing how Covad is designing its products to meet specific customer needs, such as business continuity. Covad ClearEdge Integrated Access recently was named Product of the Year for 2006 by Internet Telephony Magazine, which recognized the addition of business continuity features to respond to the growing demand of small businesses.
“Business continuity features are increasingly important to companies of all sizes,” says David Lemelin, senior analyst with market research firm In-Stat. “With a growing number of threats, both natural and man-made, highlighting the vulnerability of traditional telecommunications systems, business owners have started looking at next-generation solutions from companies such as Covad.” In a recently published report titled “Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Needs Resonate Among US Businesses,” In-Stat found that the need for disaster recovery solutions has risen to the top of priority lists of IT managers and decision-makers.
ClearEdge Integrated Access was recently upgraded with a failover feature which allows business owners to maintain communication continuity. Businesses stay in contact with their customers by redirecting inbound calls to alternate numbers in unaffected locations. This feature gives businesses flexibility to deal with failures of their phone system hardware, other related phone equipment, and their local access circuit. ClearEdge Integrated Access, which combines separate voice and data access services into a single solution over a dedicated voice optimized broadband line, is well-suited for customers who wish to maintain their investment in a premises phone system at worksites with up to 60 employees.

ClearEdge Pro, Covad’s fully hosted VoIP offering targeting businesses with up to 250 employees, has always offered customers the security and reliability of a featurerich, managed solution. Features on ClearEdge Pro that enable business continuity include find me-follow me, call prioritization, and conferencing. Both ClearEdge solutions include Web-based administration of the business continuity features.
To learn more about Covad’s services, please log onto http://www.covad.com or call
1-866-292-4848.
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About Covad
Covad is a leading nationwide provider of integrated voice and data communications.
The company offers DSL, Voice Over IP, T1, Web hosting, managed security, IP and dial-up, wireless broadband, and bundled voice and data services directly through Covad’s network and through Internet Service Providers, value-added resellers, telecommunications carriers and affinity groups to small and medium-sized businesses and home users. Covad broadband services are currently available across the nation in 44 states and 235 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and can be purchased by more than 57 million homes and businesses, which represent over 50 percent of all US homes and businesses. Corporate headquarters is located at 110 Rio Robles San Jose, CA 95134. Web Site: www.covad.com.

Contact Information

Michael Doherty

Media Contact

Covad Communications Group, Inc.

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