Released: 18/06/2007
RNS Number:4900Y
Spiritel PLC
18 June 2007
For release at 0700h, 18 June 2007
SPIRITEL plc
("Spiritel" or "the Group")
VOIP SERVICES IN MAJOR UK CUSTOMER TRIAL
Mitel hosted VoIP and Wi-Fi platform in test phase with Regent Inns
Spiritel plc (AIM: STP), the telecommunications services business today
announces that Group company Ashland has recently concluded a trial installation
of a new hosted IP voice and Wi-Fi platform with a leading UK pub and restaurant
operator. Regent Inns, owner of the Walkabout, Old Orleans and Jongleurs chains
across 100 sites in the UK are trialling Ashland's new Mitel technology. This is
one of the first trials of it's kind in the UK. Ashland is also in discussion
with several other hospitality and retail chains regarding their VoIP solutions.
Hosted VoIP is still in its infancy in the UK but take up is expected to
increase rapidly as the potential cost savings and benefits of ease of use and
functionality become clear. Spiritel has developed a full range of hosted VoIP
services and this major customer trial is the first of it's kind for the
Company.
Ashland is a Mitel Platinum partner in the UK and in conjunction with Spiritel's
Wholesale division, is one of only five telecommunications companies to have
installed and commissioned Mitel's 3600 advanced VoIP platform. The platform
will be used by Ashland and other Spiritel Group companies to provide a range of
VoIP services to SMEs and multi-site corporate customers across the UK.
Enda Kenneally, UK Sales Director of Mitel commented: "This major client trial
is a testament to Ashland's expertise in the hospitality industry and confirms
its position as one of our exclusive Platinum Solutions partners. Ashland's
knowledge and understanding of our 3600 hosted solution enabled them to deploy
IP communications on behalf of Regent Inns in record time, causing minimal
disruption to the operations of both businesses.
She added: "We look forward to continuing to support Ashland and the Spiritel
Group as their success in the hospitality and retail sectors continues to grow."
Alastair Mills, Spiritel CEO said: "This is an important milestone for Spiritel
- it demonstrates our ability to meet the evolving communications needs of major
UK companies, leveraging our strong position in the UK hospitality industry and
most recently, our extensive experience of developing next generation hosted
VoIP services. The trial is also evidence of our progress in delivering on our
business strategy, returning value to shareholders through the supply of leading
VoIP technology to a growing SME and blue chip customer base."
He concluded: "We are delighted to be continuing our long established
relationship with Mitel on these trials and we are and looking forward to future
roll-outs."
For further information please visit www.spiritelplc.com or contact:
Spiritel plc Tavistock Communications
Alastair Mills Simon Hudson
Chief Executive Clemmie Carr
Tel: +44 20 7160 0100 Tel: +44 20 7920 3150
Note to Editors
Spiritel is a telecommunications group that offers a range of traditional and
next generation telecommunications' services and products to business customers.
The Group listed on AIM in July 2004 (AIM: STP). Spiritel's customers who range
from large blue chip corporates to SMEs are served through the Group's two
divisions - Spiritel Wholesale and Spiritel Retail.
Spiritel Retail was established in 2006 to offer a growing range of
communications products and services to a broad spread of UK business customers.
Through the recent acquisitions of CallPlan Ltd, Networks Direct UK Ltd and The
Ashland Group the division has gained relationships with almost 1,000 SME
customers and blue chips including Regent Inns, Marriott and Whitbread.
Spiritel Wholesale provides a range of voice and data products to UK and
international operators and is responsible for the development and hosting of
the Group's growing VoIP infrastructure. The services offered to operators
include UK and international call termination and the latest generation of
IP-based communications technologies for carrier and business customers.
Spiritel is a consolidator in the highly fragmented UK telecoms reseller market.
The Group proposes to deliver shareholder value through acquisitions, which
bring complementary products and skill sets to the Group's offering and
organically via the cross selling of Group products by fellow subsidiaries and
joint ventures.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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