Posted on 19. May, 2003 by NetworkIP in Press Release
DALLAS – May 19, 2003 – In an effort to help U.S. troops, NetworkIP, an industry leading application and access provider of converged voice and data services, has donated 1,000 phone cards to Operation Uplink. Operation Uplink is a program initiated by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and its Ladies Auxiliary to provide free phone cards to all uniformed U.S. troops and hospitalized veterans stationed here or abroad. The program is made possible through the generous donations from VFW members, as well as concerned corporate citizens like NetworkIP. Over the past six years, Operation Uplink has distributed more than two million phone cards to veterans and active duty military personnel.
“NetworkIP and its employees are honored to have the opportunity to help our servicemen and women stay connected to family and friends. I am very proud that we can support our troops,” says Pete Pattullo, NetworkIP President and CEO.
Each phone card donated by NetworkIP has a value of 400 domestic long distance minutes and may be used to call internationally. In addition, the cards are activated for three of NetworkIP’s unique prepaid services: traditional prepaid phone calls, prepaid conference calling, and prepaid dial-up Internet service. Prepaid conferencing will be of special interest, as this service enables multiple family members or friends to talk on one single call together, up to 28 participants! Access to the conference-calling feature for all participants is as simple as dialing a toll-free access number and entering a 7-digit conference code (provided on the card).
“This gift of calling home couldn’t have come at a better time,” said VFW Commander-in-Chief, Raymond Sisk. “Thousands of our servicemen and women are suffering the effects of separation in Iraq and other areas around the world. NetworkIP’s generosity will go a long way toward easing that hardship by helping them stay in contact with family and friends.”
NetworkIP is a member of the International Prepaid Communications Association, a trade group based in Washington, D.C., that has endorsed Operation Uplink and urged its membership to support it. IPCA Executive Director Howard Segermark said, “NetworkIP’s contribution is a great example for the industry and we’re hoping that many more phonecard issuers will follow suit.”
About NetworkIP
NetworkIP is an industry leading wholesale application and access provider of converged platform services. The company serves voice and data product distributors, resellers, CLECs, LECs, ISPs, IXCs, CAPs, and wireless, cable and utility providers. The company has created the first large scale e.Communications network, bringing together the best-in-class switching, computing hardware, data storage, IP networking, and software development methodology, via a Web-based interface. NetworkIP customers are able run run their entire business on NetworkIP’s platform – from facilities to billing to back office – just as if they owned their own switch, with no capital or back office investment. More information about NetworkIP can be found on the Internet at www.networkip.net.
About the Veterans of Foreign Wars
The VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary is a 2.6 million-member veterans service organization, now in its 104th year, with a nationwide network of some 9,500 Posts and service officers working to build better communities and assist all veterans, their dependents, as well as active duty military personnel.