| Z-Tel
Communications, Inc. Upgrades to Protector 10.0
PROTECTOR
10.0 PROVIDES REAL-TIME TELECOM FRAUD DETECTION
Nashville, TN — August 8, 2003 - Nashville-based
Equinox Information Systems today announced that Z-Tel Communications,
Inc. has upgraded its telecom fraud management software to Protector
10. As one of the industry's most widely deployed fraud detection
systems, Protector 10 enables telecom carriers, such as Z-Tel,
to quickly focus on suspect and fraudulent activity.
Z-Tel has been a customer of Equinox Information
Systems for several years. In this new agreement, Z-Tel will
not only be upgrading its current Protector software to Protector
10 but will also be acquiring an additional Protector 10 license.
Protector 10 provides real-time fraud protection to carriers
by identifying instances in which a customer's actual usage
varies from expected usage in a manner that suggests fraudulent
activity.
"We have used Protector 9.0 successfully
in the past to limit our exposure to telecom fraud," noted
Debra Pate-Taitt, Z-Tel's Fraud Manager. "We are looking
forward to taking advantage of the new anti-fraud features that
Protector 10.0 offers. By employing the most powerful fraud
detection software on the market, Z-Tel is protecting its customers,
employees, and shareholders."
"Z-Tel's decision to upgrade to Protector
10.0 as well as to purchase an additional Protector 10.0 license
demonstrates the value of Protector fraud management software
to telecommunications providers," said David West, Equinox
Executive Vice President. "We look forward to working with
Z-Tel to keep its fraud rates as low as possible for many years
to come."
About Z-Tel
Z-Tel was founded in the wake of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996. With the establishment of the
Unbundled Network Element-Platform (UNE-P), competitive telecommunications
companies like Z-Tel became able to provide telephone service
to end-users over the incumbent local telephone providers' network.
Unlike its competitors, Z-Tel was formed with the vision of
developing technology that would imbue the telephone with "Intelligent
Dial Tone," wherein telephone service can be personalized
to meet consumers' and businesses' diverse communications needs
intelligently and intuitively. Z-Tel offers residential and
business customers in 47 states value-added bundled local and
long distance phone service, commercial broadband services and
powerful Internet-accessible and voice-activated calling and
messaging features. Z-Tel also makes its voice services available
on a wholesale basis. Current customers include Sprint and the
MCI group. For more information about Z-Tel's innovative services,
please visit the Company's Web site at www.ztel.com.
About Equinox
Founded in 1986, with hundreds of customers
worldwide, Equinox Information Systems is a global provider
of software solutions for the telecommunications industry. Providing
a full range of software applications, which are backed by exceptional
customer support, the company offers solutions in areas critical
to profitability and network efficiency, including mediation,
fraud detection, CDR and switch administration, and network
management, as well as custom application development. For more
information, visit Equinox at www.equinoxis.com.
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