AG Communication Systems, BC TEL Team Up to Provide Centrex Customers New Features and Capabilities

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AG Communication Systems, BC TEL Team Up to Provide Centrex Customers New Features and Capabilities

     microCallCentre (mCC) Transforms Centrex Systems Into Sophisticated
                                 Call Centers

    PHOENIX, March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- AG Communication Systems today announced
that it has teamed with Vancouver-based BC TEL to jointly develop and bring to
market network-grade advanced telecommunications applications services for
BC TEL's Centrex customer base.  "This collaboration provides BC TEL with a
quality application development partner that allows it to bring to market
quickly and efficiently the services its customers need," noted Charles
Schulz, vice president and general manager for AG Communication Systems'
Platform Applications Group.  "These applications will allow BC TEL to improve
service, increase revenue and reduce churn in the increasingly competitive
business marketplace."
    AG Communication Systems said that it has delivered its microCallCentre
(mCC) call center product for market testing in BC TEL's network later this
month.  Designed specifically for Centrex systems, microCallCentre
economically transforms Centrex telephone systems at small and medium-sized
businesses into sophisticated call centers.  It allows Centrex subscribers to
provide their customers with many of the professional sales, service and
billing services traditionally associated with much larger companies, without
the expense of installing customer premises equipment.  For example,
subscribers will be able to customize "on-hold" announcements and receive call
management reports.  BC TEL plans to make microCallCentre available to its
Centrex customers by the end of March.
    "BC TEL is committed to providing its customers with cutting-edge services
that enhance their business productivity and lifestyles," said Jennifer
Johnston, assistant vice president of Marketing, BC TEL Communications
Systems.  "Combining BC TEL's customer focus and operations knowledge with
AG Communication Systems' network expertise allows us to continue our
leadership role in providing value through offers that meet customer needs."
    BC TEL (http://www.bctel.com) is the second largest telecommunications company in
Canada, providing a wide range of communication products and services to
residential and business customers throughout British Columbia.
    AG Communication Systems, a subsidiary of Lucent Technologies, is a
leading provider of advanced communication products and services, including
switching, access, video, wireless and intelligent network products.
AG Communication Systems' GTD-5(R) digital switching systems serve more than
17 million business, government and residential subscribers.  Annual revenues
for the fiscal year ended September 1998 were approximately $450 million.  For
more information about AG Communication Systems, visit the company's web site
at http://www.agcs.com.
    GTD-5 is a registered trademark used under license from GTE Corporation.

SOURCE AG Communication Systems

http://www.agcs.com
CONTACT:
Jim Matney of AG Communication Systems,
602-582-7575, matneyj@agcs.com; or Kevin Noel of BC TEL,
604-432-2949, kevin_noel@bctel.com