SingTel and SIPphone form strategic partnership to deliver SIP VoIP services worldwide

Singapore - April 5, 2004 -

Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) has formed a strategic business partnership with SIPphone, Inc. to deliver SIP (Session Initiated Protocol) VoIP services globally.

San Diego-based SIPphone currently offers worldwide Internet calling, without additional calling charges, to its customers as long as both parties have SIPphones. The SingTel and SIPphone partnership adds the ability for all SIPphone customers to call phone numbers on traditional public switched telephone networks (PSTN), including mobile phones, around the world.

SIP technology is the new standard for VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) which allows users to make and receive calls over the public Internet. To make a SIP call, users need to have a SIP phone or SIP adaptor, connect it to a broadband Internet connection and dial the desired phone number (SIP or PSTN).

With the partnership, SIPphone will leverage SingTel's extensive international infrastructure for wholesale voice delivery and competitive wholesale termination rates. SingTel will benefit from SIPphone's experience in the development and delivery of SIP VoIP services and have access to hardware manufacturers who are supporting SIPphone's Plug-N-Dial automatic configuration standard.

In the second quarter of 2004, SingTel and SIPphone will jointly offer SIP VoIP services in targeted Asian markets directly and in conjunction with regional carriers and broadband providers.

Mr Richard Tan, SingTel's Vice President (International Carrier Services), said: "We are excited by this exclusive partnership with SIPphone which will see SingTel provide quality PSTN connectivity to SIPphone's extensive base of users."

"Besides being able to make SIP-to-SIP calls, users will now enjoy attractive rates when dialing SIP-to-PSTN calls, leveraging SingTel's extensive global voice network. In addition, we have worked closely with SIPphone to ensure a seamless and well integrated user experience when dialing both SIP-to-PSTN and PSTN-to-SIP calls."

"SIP is going to change how we make phone calls just as MP3 changed how we listened to music," said Mr Michael Robertson, SIPphone's Founder and CEO. "SingTel is showing exceptional vision by embracing the next wave of telecommunication. Together, SingTel and SIPphone will work to ensure a phenomenal consumer experience that millions around the world can enjoy."

SIP is an international standard similar to HTTP (web) and SMTP (email), used for initiating interactive communication sessions between users. SIP can be used for telephony, Internet conferencing, events notification and instant messaging. SIP was developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), a large open international community of network designers, operators and researchers, in September 1999.

About SingTel

SingTel is Asia's leading communications group with operations and investments around the world. Serving both the corporate and consumer markets, it is committed to bringing the best of global communications to customers in the Asia Pacific and beyond.

With significant operations in Singapore and Australia (through wholly-owned subsidiary SingTel Optus), the Group provides a comprehensive portfolio of services that include voice and data services over fixed, wireless and Internet platforms.

To serve the needs of multi-national corporations, SingTel has a network of 31 offices in 15 countries and territories throughout the Asia Pacific, in Europe and the USA. These offices enable SingTel to deliver reliable and quality network solutions to its customers, either on its own or jointly with local partners.

The Group also has major investments in India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. Together with its regional partners, SingTel is Asia’s largest multi-market mobile operator, serving more than 44 million customers in six markets.

SingTel has been recognised Best Asian Telecom Carrier by industry publication, Telecom Asia, for six consecutive years since 1998. The Group employs more than 19,000 people worldwide and had a turnover of S$10.26 billion (US$5.80 billion) for the year ended 31 March 2003. More information can be found @ www.singtel.com and www.optus.com.au.

About SIPphone, Inc.

SIPphone is the leader in true SIP broadband calling. With no monthly fees, no setup fees and SIP adapters for standard phones starting under US$75, anyone around the world with broadband access can now enjoy the benefits of free worldwide calling, clear digital calls, free voicemail, free conference calling and zero configurations devices, based on SIPphone's Plug-N-Dial standard.

SIPphone was founded by Michael Robertson, who also founded MP3.com (digital music) and Lindows.com (digital delivery of software). SIPphone is based in San Diego, California.

Media Contact:
Jesmine Ong
Corporate Communications Manager
Email: jesmineong@singtel.com

SIPphone Public Relations
Jeff Bonforte
PR Director
Email:press@sipphone.com