Altura Achieves Platinum Certification Status from Avaya; Signifies Best-in-Class Customer Support, Technical Skills.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

ANAHEIM, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 14, 2004

Altura Communication Solutions, one of only six Avaya National BusinessPartners, today announced that it has achieved Platinum BusinessPartner certification status from Avaya (NYSE:AV). Altura is a leading provider of voice and IP communication systems and services for enterprises across the United States.

The Platinum certification, the highest certification level awarded by Avaya, is an industry-recognized designation indicating that Altura has met a series of rigorous criteria. The Platinum status testifies to Altura's superior technical competency and their ability to deliver best-in-class customer service. Altura is one of 25 Avaya BusinessPartners in the United States who have achieved an Avaya Platinum certification.

Altura's Platinum ranking signifies extensive customer benefits, including:

-- Highest technical competency - Altura's certified technicians,

who service and support the Fujitsu 9600 and Avaya product

lines, have completed courses and passed a series of rigorous

exams to earn the designation "Avaya Certified Specialist."

-- Superior customer service - Altura exceeded targeted customer

satisfaction rankings, as measured by an independent survey

organization commissioned by Avaya.

-- Best service processes and practices - Altura ranked excellent

in the service audit certification.

"The Avaya Platinum certification validates the tremendous importance we place on providing the industry's best technology, applications and service," said Bob Blazek, Altura's chief executive officer. "The Altura team has made a commitment to deliver the finest solutions and support possible to our customers and to continually enhance our support and build upon our existing technical expertise."

Altura sells and services nationwide the entire Avaya portfolio of voice and data products including Avaya MultiVantage(TM) Communications Applications portfolio including IP Telephony, Contact Center, Unified Communication and Messaging applications. Altura also supports Avaya's family of Converged Infrastructure and Extreme Networks data products.

"Avaya's strategy with its BusinessPartner program is to ensure that customers have a consistent, quality experience, whether they buy direct from Avaya or indirect through a partner like Altura," said Todd Meister, Avaya vice president, Global Channel Strategy and U.S. Distribution. "Through its commitment to certification, Altura has proved its tremendous value both to Avaya and its customers - commitment to the continuous development of their support and technical expertise and to the consistent delivery of superior customer service."

About Altura Communication Solutions

With headquarters in Anaheim, Altura Communication Solutions (www.alturacs.com) sells and services a variety of products, including voice switching systems, voice messaging systems, contact centers, voice conferencing systems, network and system management tools and broadband data communications products. The company has nationwide service capabilities and an enterprise customer base of more than 2,000 companies in the financial, education, healthcare and government markets. Altura is owned by Platinum Equity.

About Avaya

Avaya Inc. designs, builds and manages communications networks for more than 1 million businesses worldwide, including 90 percent of the FORTUNE 500(R). Focused on businesses large to small, Avaya is a world leader in secure and reliable Internet Protocol (IP) telephony systems and communications software applications and services. Driving the convergence of voice and data communications with business applications - and distinguished by comprehensive worldwide services - Avaya helps customers leverage existing and new networks to achieve superior business results. For more information visit the Avaya Web site: http://www.avaya.com.

About Platinum Equity

Platinum Equity (www.platinumequity.com) is a global M&A&O(SM) firm specialized in the merger, acquisition and operation of mission-critical services and solutions companies. Since its founding in 1995, the company has completed over 40 transactions, building a portfolio of 18 market-leading companies with 32,000+ employees, more than 600,000 customer sites and revenues of $5.5 billion. In 2003 Platinum Equity was named the 34th largest private company by Forbes.