Cheaper, Flexible ISDN Access With OnRamp.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 24, 1997--Telstra today launched its new OnRamp(TM) family of products, specifically developed to provide greater access to ISDN technology for individuals and small businesses.

OnRamp will become the foundation of Telstra's ISDN product offering, with the key advantages of significantly lower prices and greater flexibility for ISDN access.

Telstra's OnRamp is also the first ISDN product in Australia to conform to the widely accepted European standard, also known as ETSI standard, making it compatible with a significantly greater range of hardware equipment and software.

OnRamp offers two digital lines and included in the new family of services is OnRamp Duo, OnRamp SOHO and OnRamp Premier.

OnRamp Duo is the basic building block of the new service. It is designed for both business and residential customers offering a range of supplementary features which allow tailored ISDN solutions to be developed for particular situations. OnRamp SOHO and OnRamp Premier are pre-packaged solutions which also offer some optional features for increased flexibility.

OnRamp offers a cost saving over its predecessor, Microlink, with OnRamp Duo, for example, costing $295 ($US 230) for the initial connection fee and $60 ($US 47) per month rental.

Telstra's ISDN Senior Product Manager, Christine Groh, said ISDN has never been more affordable.

"OnRamp features a new ISDN pricing structure that is a key platform of Telstra's five year, $300 ($US 234) million strategy to make the digital network more accessible to individuals and small businesses," she said.

But just as important as price, according to Groh, is the flexibility of OnRamp's functions.

OnRamp users can retain their existing telephone number and upgrade their line to join what Telstra has dubbed "the intelligent network."

"With OnRamp we have now moved from relying on an overlay network, to integrating ISDN into normal telephony exchanges. This allows OnRamp to take advantage of normal telephone features with the added advantages of fast, digital communication.

"OnRamp has the capacity and speed to integrate voice, images and data on the one digital service so there is no need for businesses to have separate lines for faxes, phones and data transfer. The digital service is clear and reliable and, combined with the flexibility of integrated applications, OnRamp offers higher quality telecommunications that is faster than a modem.

"OnRamp is also becoming available in locations that have never had ISDN access before. As the Telstra network upgrades continue around Australia, we expect to be covering 70 percent of all metropolitan areas by mid 1997," she added.

The OnRamp range will be expanded throughout 1997 to also cater for higher volume users who have traditionally used dedicated data services.

Telstra Corporation Limited is Australia's leading full service domestic and international telecommunications provider and a major carrier in the Asia Pacific region. With annual revenues of more than US$12 billion (Aud$15.2 billion), Telstra offers consumers and businesses a broad portfolio of services including long distance, wireless, local, messaging, Internet services, information services, outsourcing, and advanced global telecommunications services.

Additional information on Telstra and its services is available by calling 1 800 799 6283 or viewing Telstra on the Internet's World Wide Web at http://www.telstra.com.au .

CONTACT: Telstra

Cathy Clarke, 203/532-1339

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