Competitive Telcos Alive and Kicking, Z-Tel Tells Investors Today.

Business Editors & Technology Writers

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 5, 2002

Gregg Smith, president and chief executive officer for Z-Tel Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ZTEL), a leading provider of local, long distance and enhanced telecommunications services, will discuss recent developments in the telecommunications industry during a presentation at Kaufman Bros., L.P.'s Fifth Annual Communications Conference. Joining companies such as RCN, Time Warner Telecom, Talk America and Allegiance Telecom, Mr. Smith will focus on how changes in the telecommunications business and public policy landscape have generated opportunities for competitive companies like Z-Tel and how the Company plans to take advantage of them.

The conference takes place September 4 - 5, 2002 at The W New York. Mr. Smith's presentation is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. EST. Mr. Smith's presentation will also be simultaneously web cast over the Internet and can be accessed at www.twst.com/econf/mm/kbro2/ztel.html.

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 became able to provide telephone service to end-users over the incumbent local telephone providers' network. Z-Tel was formed around UNE-P 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 in an intelligent, intuitive way. Z-Tel offers residential and business customers in 46 states value-added bundled local and long distance phone service with proprietary Internet-accessible calling and messaging features. Z-Tel also makes these services available on a wholesale basis. For more information about Z-Tel's innovative services or about Z-Tel, please visit the Company's Web site at www.ztel.com.