CopperCom Announces Roll-out of Advanced CLASS Features Software; Web Fire Communications to Deliver Local Services Utilizing New Features and Platform Enhancements.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 29, 2003

Continuing to provide the industry's most advanced softswitch system, CopperCom, the company that is Liberating the Local Exchange, today announced that it shipped Release 2.1 software for its next generation CSX switch. This new release demonstrates CopperCom's continued dedication to its customer base and solidifies the product's position as the preeminent softswitch for the local exchange. Customers, such as Web Fire Communications, based in Wichita Falls, Texas can now more efficiently create and provision advanced revenue-generating telecommunications applications in the local exchange.

"After examining and testing other options in the marketplace, there is no doubt in our mind that this is the most cost-effective and reliable softswitch available today. The CopperCom softswitch has been operating in our network for almost three years," said Dennis McAden, president, Web Fire. "The service upgrade to Release 2.1 went very smoothly and without any service interruptions. We are delighted with the product's performance. Its advanced capabilities translate into additional services which we can offer our customers."

CopperCom's softswitch system delivers local telephony and revolutionary new services to subscribers across a highly cost-effective platform. The system also includes a software component that allows service providers to differentiate their offerings using a unique feature creation environment. Release 2.1 offers over 35 new features and platform enhancements, a number of which were developed utilizing CopperCom's CPML feature creation language. The platform enhancements are in the area of Call Control, DLC support, Routing and OAM&P (Operations, Administration, Maintenance and Provisioning).

"Since announcing general availability of our next generation switch in October 2000, CopperCom has continuously advanced the product to meet the evolving economic and technological needs of our customers," said Mel Ethem, vice president of sales, CopperCom. "We expect a majority of our customers to acquire this release due to its expanded CLASS 5 features and increased operational ease. CopperCom will continue to invest heavily in research and development in order to offer our customers the best switching option for the local exchange."

About CopperCom

CopperCom, the company that is Liberating the Local Exchange, offers an innovative suite of telecommunications solutions for the local exchange. As the only company to design an end-to-end architecture that combines voice over broadband access with a robust next-generation switching system, CopperCom enables incumbent and competitive carriers to offer a revolutionary way of delivering local telephone service to subscribers over circuit or packet-based broadband connections. Founded in 1997, CopperCom is a privately held company headquartered in Boca Raton, Fla. Leading venture partners, including Advent International, Advanced Technology Ventures, Morgan Stanley Venture Partners, Technology Crossover Ventures and The VMS Group, have invested in the company. CopperCom has entered into a definitive agreement with The Heico Companies by which Heico will purchase a major interest in CopperCom. For additional information, CopperCom can be reached directly at 561/322-4000, or via the Internet at http://www.coppercom.com.

CopperCom is a trademark of CopperCom, Inc.