K-Opticom and Fusion Forge Strategic Alliance for IP Telephony

K-Opticom Corporation and Fusion Communications Corporation announced on March 26 a strategic alliance in IP telephone services that K-Opticom will begin providing to its corporate customers.

As a first step in providing services based on the new alliance, K-Opticom will provide services for calling fixed-line telephones for a flat rate of 15 yen per three minutes all over Japan, regardless of the time or distance. This service will be provided to K-Opticom's "IP-VPN" and "Business eo High-Grade" customers.

The service will utilize K-Opticom's high-speed network, which is used to provide services over a wide area using an fiber optic network that covers the Kansai region, linked to Fusion's powerful IP network to provide IP telephone services in today's broadband era. Fusion has acquired more than 1.15 million subscriber lines in its first year of operations and acts as an IP telephone agent.

By using this service, K-Opticom's customers will be able to use K-Opticom's fiber optic network without the need for expensive construction work to add additional lines. By installing the VoIP-GW (a device used for sending and receiving voice signals over an IP network), it will be possible for customers to construct a low-cost telephone network with a minimum of effort. Also, customers will be able to use the system as an internal phone system for a flat rate regardless of usage volume, making possible large reductions in phone charges. K-Opticom and Fusion are confident that the high quality of the IP telephone services, which greatly exceeds that of previous Internet telephone services, will completely satisfy business customers.

K-Opticom and Fusion will continue to tighten their cooperative relationship and will further discuss the offering of services for consumers as well as business customers.