AT&T announces that its IP Flexible Reach can now be added to existing key telephone systems. This enables SMBs to transition to VoIP without having to replace their legacy systems. IP Flexible Reach, which is available nationwide, uses VoIP technology and enables unlimited local and on-net calling, as well as competitive long distance and international calling plans. VoIP reduces costs by converging voice and data over a single IP connection and maximizes bandwidth usage over existing networks.

In addition, SMBs can benefit from IP Flexible Reach's "virtual telephone number" capability, which allows businesses to support telephone numbers from multiple local calling areas and expand their geographic coverage. This capability gives the appearance that a business is local even when the physical office may be hundreds or thousands of miles away.

The virtual telephone number capability also enables small businesses to:

• Route calls originating from across the country and answer them at a central location.
• Assign telephone numbers for branch office sites that are supported by a single centralized IP PBX.
• Use an existing IP data network to conveniently distribute the calls to branch office sites.
• Access local calling feature options, such as Local Number Portability, E911, Caller ID, Directory Listings, etc.
• Simulate local numbers in the remote area and provide "free" local calling.

IP Flexible Reach provides alternate access to the Public Switched Telephone Network in most major markets in the United States and helps to ensure that telephony, including 9-1-1 calls, can continue outside the IP network if necessary. A built-in feature for IP Flexible Reach provides SMBs with voice-traffic prioritization, including the flexibility to expand when levels of higher bandwidth are required. In addition to key telephone systems, AT&T IP Flexible Reach is already available with TDM PBX's, certified IP PBX's and the AT&T Voice DNASM service.