ElephantTalk Signs Agreement With France Telecom to Bring Greater China's Voice Traffic to Europe Wednesday May 14, 7:01 am ET
ElephantTalk Continues to Build Impressive Position in China's Telecom Sector
HONG KONG, May 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Elephant Talk Communications, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: ETLK - News) announced the signing of a bilateral carrier's agreement with Europe's prestigious telecom giant, France Telecom, to transmit voice traffic from Greater China throughout Europe. ElephantTalk estimates the agreement will generate additional telecommunications traffic flow of approximately 60 million user minutes per month as a result of more cost- efficient routes. ElephantTalk is a former majority owned subsidiary of the Hartcourt Companies, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: HRCT - News).
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"We look forward to working with France Telecom, one of the world's leading telecommunications companies," commented Mr. Russelle K.P. Choi, ElephantTalk's President and CEO. "ElephantTalk's services and networks will be significantly enhanced by France Telecom's broad international network coverage and their world renowned telecom research center. The infrastructure strength and extensive industry contacts of ElephantTalk in Greater China's telecom sector combined with France Telecom's world leading network hub positions our companies to serve as China's preferred telecommunications gateway to the European continent."
The Vice President of France Telecom's Network and Carriers Division -- Asia, Mr. Jean-Francois Thomas, added, "Our agreement with ElephantTalk is the latest example of our commitment to telecom growth in China and Asia more generally, which we see as a key priority in France Telecom's international wholesale strategy. By interconnecting with competitive service providers like ElephantTalk, we are also opening up more quality routes for our 1,000 carrier customers worldwide. We look forward to a long relationship with our new partner."
About France Telecom
France Telecom is one of the world's leading telecommunications carriers, with 111.7 million customers on the five continents (220 countries and territories) and consolidated operating revenues of 46.6 billion euro for 2002 (11.4 billion euro at March 31st, 2003). Through its major international brands, including Orange, Wanadoo, Equant and GlobeCast, France Telecom provides business, consumers and other carriers with a complete portfolio of solutions that spans local, long-distance and international telephony, wireless, Internet, multimedia, data, broadcast and cable TV services.
France Telecom is the second-largest wireless operator and Internet access provider in Europe, and a world leader in telecommunications solutions for multinational corporations. France Telecom (NYSE: FTE - News) is listed on the Paris and New York stock exchanges.
Corporate website: www.francetelecom.com
Carrier service website: www.opentransit.francetelecom.com
About ElephantTalk
Elephant Talk Communications, Inc. is a leading telecommunications company established in 1994. Located and operated in Hong Kong with offices in California, Hong Kong and Singapore, the company owns switching facilities in China, Hong Kong, US, and Singapore. ElephantTalk operates international long distance services on both sides of the Pacific to over 220 foreign destinations. They enable telecommunications carriers and other service providers the ability to offer long distance voice, fax, data and VoIP services to their end-customers, through an advanced and scaleable network. More information on ElephantTalk can be found at www.elephanttalk.com .
For more information please contact: Roxana Yung of ElephantTalk, (852) 2 707070 3, or fax, (852) 2 707070 7, roxana@elephanttalk.com, or info@elephanttalk.com; or Manuel Lesaicherre of France Telecom, 33 1 44 44 93 93, or fax, 33 1 44 44 80 34, manuel.lesaicherre@francetelecom.com
The statements made in this press release, which are not historical facts, contains forward-looking statements concerning potential developments affecting the business, prospects, financial conditions and other aspects of the company to which this release pertains. The actual results of the specific items described in the release, and the company's operations generally, may differ materially from what is projected in such forward- looking statements. Although such statements are based upon the best judgments of management of the company as of the date of the release, significant deviations on magnitude, timing and other factors may result from business risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, the company's dependence on third parties, general market and economic conditions, technical factors, the availability of outside capital, receipt of revenues and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the company. The company disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward- looking statement.
Source: Elephant Talk Communications, Inc.
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