| Tucson, Arizona-- August 24, 2004- NextWest, | | | | to mid-size enterprises." |
| Inc., the leading provider of IP-based business | | | | De Soto holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing |
| telecommunications and contact center systems, | | | | and Public Relations from San Jose State |
| today announced the appointment of Richard De | | | | University is a graduate of the Cambridge |
| Soto as Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for | | | | Information Technology Center and successfully |
| NextWest, Inc. | | | | completed the MBA equivalency program at MIT. |
| In his role, De Soto will oversee all of NextWest's | | | | He has been a designated speaker at number of |
| Sales and Marketing efforts, including managing | | | | telecommunications forums, radio and television |
| worldwide sales channel revenue objectives, | | | | interviews and broadcasts and is widely |
| identifying strategic direction, and engaging the | | | | considered an industry expert. |
| sales and marketing team in identifying new | | | | About NextWest, Inc. |
| business opportunities in key market segments. | | | | NextWest, Inc., headquartered in Tucson, AZ., is a |
| De Soto has over 20 years experience in the | | | | leading manufacturer of IP-based business |
| telecom and Internet communications industry. He | | | | telecommunications and contact center systems. |
| has held positions as a marketing and sales | | | | Our rock-solid, fully-integrated, IP and converged |
| executive with Nortel Networks, US WEST (now | | | | communications systems help small to mid-sized |
| Qwest) and a variety of successful startups | | | | businesses, government agencies and other |
| including AltiGen, Entera, and FreeGate. | | | | institutions to meet their growing |
| "Richard has a wealth of experience developing | | | | telecommunications needs. |
| and executing targeted sales and marketing | | | | With cost-effective solutions that are flexible, |
| strategies, and we're very excited to have him | | | | scalable, reliable and easy to manage, NextWest |
| on board," said Sarah Hightower, CEO of | | | | delivers uncompromising quality and features |
| NextWest. "With his results-oriented attitude and | | | | resulting in the some of the fastest ROI times in |
| demonstrated record of success, we have the | | | | the industry. |
| greatest confidence that NextWest has gained a | | | | NextWest's award winning PCXi and NextContact |
| strong leader that can take our team to the next | | | | Call Center Solutions are backed by the world |
| level." | | | | class service and support of NextWest Certified |
| De Soto's startup track record includes successful | | | | Engineers. |
| IPO's and acquisitions ranging from $25M to | | | | For more information about NextWest Business |
| $440M. As Senior VP at AltiGen, a leading IP PBX | | | | Phone Systems, IP Phone Systems, Advanced |
| company, De Soto led the company through | | | | Voicemail, Conferencing Solutions, ACD, Reliable |
| continual revenue growth in spite of the economic | | | | VoIP ( Voice over IP ), Advanced IP Predictive |
| downturn of 2001- 2003. As a direct result of | | | | Dialers, IP Telephony, Blended Call Center |
| that revenue growth AltiGen was named as the | | | | Solutions, VoIP Call Center Systems, VoIP Phone |
| 111th fastest growing company in the U.S. by the | | | | Systems, IVR, Auto Attendants, CTI, Advanced |
| Deloitte Touché Fast 500 Program and as | | | | PBX Features, NextWest PCXi, NextContact or |
| the 8th largest IP PBX Company in the world by | | | | any of our industry specific solutions call |
| IDC. | | | | 1-877-I-GO-NEXT (446-6398), or visit our website |
| "My goal here is clear," DeSoto remarked. "I will | | | | at . |
| position our company to be the leading IP PBX | | | | Note: NextWest products and services are only |
| and Contact Center company marketing to small | | | | available through NextWest Authorized Resellers. |