March 20, 2006 09:05 ET

Rapid Link Takes Another Step Forward Implementing NexTone's Session Management Solutions

Rapid Link Strengthens Its VoIP Network Management Capabilities to Handle Potential Customer Demand

LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- March 20, 2006 -- Rapid Link, Inc. (OTC BB: RPID), in conjunction with NexTone Communications®, the leader in distributed and intelligent session management solutions that extend the reach and quality of VoIP and other digital media, announced that it has deployed NexTone's Multiprotocol Session Controller (MSC) as the foundation for the company's new retail VoIP service. As a key building block for the service, NexTone's MSC enables Rapid Link to connect thousands of civilians and active military personnel deployed across the globe with their loved ones at home via Internet telephone calling.

Rapid Link, an established military personnel and private label provider of Internet Phone Services, is taking a new, more aggressive approach to its core business by expanding its Internet telephone offering to include residential and small business customers. To meet the increase in demand stemming from this new approach, NexTone's MSC provides improved quality of service and enhanced service offerings to Rapid Link's customers. Rapid Link's unique "Any Any" method allows customers to use any popular device, including mobile phones, personal computers, and home phones to communicate across the network using any method of accessing the network, including broadband, Wi-Fi, WiMax, and dial-up connections.

NexTone's MSC provides Rapid Link with programmable call routing, traffic management, and centralized collection of call detail records (CDRs) to quickly and efficiently deliver VoIP calls to customers worldwide. Advanced functionality of the NexTone MSC includes adaptive least-cost routing, dynamic call route hunting, and comprehensive CDR collection. NexTone's MSC alleviated the challenges Rapid Link faced in deploying its retail VoIP services by acting as a SIP proxy server and H.323 gatekeeper, while also providing policy and routing to handle call origination and termination and enhanced traffic management with hierarchical call admission control policies. The advanced features and functionality of NexTone's products have assisted Rapid Link in its transition from a wholesale to a retail service provider.

"Having used NexTone's products for the last three years as the foundation of our VoIP services, Rapid Link is confident in NexTone's ability to deliver the solid performance and reliability standards that our new retail VoIP service demands," said Gene Cohen, vice president of operations and engineering at Rapid Link. "When a U.S. soldier makes a call to his or her family from the Middle East, quality must be consistent and the connection must be reliable. NexTone's products enable Rapid Link to operate services that ensure our customers are able to take advantage of the convenience low-cost Internet phone service provides."

"NexTone's products have a history of meeting the unique deployment challenges faced by providers such as Rapid Link that make the transition from the wholesale to retail VoIP services market," said Dan Dearing, vice president of marketing at NexTone. "Our session management products are specifically designed for companies looking for a solution that will allow the graceful expansion of service offerings while maintaining a high quality of performance and reliability."

About Rapid Link, Inc.

Founded in 1997 as Dial Thru International Corporation, Rapid Link provides value-added Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication services to customers, both domestically and internationally. Rapid Link is a leading niche market provider that has focused on the US military and other key niche markets through its proven, high-quality Internet telephony products, services and infrastructure for service providers, businesses and individuals worldwide.

The Company's Internet phone service offerings include multiple service plans, which reside on Rapid Link's state of the art IP network. The company offers PC-to-PC, PC-to-phone, phone-to-phone calling on their unique set of IADs -- Internet Access Devices -- that provide a new low-cost phone service that is delivered through a broadband connection. Rapid Link's back office provides billing, operations management, marketing support, inventory management, accounts payable, accounts receivable, sales force automation, commission management, trouble ticket reporting. Customers can manage their telecommunications services in a real-time environment through the company's tested back office support structure.

Rapid Link's network spans more than 15 countries on five continents. For more information, visit www.rapidlink.com

About NexTone Communications

NexTone Communications develops carrier-grade products for delivering scalable control of real-time IP services, such as Voice over IP (VoIP) and other digital media. NexTone's products and technology give IP networks a common way to exchange, monitor, secure, and bill for sessions that flow through them. More than 400 service providers and enterprises worldwide use NexTone's solutions to dramatically lower capital expenditures and deliver ongoing operational efficiencies such as reduced interconnect "turn-up" time and simplified network operations. The company is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA, with domestic and international sales offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.nextone.com.

Except for historical matters contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements reflect numerous assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties that may affect Rapid Link's business and prospects and cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ are the inherent uncertainty of financial estimates and projections, the competitive environment for Internet telephony, Rapid Link's limited operating history, changes of rates of all related telecommunications services, the level and rate of customer acceptance of new products and services, legislation that may affect the Internet telephony industry, rapid technological changes, and other risk factors contained in Rapid Link's (formerly Dial Thru International, Corporation) periodic reports on Form 10-KSB and Forms 10-QSB on file with the SEC and available through http://www.sec.gov.