TORONTO, Canada, February 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Iristel Inc., a leading global provider of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services , today announced that it has been selected by MTS Allstream to assist in converting portions of its Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) voice traffic to Internet Protocol (IP)-based traffic for cost-effective routing through the MTS Allstream IP network. With Iristel's Virtual Signalling solution, MTS Allstream can now convert its IP traffic locally and eliminate the expense of backhauling certain portions of its traffic to the United States.

Iristel's fully managed and integrated Virtual Signalling solution carries SS7 TDM traffic for Canadian Incumbent (ILEC) and Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLEC) without having to backhaul capacity across the border. The Iristel solution saves carriers costly signalling and media platform charges while maintaining the integrity of all voice media streams and logic.

Our goal at MTS Allstream is to serve our customers by moving data over our advanced network effectively and efficiently. Streamlining the cost of backhauling our traffic will help us achieve this goal, says Dave Ballantine, Senior Vice President, Global Carrier Solutions at MTS Allstream. By working with an experienced Canadian carrier such as Iristel, we can cut our traffic backhauling expenses while providing our customers with the high quality of service they have come to expect from our IP network.

Iristel's unique Virtual Signalling solution offers a fully redundant VoIP network conversion service that looks and feels like it is part of the carrier's homogenous network and never leaves the local exchange carrier cloud.

We are honoured that a well respected and trusted carrier such as MTS Allstream has chosen our IP conversion services for transporting international traffic, says Samer Bishay, President and CEO of Iristel. We anticipate that we will be converting voice traffic that equates to more than a billion minutes per year.

About MTS Allstream

MTS Allstream is a wholly owned subsidiary of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. and is one of Canada's leading national communication solutions providers, delivering innovative products and services through the Enterprise Solutions and Consumer Markets divisions. The Enterprise Solutions division, which operates under the Allstream brand nationally and under the MTS Allstream brand in Manitoba, is a leading competitor in the national business and wholesale markets. This division offers customers a portfolio of solutions tailored to the needs of medium and large businesses looking for success in a world of rapidly evolving technology - Internet protocol connectivity, unified communications, IT consulting and security services. The Consumer Markets division leads every telecommunications market segment in Manitoba, delivering a full suite of next generation wireless, high-speed Internet and data, digital television and wireline voice services under the MTS brand, as well as small business services in select markets across Canada under the Allstream brand, and security and alarm monitoring services through AAA Alarm Systems Ltd., an affiliate of MTS Allstream which also operates in other western provinces. MTS Allstream's extensive national broadband fibre optic network spans more than 24,300 kilometres, and provides international connections through strategic alliances and interconnection agreements with other international service providers. Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.'s common shares are listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange (trading symbol: MBT). For more information, please visit: http://www.mtsallstream.com.

About Iristel Inc.

Established in 1999, Iristel Inc. is a leading global provider of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services with its headquarters located in Toronto, Canada. The company was granted a carrier license by the Canadian Radio-Television Commission (CRTC) in 2000. Today, Iristel also has offices in Egypt and Romania with domestic operator licenses in Algeria, Dominica and Romania and an additional 20 points of presence (PoPs) throughout the world. The company offers the broadest portfolio of IP services in Canada, including hosted IP PBX, virtual faxing, virtual roaming, and global IP trunking products and services. More information about Iristel can be found at: http://www.iristel.ca.

For further information: Media Contacts: Lizanne McReelis, Echo Communications, +1-416-800-0011, pr@iristel.com; Jodi Echakowitz, Echo Communications, +1-416-800-0010, pr@iristel.com; Greg Burch, Manager, Corporate Communications, MTS Allstream, +1-416-345-3576, media.relations@mtsallstream.com

For further information: Media Contacts: Lizanne McReelis, Echo Communications, +1-416-800-0011, pr@iristel.com; Jodi Echakowitz, Echo Communications, +1-416-800-0010, pr@iristel.com; Greg Burch, Manager, Corporate Communications, MTS Allstream, +1-416-345-3576, media.relations@mtsallstream.com