The patent describes methods for providing connectivity across disparate networks or service providers through a private-based platform. Consumers can self-provision their own directory/connectivity listings while connecting to individuals without revealing their own valuable customer information and data – thus ensuring the privacy for both the consumer and service providers involved.

“This patent is another key asset in our growing portfolio of intellectual property worldwide,” stated Sunny Ahn, CEO of Context Connect. “This patent provides our organization with a significant competitive advantage with any private, DNS-based directory solution in the UK, specifically around the wireless directory assistance (WDA) area.”

The CCI solution enables cross-platform connectivity that allows individuals to find and connect to wireless subscribers across multiple devices and multiple provider platforms – thus directory assistance to ‘find and connect’ to mobile subscribers.

About Context Connect

Context Connect is a leading provider of directory-based connectivity and directory assistance solutions. Context Connect enables users to ‘find and connect’ to each other across multiple devices and provider networks through a contextual, DNS-based connectivity platform – thus enabling wireless directory assistance (WDA). CCI also provides enterprise directory solutions and identity management services through its contextual platform. CCI is headquartered in Newburyport, Massachusetts, with regional offices in London and Wellington, New Zealand.

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Context Connect are trademarks of Context Connect, Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Thank you Mr. Chairman and Members of this Committee. I appreciate the opportunity to testify before you today on the topic of Wireless Directory Assistance. My name is Sunny Ahn and I am the CEO of Context Connect, Inc.

Over the past four years Context Connect has developed, patented and continues to improve upon an innovative set of technologies that together provide a privacy-based platform for Directory Assistance Services. Our technologies give consumers a portfolio of choices in providing them not only with privacy, but with control of their directory services as well. We have worked with telecommunications carriers, enterprises, and other service providers in the United States, Europe, and the Asia Pacific regions. As such, I would like to share with you some of our thoughts and experiences to date.

PRIVACY VS. CONTROL

 Let me start by addressing the core issue of privacy and how it relates to Directory Assistance directories. One of the problems that I continue to see in our industry today is how we use the word “privacy” without making the distinction between privacy and control, which are two very different things and are both important. Privacy, in the context of directory assistance, constitutes protecting consumers’ personal information, in particular not revealing one’s phone number or ‘name and address’ information without their permission. Control, on the other hand, is the means by which we manage our connectivity: that is, determining how, when and who can contact us via a directory service, whether one’s personal information is kept private or not.

AVAILABLE PRIVACY AND CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES

There is technology today that addresses both the privacy and the control aspects of Directory Assistance. For example, subscribers can create directory listings that protect their personal information. Such technology enables a call to be placed through a Wireless Directory Assistance Service without requiring or revealing the call recipient’s phone number.

Masking technology on the phone number is available on two levels: one at the time of a Directory Assistance inquiry where the call center agent does not reveal the phone number and the second on a monthly billing record. On the latter point, masking technologies that protect consumer numbers from becoming public information are currently in use and commonly accepted. For example, technology that protects consumers’ credit card or bank account numbers mask all but four of the sixteen digits on paper receipts, websites or other places where the information might be captured. One caveat is that there are regulatory, financial and integration challenges that will certainly have an impact on whether this aspect of masking can be reasonably accomplished and these should not be overlooked.

Subscribers can also protect or mask their name and physical address. This ‘name and address’ information can be protected by use of a domain-name service for mobile devices. This concept is similar to the way individuals create email addresses or URLs for websites. Subscribers can choose how they want to be listed, whether it is professional, personal or private in nature, based on their relationships with people, rather than having to use their names and physical addresses. Technology allows individuals to create single or multiple directory listings according to their own parameters about how they want to be located. For example, my business colleagues could dial 411 and contact me using the listing “Sunny at Context Connect.” Or, my friends could call me at “Sunny at the Newburyport Tennis Club.” In both cases, the caller does not have access to either my phone number or my ‘name and address’ information unless I decide to reveal it.

Technology also gives consumers control over how they want to be connected. For example, consumers can choose how they receive their Directory Assistance calls, either through a directly connected voice call, a text message, or a call completed through a third-party partner. We can also allow individuals to accept, decline, or redirect calls to another device such as a land-line phone, voicemail or even email. Some of these services can be provided where the subscriber does not have to use their own minutes to receive a Wireless Directory Assistance call. We can also provide choices as to when people choose to be contacted via Directory Assistance, say only before 5pm on weekdays. And lastly, we can not only provide consumers with choices regarding who can reach them via a directory service, but we can even allow them to revoke that capability at some point in the future without their privacy being compromised.

My point here is to establish that technology is already available that can ensure consumers privacy over their personal information while providing them with options to control how they want to be contacted if they elect to be included in a Wireless Directory Assistance Service directory. In addition, these technologies continue to evolve rapidly; many of these were not even available when this legislation was first proposed last November.

In our experience working on Directory Assistance services in the U.S. and around the globe, there is no question that consumers are strongly demanding more efficient ways to connect. I would like to reference the latest study by the Pierz Group that was conducted in August 2004.

According to that study, if wireless services were currently constructed with consumer protections similar to the traditional Directory Assistance fixed line services, only 11% of wireless subscribers would participate by listing themselves in that directory. However, if a Wireless Directory Assistance Service included even a basic level of privacy and control features, participation would increase to over 50%. And, if consumers were offered comprehensive privacy protections, estimated participation would increase even further to over 60%.

These survey findings are very consistent with our own experience in the U.K. and New Zealand where the majority of mobile subscribers would participate with appropriate privacy tools. Interestingly, in the UK, where 40% of fixed line customers have chosen to not be included in the Directory Assistance directory, nearly 50% of them would actually come back into the directory if basic privacy and control tools were given.

Another proof point of the receptivity of the market to offering a suite of privacy and control options has to do with the experience of one of our customers who has already successfully implemented a Directory Assistance service that includes wireless phone numbers. That customer is focused on providing directory services to a large vertical market segment, most of which use mobile phones. Because they were able to mask the phone numbers and provide additional privacy and control features, nearly 75% of all their prospects that have heard of the service have opted to be included in the directory. While this service provider is not restricted with regulatory and industry coordination challenges, this further demonstrates that when marketed appropriately, privacy and control tools can increase the participation within a directory and ultimately improve the usefulness of that directory to consumers.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, it is clear from the market research conducted to date that there is a strong market need and demand for Wireless Directory Assistance Services. Annually, billions of calls are already placed in the U.S. through existing directories. However there is no single Directory Assistance service that is appropriate for everyone. The key, therefore, is to construct these services in a way that gives control to the consumer and that provides a viable directory for all concerned.

Subscribers have very legitimate and important privacy concerns. Most of us sitting here in this room use a wireless phone. We recognize that the continued confidentiality of personal information and control on when, where and how each of us want to be connected to is a very personal concern. Subscribers should and can have the ultimate decision on what personal information goes into a directory, if any. Context Connect and other companies have technologies that can address these concerns thoughtfully, carefully and with flexibility. As the market and these technologies continue to evolve, we need to allow flexibility for industry participants to move quickly to meet and exceed the demands of consumers who are increasingly knowledgeable and sophisticated in their technology purchases.

Context Connect supports providing the most comprehensive privacy and control features available, and also highly encourages innovation and progress within our industry to ensure maximum customer satisfaction.

The patent describes methods for providing connectivity across disparate networks or service providers through a private-based platform. Consumers can self-provision their own directory/connectivity listings while connecting to individuals without revealing their own valuable customer information and data – thus ensuring the privacy for both the consumer and service providers involved.

“This patent is a key asset in our growing portfolio of intellectual property and it emphasizes our strong history of innovation,” stated Sunny Ahn, co-founder of Context Connect. “This patent provides our organization with a significant competitive advantage with any wireless directory assistance (WDA) solution provided today.”

The CCI solution enables cross-platform connectivity that allows individuals to find and connect to wireless subscribers across multiple devices and multiple provider platforms – thus directory assistance to ‘find and connect’ to mobile subscribers.

About Context Connect
Context Connect is a leading provider of directory assistance and directory-based solutions. Context Connect enables users to ‘find and connect’ to each other across multiple devices and provider networks through a contextual, DNS-based connectivity platform – thus enabling wireless directory assistance (WDA). CCI also provides enterprise directory solutions and identity management services through its contextual platform. CCI is headquartered in Boxford, Massachusetts, with regional offices in London and Wellington, New Zealand.

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Context Connect are trademarks of Context Connect, Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

With the CCI technology, individual consumers can self-provision their directory listing, allowing them to control and manage who can find them. The CCI contextual, DNS-based platform enables directory listings beyond the traditional ‘name and address’ listings, allowing for more effective searching for individuals – based on how people know each other, either professionally or socially.

The CCI platform also provides connectivity to mobile consumers, via DA/DQ, without the need for the actual consumer phone number – thus the valuable customer information is not revealed by participating operators.

“We are excited about working with both British Telecom (BT) and Cable & Wireless (C&W) in the UK. As privacy and consumer control are key issues with directory information, the involvement of key carriers with our self-provisioning directory platform will help drive the industry to new revenue opportunities,” says Robert Stern, CEO and President of Context Connect.

Context Connect will also provide enterprise directory and identity management solutions to carriers through its contextual directory platform – thus expanding and extending the effectiveness of directory listings.

About

Context Connect

Context Connect is a leading provider of directory assistance and directory-based solutions. Context Connect enables users to ‘find and connect’ to each other across multiple devices and provider networks through a contextual, DNS-based connectivity platform – thus enabling wireless directory assistance (WDA). CCI also provides enterprise directory solutions and identity management services through its contextual platform. CCI has formed partnerships with leading companies such as Nuance, Agile, Sitel, SAIC-Telcordia, Unisys and Mercator Partners. CCI is headquartered in Boxford, Massachusetts, with regional offices in London and Wellington, New Zealand.

BT Retail

BT Retail is one of the businesses that make up the BT Group. Others include BT Ignite, BT Wholesale, BT Openworld and BTexact Technologies. It is the UK’s leading communications service provider and the prime channel to market for the other businesses in the Group. It has 21 million residential and business customers, a turnover of 12.1bn (in the last full financial year) and around 50,000 employees.

Cable & Wireless

Cable & Wireless is a major global telecommunications business with revenue of over £5.9 billion (US$8.6 billion) in the year to 31 March 2002 and customers in 80 countries. It consists of two core and complementary divisions: Cable & Wireless Regional and Cable & Wireless Global. Cable & Wireless Regional offers a full range of telecommunications services in 33 countries around the world, with major businesses in the Caribbean, Panama, the Middle East and Macau. Cable & Wireless Global provides IP (internet protocol), voice and data services and managed solutions for business customers. It has developed advanced IP networks and value-added services in the US, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region in support of this strategy. Building on its strong national businesses in the UK and Japan, Cable & Wireless Global will focus on serving primarily multinational companies (both enterprises and service providers) in the US, UK, continental Europe and Japan/Asia.

For more information about Cable & Wireless, go to www.cw.com.

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Context Connect are trademarks of Context Connect, Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Media contact:

Context Connect, Inc.
Sunny Ahn, +1 978 462 6388

Context Connect Europe
Les Oliver, +44 7779 260198

With the CCI technology, individual consumers can self-provision their directory listing, allowing them to control and manage who can find them. The CCI contextual, DNS-based platform enables directory listings beyond the traditional ‘name and address’ listings, allowing for more effective searching for individuals – based on how people know each other, either professionally or socially.

The CCI platform also provides connectivity to mobile consumers, via DA/DQ, without the need for the actual consumer phone number – thus the valuable customer information is not revealed by participating operators.

“Working with Cable & Wireless (C&W) in the UK will allow us great insight into the directory opportunities with enterprises and carriers alike,” says Robert Stern, CEO and President of Context Connect.

Context Connect will also provide enterprise directory and identity management solutions to carriers and organizations through its contextual directory platform – thus expanding and extending the effectiveness of directory listings. The CCI Enterprise Application allows employees to create ‘role-based’ directory listings that allow for internal call connection based on roles people have within the organization. As well, the platform allows employees of companies to search available data resources, such as personal address books, corporate directories and external DA directories all through an integrated email or office suite client such as MS Outlook or Lotus Notes.

About

Context Connect

Context Connect is a leading provider of directory assistance and directory-based solutions. Context Connect enables users to ‘find and connect’ to each other across multiple devices and provider networks through a contextual, DNS-based connectivity platform – thus enabling wireless directory assistance (WDA). CCI also provides enterprise directory solutions and identity management services through its contextual platform. CCI has formed partnerships with leading companies such as Nuance, Agile, Sitel, SAIC-Telcordia, Unisys and Mercator Partners. CCI is headquartered in Boxford, Massachusetts, with regional offices in London and Wellington, New Zealand.

Cable & Wireless

Cable & Wireless is a major global telecommunications business with revenue of over £5.9 billion (US$8.6 billion) in the year to 31 March 2002 and customers in 80 countries. It consists of two core and complementary divisions: Cable & Wireless Regional and Cable & Wireless Global. Cable & Wireless Regional offers a full range of telecommunications services in 33 countries around the world, with major businesses in the Caribbean, Panama, the Middle East and Macau. Cable & Wireless Global provides IP (internet protocol), voice and data services and managed solutions for business customers. It has developed advanced IP networks and value-added services in the US, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region in support of this strategy. Building on its strong national businesses in the UK and Japan, Cable & Wireless Global will focus on serving primarily multinational companies (both enterprises and service providers) in the US, UK, continental Europe and Japan/Asia. For more information about Cable & Wireless, go to www.cw.com .

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Context Connect are trademarks of Context Connect, Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Media contact:

Context Connect, Inc.
Sunny Ahn, +1 978 462 6388

Context Connect Europe
Les Oliver, +44 7779 260198

“The capital raised in this round will be used to commercialize the proprietary Cross-Carrier Connectivity Suite (CCCS) of products and initiate the distribution of the CCI Directory Platform into the enterprise marketplace with selected channel partners,” said Robert Stern, President and CEO of Context Connect. The CCI connectivity platform reduces the cost of integration and delivers interoperability while providing both customer and carrier with enhanced privacy. Commenting on the investment, Eggert Dagbjartsson, Managing Partner, of Equity Resources Group said, “The CCI connectivity platform addresses one of the real business issues plaguing telecommunication providers – the lack of a meaningful cross provider customer directory. By creating a channel for the deployment of enhanced directory services between carriers, Context Connect generates significant incremental revenue opportunities for both fixed line and wireless carriers.” The CCI solution enables cross-carrier connectivity allowing individuals to find and connect to wireless subscribers across multiple devices and multiple provider platforms – thus directory assistance to mobile subscribers can be enabled. The CCI technology puts the individual subscribers in control of their connectivity profile by allowing them to create their own listings and maintain the confidentiality of their connectivity data. The platform allows for multiple wireless carriers to integrate with wire line carriers without the requirement of revealing or sharing valuable customer information and data to provide call connectivity.

The financing provided by the existing investors will allow CCI to continue pursuing key strategic relationships. In addition, Wesley Johnston will join the Context Connect Board of Directors.

Mr. Johnston is Senior Vice President of Product Development and Planning for SITEL Corporation. Mr. Johnston heads the development of SITEL’s global xDA platform, an integrated architecture of products and services directed at consumer, corporate and international Directory Assistance (DA) markets. Mr. Johnston is a subject matter expert in the design and implementation of CRM programs, outsourcing and contact center technologies.

About Context Connect
Context Connect is a leading provider of proprietary fixed line and wireless Directory Assistance Services (“DAS”). Context Connect enables users to find and connect to each other across multiple devices and provider platforms through a contextual, DNS-based connectivity solution – thus enabling wireless directory assistance (WDA). CCI has formed partnerships with leading companies such as Nuance, Agile, SITEL, SAIC-Telcordia, Unisys and Mercator Partners. CCI is headquartered in Boxford, Massachusetts, with regional offices in London and Wellington, New Zealand. Please visit www.contextconnect.com

SITEL Corporation
SITEL, a leading global provider of contact center services, empowers companies to grow by optimizing contact center performance and unlocking customer potential. SITEL designs, implements and operates multi-channel contact centers to enhance company performance and growth. SITEL manages more than 1.5 million customer contacts per day via the telephone, web, e-mail, fax and traditional mail. SITEL employees operate contact centers in 21 countries, offering services in 25 languages and dialects. Please visit SITEL’s website at www.sitel.com for further information.

Equity Resources Group, Inc.
Equity Resources Group, Inc. (ERG) is a private investment firm based in Cambridge, MA. Founded in 1980, ERG has formed more than 30 investment partnerships with many high-net worth individuals and institutions. Traditionally, the Company’s primary investment focus has been on real estate securities. Since 1998, ERG has focused on investment opportunities in high-growth technology companies and biotechnology companies. Companies recently financed by ERG include Metatomix and Medcare, and BioStratum Incorporated.

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Context Connect are trademarks of Context Connect, Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Media contact: Context Connect, Inc. Sunny Ahn, (978) 462-6388

Context Connect
Context Connect is a leading provider of proprietary fixed line and mobile Directory Assistance Services. Context Connect enables users to ‘find and connect’ to each other across multiple devices and provider platforms through a contextual connectivity solution – thus providing effective wireless directory assistance (WDA). CCI has formed partnership with leading companies such as Nuance, Agile, Sitel, SAIC and Mercator Partners. CCI is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with regional offices in London and Wellington, New Zealand.

The experience of directory enquiry deregulation in other European countries has led to a significant improvement of benefits to consumers in terms of service quality, value for money and the introduction of innovative service offerings.

Context Connect
Context Connect is a leading provider of proprietary fixed line and mobile Directory Assistance Services (“DAS”). Context Connect enables users to ‘find and connect’ to each other across multiple devices and provider platforms through a contextual connectivity solution. CCI has formed partnership with leading companies such as Nuance, Agile, Sitel, SAIC and Mercator Partners. CCI is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with regional offices in London and Wellington, New Zealand.

The CCI solution enables cross-carrier connectivity allowing individuals to find and connect to wireless subscribers across multiple devices and multiple provider platforms – thus directory assistance to mobile subscribers can be enabled. The CCI technology puts the individual subscribers in control of their connectivity profile by allowing them to create their own listings and maintain the confidentiality of their connectivity data. The contextual platform allows for multiple wireless carriers to integrate without revealing valuable customer information and data.

Context Connect

Context Connect is a leading provider of proprietary fixed line and mobile Directory Assistance Services (“DAS”). Context Connect enables users to ‘find and connect’ to each other across multiple devices and provider platforms through a contextual connectivity solution. CCI has formed partnership with leading companies such as Nuance, Agile, Sitel, SAIC and Mercator Partners. CCI is headquartered in Los Altos, California, with regional offices in Boston, London and Wellington, New Zealand.

“Adding a senior executive of Terry Winters’ experience and stature will help accelerate the rollout of our connectivity solution to wire line and wireless carriers around the world.” said Robert A Stern, President and CEO of Context Connect. “His proven leadership in the wireless industry will be a great asset to Context Connect in our effort to connect the millions of wireline and wireless subscribers throughout the world.” Winters has over 30 years experience in the information and telecommunications industry, and is widely known and respected in Australia, Asia and the U.S. as a highly strategic leader.

His career includes 10 years as a senior executive at Motorola and five years as Chairman of BellSouth Australia & New Zealand. He led the establishment of Optus Communications and its successful tender for the license to be Australia’s second full-service telecommunications carrier and also led the establishment of BellSouth New Zealand and its subsequent development of that countries first GSM wireless network.

Winters was also the founder, CEO and Chairman of Link Telecommunications Pty Ltd, a pioneer of Australian mobile messaging services and one of the country’s largest out-sourced call center businesses.

“The Context Connect Solution will transform the way individuals ‘find and connect’ to one another,” said Mr. Winters. “CCI provides a neutral connectivity solution to Telco’s while positioning them to take advantage of their investments in next-generation networks and technologies.”

The CCI solution enables cross-platform connectivity that allows individuals to find and connect to wireless subscribers across multiple devices and multiple provider platforms – thus directory assistance to mobile subscribers. The contextual platform allows for multiple wireless carriers to integrate without revealing valuable customer information and data.

About Context Connect
Context Connect is a leading provider of proprietary wireline and wireless Directory Assistance Services (“DAS”). Context Connect enables users to ‘find and connect’ to each other across multiple devices and provider platforms through a contextual connectivity solution. CCI has partnerships with leading wireless carriers, enabling voice technology firms and device companies. CCI is headquartered in Los Altos, California, with regional offices in Boston and Wellington, New Zealand.