ESCH Eschelon Telecom (MM)

(NASDAQ:ESCH): Eschelon Telecom, Inc., a provider of integrated communications services to small and medium sized businesses in the western United States, today announced completion of an important sales automation project focused on integrating an On-line Solutions Generator (OSG), used by their sales team, with their Order Management and Network Inventory System, resulting in improved quality, accuracy and timeliness of sales orders. �This system integration is the first of several planned for 2007 that are intended to provide operating leverage to our sales and market expansion plans,� said Robert Pickens, Eschelon�s Chief Operating Officer. �This successful launch is a great testament to our associates who have worked hard for the past several months on planning and building our automation platform.� �Regarding our current objectives to integrate our best of breed Customer Relationship Management, Order Processing, and Billing systems, this automation is a very successful first step in increasing efficiency and accuracy while improving delivery intervals,� said Larry Ehlers, Vice President, Applications Development. �I fully expect this and future automation initiatives to improve associate productivity and enhance the customer�s experience.� About Eschelon Telecom, Inc. Eschelon Telecom, Inc. is a facilities-based competitive communications services provider of voice and data services and business telephone systems in 45 markets in the western United States. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the company currently employs approximately 1,400 telecommunications/Internet professionals, serves over 60,000 business customers and has in excess of 600,000 access lines in service throughout its markets in Arizona, California, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington. For more information, please visit our web site at www.eschelon.com Forward Looking Statements This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements are based on Eschelon Telecom�s current intent, belief and expectations. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements because of the company�s history of losses, ability to maintain relationships with RBOCs, substantial indebtedness, intense competition, dependence on key management, changes in government regulations, and other risks that may be described in the company�s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of today�s date. Eschelon Telecom undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.