Phenomenal Networks to enable Schwan's USA CUP
Youth Athletes to call home for Free

Edina, Minneapolis – Phenomenal Networks, A Minnesota-based, Cisco Premier Partner, announced today that it will enable more than 13,000 youth athletes from 18 countries around the world, participating in the Schwan's USA CUP, to call home for free. In order to provide the youth athletes, many of which are thousands of miles from home, with this unique service, Phenomenal Networks is installing a complete Cisco-based, IP telephony system on-site

"All parents know how much it means to hear from their children, especially when they are far from home. We felt enabling free phone calls home would be a great way for our company to get involved in this youth event," said Dave Shepherdson, CEO of Phenomenal Networks.  "With at least 45 teams traveling overseas to Blaine, from countries like Hungary, Ireland, Russia and Egypt, we will use Cisco IP telephony technology to leverage the Internet to create a truly worldwide link between youth athletes and family."

 "We are excited that Phenomenal is providing our players with this facility," said Teri Vogt, director of Schwan's USA CUP. "For many youth athletes the cost to call home is so high that they can't afford to keep-in-touch while at the tournament.  It is especially beneficial to the Minnesota families who are hosting international participants in their home.  This gives them a great alternative to letting the players call from their homes and incur those large international long distances charges."

The system will be installed in the activities hall and will be open from 10a.m. to 7p.m. each of the six days of the tournament. The system will also have features such as International Time Zones, Team Fixtures and Results, Stock quote look-ups, worldwide weather reports that will be accessible for all participating players, coaches, parents, referees etc.  Phenomenal has customized the system using Java XML so that each phone can be used for many data functions as well as for regular voice calls.

 "As an avid soccer fan, I am proud to see our technology become part of a solution that enables youth soccer players to stay in-touch with their families while they compete on a global level," commented Paul Mountford, VP WW Channels at Cisco Systems.  "At Cisco our goal is to change the way people work, live, play and learn.  Thanks to Phenomenal Networks our technology has changed the way youth athletes at the Schwan's USA CUP stay in touch with their family."

Schwan's USA CUP

More than 14,000 youth soccer players from around the world will converge on the National Sports Center (NSC) in Blaine, Minnesota for the 19th annual Schwan's USA CUP Soccer Tournament, July 11-19, 2003. The tournament will be the largest gathering of youth soccer teams in the Western Hemisphere, with more than 890 teams from 18 countries and 30 states participating. With an economic impact of $15.4 million, Schwan's USA CUP is Minnesota's largest annual out-of-state tourism event.

In addition to the teams from North America, there will be girls' and boy's teams from Mexico, England, N. Ireland, Ireland, Scotland, Nigeria, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Sweden, Denmark, Russia, Iceland, Hungary, Wales, Peru, Ghana and Egypt.

July 7, 2003