Monday, October 12, 2009

Cbeyond Recognized by PHONE+ for Channel Excellence

PHOENIX & ATLANTA, Oct 12, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- PHONE+ magazine, a resource for the telecommunications indirect sales channel, announced that Cbeyond (NASDAQ: CBEY), a provider of communications and IT solutions to more than 46,000 small businesses across the country, has been selected as a Top 50 Channel Program. The results of this contest are published in the October issue of PHONE+ magazine and in the online Channel Program Guide. In addition, Ernie Mcilquham, Cbeyond Channel Manager has been selected as a Top 15 Channel Manager by PHONE+. The results of this contest are published today on the PHONE+ Web site at www.phoneplusmag.com.

Cbeyond was selected as a Top 50 Channel Program from hundreds of companies - carriers, resellers, master agencies, and hardware and software vendors - that submitted their channel programs for the 2009 ballot. Winners were determined by the votes of nearly 1,000 indirect sales partners. PHONE+ announced Cbeyond's Ernie Mcilquham as one of the Top 15 Channel Managers for 2009. These professionals were nominated by master agents, subagents and independent agents and selected by a poll of PHONE+ readers and supporters in August.

"I am honored to be recognized as a top 15 Channel Manager," said Ernie Mcilquham, Cbeyond channel manager from Los Angeles. "I'm passionate about what I do and the people I serve everyday, so having it highlighted is both humbling and thrilling for me."

"Every year, PHONE+ is proud to recognize these channel programs and leaders for exceptional service to the channel," said Mike Saxby, group publisher for PHONE+. "These companies and individuals set an example for others in telecom's indirect channel, and we are grateful that they are dedicated to the communications industry like they are."

"Cbeyond's second consecutive listing on PHONE+ Top 50 Channel Programs List confirms the satisfaction of our channel community with Cbeyond's program," said Brad Linden, vice president and general manager of the indirect channel for Cbeyond. "We are also proud of Ernie Mcilquham's achievement which further showcases the indirect channel leadership and expertise of Cbeyond."

Cbeyond's channel partner program offers generous compensation plans and extensive training programs. Leveraging Cbeyond PartnerAccess, Cbeyond's industry-differentiating online partner portal, Cbeyond channel partners can manage their customer accounts, download sales collateral, create on-demand marketing materials and customized proposals, view account reports and peruse product information at their convenience.

This announcement comes off the heels of Cbeyond's launch of the Platform Partner Program and Partner Advisory Board. For more information about Cbeyond's Channel Programs, visit www.cbeyond.net/partners.

About Cbeyond

Cbeyond, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBEY) is a leading provider of IT and communications services to more than 46,000 small businesses throughout the United States. Recently named as the sixth fastest growing technology company by Forbes magazine, and added to Standard & Poor's Small Cap S&P 600 Index, Cbeyond offers more than 30 productivity-enhancing applications including local and long-distance voice, broadband Internet, mobile, BlackBerry(R), broadband laptop access, voicemail, email, web hosting, fax-to-email, data backup, file-sharing and virtual private networking. Cbeyond delivers these services over a 100 percent private all IP network. For more information on Cbeyond, visit www.cbeyond.net.

CBEY-F CBEY-G

SOURCE: Cbeyond, Inc.

Cbeyond, Inc.
Shana Keith, 678-522-3559
shana.keith@cbeyond.net

Copyright Business Wire 2009