Cbeyond Launch at Automation Alley in Troy

Cbeyond®, Inc., a leading IP-based managed services provider to small businesses, today announced it has expanded its service offering into Detroit and expects to bring nearly 100 jobs to the area by the end of its first year. To celebrate launching its services in Detroit, the company will host a breakfast this morning from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EDT at Automation Alley in Troy, Michigan.

Cbeyond's launch event will bring together more than 100 small business leaders and local officials. James C. Epolito, chief executive officer of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, is scheduled to speak on the importance of the growing small business community. Additional speakers include Cbeyond Chairman and CEO Jim Geiger, Farmington Hills Mayor Vicki Barnett, Senior Vice President of Service Provider Channels for Cisco Bob Gault and Deputy County Executive for Oakland County Dennis Toffolo.

"In Michigan's growing small business sector, it is important that we continue to attract companies that will foster small business growth," said Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm. "Companies like Cbeyond not only create important jobs, they also help Detroit-based companies do business, allowing for growth and healthy competition within our business community."

Cbeyond's arrival in Detroit provides a new option for small businesses looking for big business communications tools that are affordable and easy to use. With more than 31,000 small business customers across the United States, Cbeyond offers Detroit small businesses a base package called BeyondVoice®, which is an integrated package of local and long distance voice, broadband Internet and mobile services. Additionally, customers can choose from a variety of productivity-enhancing applications such as BlackBerry®, web hosting, data backup and file-sharing to create a solution that meets their communications and IT needs.

"Detroit is the eleventh largest small business market in the United States with over 51,000 small businesses, and we built Cbeyond from the ground up to serve such small businesses exclusively," said Geiger. "This fact combined with the pro-competitive regulatory climate in Michigan made Detroit a great fit for Cbeyond. Our productivity-enhancing applications will help fuel Detroit's thriving small business community."

Celebrating its entry into the Detroit market, Cbeyond and network provider Cisco opened registration of a co-sponsored Small Business Communications Make-Over contest for small businesses in metro Detroit earlier this week. Registration for the Small Business Communications Make-Over is open to companies located in the greater Detroit area with five to 200 employees from October 1 through November 30, 2007. To register, companies can visit www.smallbusinessmakeover.net, fill out a short registration form and submit an essay of up to 1,000 words on why their company should win.

"Cisco is excited to work with Cbeyond in the Detroit area," said Gault. "Today's announcement builds on Cisco and Cbeyond's long history of leveraging teamwork and innovation to provide industry-leading solutions to small businesses."

Cbeyond's Detroit area office is located at 27555 Farmington Road, Suite 100 in Farmington Hills. Cbeyond is currently recruiting sales associates and field services technicians. Those interested in employment opportunities with Cbeyond should visit www.cbeyond.net and go to the "Careers" page under the "About Cbeyond" tab.