HONG KONG, 07 June 2006 - e-KONG Group Limited (the Company or e-KONG), a company listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (SEHK:524) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary ZONE Limited (ZONE) will soon launch its Internet Protocol (IP) telephony services with regular Hong Kong telephone numbers, following the grant of a Services-Based Operator (SBO) Licence and the allocation to ZONE of an initial block of telephone numbers from the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) of Hong Kong.

ZONE is now entering the global VoIP market in which there are tremendous growth and expansion opportunities, and it can join Vonage and Skype to establish a strong market presence in this sector. Using the latest IP-based technology, ZONE will provide a range of innovative voice services with multi-media application capabilities targeted at both the local and international markets.

ZONE will make its VoIP products and services, equipped with regular Hong Kong telephone numbers, commercially available within four to six weeks, and will provide its telephony services via both hardware equipment including IP-telephones, Internet Access Devices (IAD), Wi-Fi handsets and IP-PABX, and computer software and related accessories that can be run on PCs and hand-held PDAs (enabling PC-to-PC, PC-to-Phone, etc. services).

With the ubiquity of the Internet and rapid advancement of VoIP technology, the business opportunities available to ZONE will no longer be restricted to its geographical location. Anyone with a broadband connection anywhere in the world can now get access to ZONE’s services. For example, a customer with an IP-phone set or ZONE’s VoIP software connected to ZONE’s service platform could be anywhere around the world and yet be contactable on his Hong Kong telephone number. Furthermore, he can now benefit from the savings that ZONE’s customers enjoy when they make international calls using the ZONE1511 International Direct Dialling (IDD) service while he can at the same time have access to ZONE’s other value-added services via its web-enabled self-service platform. This is a very attractive proposition for those customers making calls from outside of Hong Kong, particularly those calling from countries where IDD rates are still highly priced. In addition to having Hong Kong telephone numbers available for its customers, ZONE will also be offering choices of telephone numbers from other countries.

Looking ahead, ZONE will target two key areas viz. PC-based and wireless VoIP telecommunication services which it foresees immense business opportunities. In the PC-based arena, ZONE will shortly launch its own multi-functional peer-to-peer “softphone” which include features that enable its users to communicate PC-to-PC and PC-to-Phone via voice, instant messaging and SMS. While this service would be offered worldwide, ZONE’s emphasis would be to initially grow its customer base in the Asia-Pacific regions. ZONE believes it can grow its revenue base by having the competitive edge of being able to “localise” its services, focussing on regions where telecommunications services are still at premium levels, forming strategic alliances with distribution and business partners, and introducing innovative and market-driven service offerings.

In the wireless space, Wi-Fi enabled devices including laptops, tablet and ultra mobile PCs, PDAs, Wi-Fi handsets and dual mode GSM/Wi-Fi smartphones are becoming more readily available in the market. ZONE would target the users of these devices as potential customers that can access it innovative services via its’ IP-based service platform.

“Securing the SBO Licence and having allocated with a range of Hong Kong telephone numbers constitute an important part of ZONE’s overall strategy to be able to provide a suite of globally available IP-based products and services beginning with IP-telephony services, which will be followed by other multi-access, multi-media applications and services including mobile-TV and IP Interactive TV offerings.” concluded Mr S.G. Lim, Executive Director of e-KONG who is currently spearheading the development of ZONE’s businesses in Asia.

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About e-KONG Group Limited
e-KONG Group Limited is listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (SEHK: 524) and maintains a sponsored Level 1 ADR programme through The Bank of New York (Ticker Symbol: EKONY). The Company's ZONE telecommunications business, currently operating in the United States, Hong Kong and Singapore, provides innovative services using its patented web-enabled technology which allows customers' access to an unrivalled choice of telecom services from multiple providers while empowering them with tools to effectively and efficiently manage their telecommunications needs.
For further information on e-KONG, please visit: www.e-kong.com

About ZONE Limited, Hong Kong
ZONE Limited (ZONE Hong Kong), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Hong Kong listed company e-KONG Group Limited, is a telecommunication service provider licensed by the Telecommunications Authority of Hong Kong. By using a web-enabled platform (www.zone1511.com), ZONE Hong Kong allows customers to choose from a range of value-added services including short messaging services, international call forwarding, virtual global calling cards and fax management services to complement its basic IDD services. Taking advantage of the latest IP-based technologies, ZONE Hong Kong is now offering VoIP services, particularly targeting Hong Kong corporate customers with overseas presences.
For further information on ZONE Limited, please visit: www.zone1511.com