MANKATO, Minn., June 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- HickoryTech Corporation (Nasdaq: HTCO) announced today that it will deploy a comprehensive Internet Protocol (IP) Telephony solution at Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU) and South Central College (SCC) with campuses in North Mankato and Faribault.

MSU is the first major university in Minnesota, with approximately 15,000 combined students, faculty, and staff to deploy an all IP Telephony-based solution. South Central College, serving over 5,500 students, faculty, and staff, will integrate communications between both of its campuses. IP Telephony converts the telephone's voice signal into IP packets that travel over private Local Area Networks (LAN) and Wide Area Networks (WAN).

"This is a win-win situation for both institutions and HickoryTech as well," said Mark Johnson, vice president for technology and chief information officer for MSU. "HickoryTech will continue to provide local dial tone, expertise in deployment of the new system, training, and ongoing support. They've been an outstanding partner helping us to save money and integrating innovative converged technologies."

In July, MSU and SCC will start converting their administrative and academic phone systems to an IP Telephony solution, the "technology of the future" for communications. MSU and SCC looked to update their communications networks by choosing HickoryTech as their partner to design and deploy the Cisco IP Telephony solution. The new IP solution makes more efficient use of network resources by converging the separate voice and data networks into one.

"South Central College is very excited about implementing the new IP phone solution. In addition to providing new phone features for our faculty and staff, SCC will now be able to provide a phone in every classroom," said Wes Taylor, dean of technology for South Central College. "This will provide better security and easier access for technical classroom assistance."

"HickoryTech continues our long and solid relationship with MSU and SCC by implementing new technologies resulting in a more efficient converged communications network," added Jon Anderson, president of HickoryTech's Enterprise Solutions Sector. "This is a perfect example of educational institutions being a perfect fit for IP Telephony and taking advantage of all the benefits derived from this technology."

IP Telephony solutions increase productivity and efficiency by providing an array of advanced calling features and applications. For example, unified messaging is an application that delivers every e-mail, voice, and fax message to a single inbox to improve communications and boost productivity. With unified messaging, faculty and staff will listen to their e-mail over the telephone and check voice messages from their desktops. Another application increasing productivity, called a "soft phone," which endows computers with the functionality of IP Phones, provides high-quality voice calls on the road, on the campus, or from wherever users may have access to the MSU and SCC campus networks. Faculty and staff will be able to make and receive calls remotely with the features and functionality of a full-featured IP Phone, including the ability to transfer calls, forward calls, and conference additional participants to an existing call.

About Minnesota State University, Mankato:

Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU) promotes learning through effective undergraduate and graduate teaching, scholarship, and research in service to the state, the region and the global community. MSU, with 600 full- time faculty on staff, serves approximately 14,000 students in six academic colleges (Allied Health and Nursing, Arts and Humanities, Business, Education, Science, Engineering & Technology, Social and Behavioral Sciences) comprised of 150 undergraduate and 82 graduate programs of study. MSU, founded in 1868, is located in Mankato, Minnesota approximately 85 miles southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul, atop 350 acres overlooking the Minnesota River Valley. To learn more about Minnesota State University - Mankato, visit the university's Web site at http://www.mnsu.edu .

About South Central College:

South Central College is Minnesota's newest community and technical college, providing liberal arts-transfer education, as well as over fifty technical majors. To learn more about South Central College, visit their Web site at http://www.southcentral.edu .

About HickoryTech:

HickoryTech Corporation is a diversified communications company headquartered in Mankato, Minn., with approximately 400 employees in Minnesota and Iowa. In its 108th year of operation, HickoryTech offers a full array of telecommunications products and services to business and residential customers. The Telecom Sector offers local voice, long distance, Internet, broadband services, Digital TV, and IP networking. The Enterprise Solutions Sector provides IP Telephony, contact center management, and data networking solutions. The Information Solutions Sector develops telecom and carrier access billing solutions. To learn more about HickoryTech Corporation, visit the company's Web site at http://www.HickoryTech.com .

Certain statements included in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry in which HickoryTech operates and management's beliefs and assumptions. The forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and probabilities. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward- looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they were made. Except as required by federal securities laws, HickoryTech undertakes no obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements for any reason.

SOURCE HickoryTech Corporation

CONTACT:
Sean Hays
HickoryTech
Director of Sales
651-634-1874
shays@hickorytech-es.com

Michael Cooper
MSU-Mankato
Media Relations Director
507-389-6838
michael.cooper@mnsu.edu

Ann Splinter
South Central College
Marketing Director
507-389-7289
ann.splinter@southcentral.edu