Turnstone Systems (Nasdaq: TSTN) announced Wednesday that U S WEST (NYSE: USW) has selected Turnstone's Copper CrossConnect CX100 as the local loop management platform for its out-of-region digital subscriber line (DSL) deployments. Already the leading DSL provider in its 14-state region, U S WEST announced plans to introduce DSL services out-of-region. The Turnstone solution will help U S WEST reduce operational costs and the time to provision new service and locations by limiting the number of truck rolls required for DSL deployment. Additionally, Turnstone's CrossWorks Back Office Automation Software will enable U S WEST to supplement its Umbrella Management System (UMS) and Operational Support System (OSS) with remote loop management functionality. *(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000327/TSTNLOGO )

"We must be able to bring up services quickly and efficiently in new markets and ensure that our customers enjoy optimal service performance," said Fritz Hendricks, executive director of National Integration with U S WEST. "The Turnstone solution helps us achieve these goals cost-effectively by automating more of the DSL deployment, management and maintenance processes."

"Turnstone has focused on delivering best-of-class loop management solutions for DSL service offerings," said Rick Tinsley, president and ceo with Turnstone. "We are pleased that U S WEST, a DSL pioneer, will use our Copper CrossConnect CX100 and CrossWorks software to help streamline operations and ensure a high degree of customer satisfaction as it enters new markets."

U S WEST will demonstrate its end-to-end management system that integrates Turnstone's CrossWorks solution in Booth 2125 at NetWorld+Interop 2000, May 7-12 in Las Vegas. U S WEST accesses CrossWorks through standard Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), enabling the carrier to easily augment its Umbrella Management System with the physical-layer fault management functionality enabled by the Turnstone solution.

U S WEST is a leading broadband and communications service provider, with more than $13 billion in annual revenues. U S WEST leads the industry in deploying next-generation broadband ADSL and VDSL Internet access and data/video services; offers the nation's first and only 'one-number' advanced wireless service that integrates customers' home or business phones with their wireless PCS; and provides multimedia advertising services, including Internet & print directories. The company has nearly 2 million miles of deployed fiber in the U.S., provides local exchange services to more than 25 million customers in 14 states, and provides wireless services to more than 600,000 customers and data services to more than 800,000 customers nationally.

U S WEST is merging with Qwest Communications International Inc. The combination, to be named Qwest Communications International Inc., will create a communications powerhouse with a market capitalization of more than $70 billion, headquartered in Denver and employing about 64,000 people worldwide. U S WEST and Qwest will unite the nation's most innovative local, wireless and broadband communications firm with one of the world's most advanced fiber-optic networks and broadband Internet providers. Together, the two firms will have more than 3 million miles of deployed fiber in the U.S. and worldwide, 29 million customers and a local network that is 99.2 percent digitally switched. For more information about U S WEST, go to http://www.uswest.com.

Turnstone Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of hardware and software products that enable local exchange carriers to rapidly deploy and efficiently maintain DSL services. Turnstone's flagship product, the Copper CrossConnect CX100, is a loop management platform that is deployed in central offices to enable automation and remote control of physical layer tasks related to DSL installation, qualification and maintenance. Turnstone's CrossWorks software enables service providers to easily integrate these loop management functions into back-office Operational Support Systems (OSS), enhancing their ability to efficiently scale their DSL service offerings to meet ever-increasing demand. Turnstone is based in Mountain View, California. For more information about Turnstone, visit www.turnstone.com, email info@turnstone.com or phone the toll-free number 877-8-COPPER.