Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company  
The Boston Globe
JUNE 4, 2001, Monday ,THIRD EDITION
SECTION: BUSINESS; Pg. C4

LENGTH: 276 words

HEADLINE: AP ENGINES LANDS $30 MILLION IN FINANCING

BYLINE: BY PETER J. HOWE

BODY:
AP ENGINES, A MAYNARD START-UP THAT SELLS SOFTWARE ALLOWING TELEPHONE COMPANIES TO USE THEIR EXISTING BILLING SYSTEMS TO CHARGE FOR ADVANCED SERVICES, IS ANNOUNCING TODAY IT HAS LANDED $30 MILLION IN NEW VENTURE AND DEBT FINANCING.

AT&T and WorldCom are among companies that have already bought AP software, which smooths the way for companies to bill for Internet protocol offerings through their existing long-distance and local phone billing platforms.

AP's "Interlink" software typically runs on a Sun or Windows NT server computer, linking a billing system from an old-line company like Lucent Technologies or Nortel Networks, and a "next generation service" switch from Sonus Networks, Unisphere Networks, or others.

   Thomas Weisel Capital Partners led the $25 million venture round, along with Enroad Broadband Services, Atlas Venture, Bessemer Venture Partners, and others.

And Lighthouse Capital Partners is taking an unspecified venture stake and also investing $5 million in subordinated debt.

AP Engines president Jon Seig said the company plans to use the new money, which brings its total funding to $40 million, to speed development of new software and sales efforts. The software can help "plain old telephone" companies efficiently bill for things like broadband Net access, video-on-demand, and IP gaming sessions, Seig said.

With cable giants like AOL Time Warner and AT&T Broadband promising to move toward "open access" to various Internet service providers over their cable modem systems, Time Warner Cable has been testing AP InterLink in its Columbus, Ohio, market to support open access there.

LOAD-DATE: June 4, 2001