Hastings Communication Services, Inc. of Austin, TX has been honored with the exclusive 2006 Award of Excellence for the ninth year. The award is presented annually by the Association of TeleServices International (ATSI), the industry's trade association for providers of telecommunications and call centre services including telephone answering and message delivery. Hastings Communication Services, Inc. was presented with the award at ATSI's 2006 Annual Convention held at Holiday Inn by the Bay, Portland, ME.

After six months of intensive testing, an independent panel of judges scored call-handling skills such as courtesy, response time, accuracy and overall service to their clients, the cornerstones of the call management industry. If a company scored 80% or better in ALL categories, they are presented with the coveted Award of Excellence.

"Participating in and earning the Award of Excellence is one of the highest achievements in our industry. It is a true testament in striving to go above and beyond to deliver excellence in customer service," states Lori Jenkins, ATSI President.

Now a nine-time winner, Hastings Communication Services, Inc. has earned the Sapphire Award for nine years of excellent service. ATSI extends its congratulations to the staff of Hastings Communication Services, Inc. on their proven quality service to their customers.

About ATSI
The Association of TeleServices International was founded in 1942 as a national trade association representing live answering services. ATSI now encompasses companies across the United States offering specialized and enhanced operator based services including: call centers, contact centers, inbound telemarketing (order entry), paging, voice messaging, emergency dispatch, fax, and internet services among others.