The ASCII Group Inc. Signs on With Qwest; Qwest Looks to VAR Market Leader to Expand Partner Sales - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, Nov 1, 1999

1999 ASCII Group, the world's largest organization of independent resellers, has joined Qwest Communications International Inc.'s Business Partner Program. Qwest is working to expand its network of independent VARs to market the company's Internet solutions. The relationship with the ASCII Group, the highest volume computer reseller organization in the World, with annual collective sales exceeding $9.2 billion, gives Qwest access to the group's 1,500 reseller organizations.

"The relationship is especially important to ASCII, since it offers an avenue for its members to move into the flourishing Internet services market," says Jill Kerr, ASCII Vice president and COO. "Qwest is the first company with Applications Services Provider solutions to team up with ASCII Group members, who will now be able to offer web-related products and services to their customers."

"The partnership with The ASCII Group will help us dramatically expand our business partner network," said Nick Kromenacker, Qwest's vice president of alternate channel sales. "Qwest expects to recruit many of the top ASCII VARs, systems integrators and computer resellers. ASCII represents a significant potential for the Qwest Business Partner Program (QBPP) to address a unique subset of VARs with whom ASCII has established one to one relationships. Qwest is working closely with ASCII to make QBPP service offerings available to its members in order for them to provide superior Internet services to their customers."

The QBPP offers resellers a complete range of Internet solutions including high-speed dedicated Internet access, Web and application hosting, Microsoft Windows 2000-based Virtual Private Networks, electronic commerce packages, advanced business video communications, video on demand services, and real time media distribution. As a single-source, Internet solutions provider, Qwest delivers these solutions on a range of platforms, including Windows 2000, over Qwest's Macro Capacity Fiber Optic Network.

Established in 1984 and headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, ASCII provides tools, products and services to assist independent information technology resellers in increasing profits, reducing costs, and growing their respective businesses. ASCII is a for profit organization offering independents the leverage of the group's collective position in the industry to positively influence hardware manufacturers, software developers, IT service suppliers, distributors, the media, the government and the consumer communities.

Qwest Communications International Inc. is a leader in scalable, reliable and secure broadband Internet-based data, voice and image communications for businesses and consumers. The Qwest Macro Capacity Fiber Network, designed with the newest optical networking, spans more than 18,500 miles in the United States, with an additional 315-mile network to be completed by the end of the year. In addition, Qwest and KPN, the Dutch telecommunications company, have formed a venture to build and operate a high-capacity European fiber optic, Internet Protocol-based network. Currently the European network will span 8,100 miles when it is completed in 2001. Qwest also has completed a 1,400- mile network in Mexico.