Orcom Solutions and IBM First to Deliver CIS Outsourcing Solution for Utilities Via High-Availability Network

Business Wire, April 21, 1999

BEND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 21, 1999--

Sophisticated Network Design Addresses Need for Ultimate in

Reliability and Performance

To Compete in Deregulating Utility Marketplace

Orcom Solutions Inc., a leading provider of Customer Information and Billing solutions for the utility and energy services industry, today announced it is the first outsourcing provider in the utility sector to deliver its Customer Information System (CIS) via a High-Availability Network, including a mirrored environment in which client data is maintained in real-time on two geographically separate computer systems.

Competition in the utility market has created a new focus on customer service. Orcom's High Availability Network was designed to ensure that critical customer service information is available around the clock, enabling utilities to upgrade their service offerings in a cost-effective manner. This offering provides the ultimate in CIS network delivery and reliability for utilities and energy service providers who access Orcom's CIS "over the wire" as an outsourced service. The High-Availability Network exceeds the availability of a traditional in-house computer system, and helps Orcom clients reduce the costs typically associated with building a technology infrastructure.

Orcom president Drew Child said, "The High-Availability Network offers a level of performance that our clients can rely on to support their outsourcing strategies. Since our people, processes and systems are already in place, Orcom clients can implement our Enterprise CIS (E-CIS) quickly, and rapidly adapt to changes in their business."

Child added, "Orcom designed its high-availability solution by working with its customers, including the City of Austin, Texas, a major contributor to the network design. The City of Austin desires to have maximum uptime for its CIS solution to ensure that its customers receive the best possible service."

The Orcom High-Availability Network solution is comprised of a system of shared resources that back up or act as standby for each other, an approach that minimizes downtime and provides a highly secure operating environment. IBM, through an IBM Global Services Delivery Center in Rochester, New York, provides managed operations support and houses the production AS/400 servers that provide access to the Orcom Enterprise Customer Information System. A mirrored AS/400 server in the Orcom Operations Center in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, duplicates all processing on the production AS/400.

Orcom's Child noted, "As the world leader in data management, IBM is a valuable member of Orcom's service delivery team. The Rochester site is an IBM center-of-competency for AS/400 operations and support in IBM Global Services and hosts many systems supporting more than 300 clients. Orcom's technical staff draws on this expertise to help ensure our network delivery reflects the most reliable and versatile technology available."

The network is managed 24 hours a day by Orcom technical and operations staff committed to its continuous operation and meeting or exceeding guaranteed service levels.

Selective or application outsourcing is an increasingly popular strategy among utilities. It allows them to free in-house resources to focus on core business activities, such as delivering products and services, while depending on the outsource provider to handle critical but non-core business functions, such as customer service.

Orcom Solutions is headquartered in Bend, Oregon, and operates an office in Denver, Colorado, in addition to the Scottsbluff, Nebraska, Operations Center. Orcom provides solutions for nearly 200 utilities and energy providers around the world and currently has more than 600 employees. Orcom has received the IBM Mark of Quality Award for four consecutive years. In 1998, Orcom received IBM's highest level of recognition with a Gold Level award, a distinction held by only a few of IBM's Business Partners. Orcom Solutions is a wholly owned subsidiary of en.able, LLC, headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado. Visit Orcom Solutions' web site at www.orcom.com for additional information or call 1-800-338-8233, ext. 1336.