AboveNet Builds Momentum in Fast-Growing ASP Market and Announces Support for Citrix's New iBusiness Service Provider Program

Business Wire, Sept 9, 1999

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 9, 1999--

At Citrix iForum '99, AboveNet Communications Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Metromedia Fiber Network (Nasdaq: MFNX) and the architect of a global one-hop network that brings together high-bandwidth content sites, ISPs, and Application Service Providers in centralized co-location facilities, announced support for the new Citrix iBusiness channel program, which was launched today by Citrix Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:CTXS) to foster the development and growth of the application hosting industry.

Today's announcement follows a series of steps AboveNet has taken to foster the fast growing Application Service Provider (ASP) business model. Revolutionized by the Internet and broad market acceptance of enabling technologies, including Citrix server-based computing solutions, this model allows enterprises to outsource IT solutions for a monthly fee or per-use charge and have greater flexibility in directing their limited IT resources to achieve competitive market advantages.

AboveNet provides the high performance network and co-location services ASPs need to effectively and reliably deliver hosted application to end-users over the Internet with the same level of performance as locally installed applications.

AboveNet's affiliation with Citrix offers ASPs a superior combination of tools and environment for implementing hosted applications with maximum reach, speed, and predictability. Citrix's application-server software provides cornerstone, enabling technology for managed application deployment via the Internet. AboveNet provides ASPs with superior Internet connectivity and co-location services for delivering business-critical hosted applications to enterprises

"AboveNet's high-performance network minimizes data latency and packet loss," said David Rand, AboveNet Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder. "As a result, users of hosted applications can experience optimal application performance, and they have the assurance of being able to consistently access applications when they need them."

Over the past year, AboveNet's active support of the ASP business model has included partnerships with Cisco Systems, Inc. and Sun Microsystems, Inc. AboveNet is a member of Cisco's Hosted Application Initiative, which provides a framework of products and services targeted at small-to-medium sized businesses.

AboveNet recently installed a direct link to Cisco's Application Hosting Lab where ASPs can test their applications on Cisco hardware and AboveNet's network to get a true, real-world test of performance. As a member of Sun's SchoolTone Alliance Program, AboveNet is helping students and teachers in K-12 schools, their parents and educational administrators access needed applications, some of which might otherwise be outside their reach, via high-quality Internet portals.

ASPs such as DashCenter, Inc., click2send.com, Inc., and @ccelerate Software, Inc. have recognized the benefits of AboveNet's network for reliably delivering applications and have joined AboveNet's Internet Service Exchange (ISX). DashCenter provides thick content hosting, which makes photos, pictures, documents, engineering drawings, X-rays, maps, satellite images, audio or video available via the Internet, or an intranet or extranet.

click2send provides a free, nearly instantaneous transfer service for electronic documents and other media using standard web browsers. @ccelerate is developing a subscription-based service that allows ISPs to conveniently provide value-added services to their clients. Its hosted applications enable ISP customers to communicate securely over the Internet and collaborate on projects.

Millennia Vision Corporation, a consulting organization, has also joined AboveNet's ISX. Millennia Vision provides business application services, including Oracle application implementation, Oracle-based custom development, data warehouse and decision support services, and the strategic application of Web technologies.

AboveNet is an executive member of the ASP Industry Consortium, which was formed in May 1999. This advocacy group of companies promotes the application service provider industry by sponsoring research, fostering standards, and articulating the measurable benefits of the ASP delivery model.

AboveNet's Global "One-Hop" Network

AboveNet's unique network model enables it to offer one-hop connectivity and network performance to its clients. At each of AboveNet's ISX facilities, content and service providers connect to each other in a LAN environment and then directly connect to the rest of the Internet through an extensive network of more than 273 private and public peering agreements with all of the top ISPs and backbone providers worldwide.

This architecture can reduce the multiple network hops information often takes to reach its final destination on the Internet, and can allow AboveNet to keep the information on its network intact until it can be delivered as close as possible to its final destination. The resulting "one-hop" network is highly redundant and is designed to deliver superior network performance.