ADIC Expands Internet Sales and Support; Web Connection Upgrading Partner Relations, Sales, and Order Status

Business Wire, April 10, 2000

Business Editors, High Tech Writers

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 10, 2000

Advanced Digital Information Corporation (Nasdaq:ADIC) announced today that it is dramatically expanding the role of the Internet in the way that it supports its existing reseller and distribution channels and provides services to its entire customer base.

The Company's new Internet initiatives include an on-line order status reporting function, a new channel partner web site, and a new on-line store for sale of storage media and accessories. ADIC also announced that it is actively developing an integrated strategy for supporting the on-line purchase of automated tape libraries and other storage products in conjunction with the Company's existing reseller channel.

"We believe that integrating effective web-based communication into our customer and channel relations programs will be critical to ADIC's continued ability to deliver superior products and service through the methods that our customers demand," commented Bill Britts, ADIC executive vice president of Sales and Marketing. "Many of our customers want the convenience and speed of on-line order status. We already sell media and accessories to customers who buy directly off the ADIC price list, and these customers want the ability to order those commodity products on-line."

"We also know that some of our corporate end-users want to begin purchasing more complex products -- including tape libraries -- through an on-line process. ADIC is actively working with our reseller channel to help connect end users who have that buying preference with resellers who have on-line sales and support capability."

Live since last week, the new on-line order status web connection allows any of ADIC's customers -- including resellers, distributors and OEMs -- to view transactions. Connections to the order tracking system are made to a secure order database server with controlled access. Customers are able to check status of open orders and expected shipping date. For orders placed online, customers will receive e-mail confirmations upon shipping for ease of tracking delivery, and will be able to view order history.

ADIC also went live last week with The ADIC Store, an on-line site that allows end-users to purchase some commodity storage products -- media, cabling, and accessories -- from ADIC's price list using a credit card. This Internet site will also provide a mechanism for referring customers to ADIC resellers for purchase of tape libraries. In the planning stage is a system for connecting on-line customers with ADIC resellers who can support instant on-line purchases.

Scheduled to go on-line within two weeks is a new ADIC partner web site, designed to provide easy access to sales and marketing support materials for ADIC resellers and distributors. The site -- which will include both a public area and a pass-word controlled area for authorized ADIC partners -- will house new product information, presentation materials, on-line literature ordering, information about special promotions, and other information to help ADIC's reseller partners.

About ADIC

With more than 55,000 automated tape libraries installed and a suite of innovative software solutions and Storage Area Networking (SAN) products, ADIC is a leading global provider in the growing market to manage and protect information for computer networks. Marketed under ADIC and ADIC/GRAU brands and the brands of OEM partners, including Dell, Fujitsu Siemens, IBM, Exabyte and Unisys, the Company's automated tape libraries are available with DLTtape, AIT, D2, half-inch, and 4mm tape technologies, and are supported by leading backup and storage management software products for Windows NT, UNIX, and mainframe operating systems. The Company's own storage management tools include AMASS(R) and CentraVision(TM), software products which provide users with shared access to network data. A pioneer in Storage Area Networks, ADIC's Open SAN solutions combine open-system SAN hardware and software with installation services and single-call support. Further ADIC information is available at http://www.adic.com.

ADIC, AMASS, CentraVision, and Scalar are trademarks of Advanced Digital Information Corporation. All other product and service marks mentioned in this release are the property of their respective owners.