Leading Technology and Network Service Providers Enhance Performance of the Web; Content Bridge is First Alliance to Focus on Content-Centric Framework for Improving Performance and Reliability of Internet

Business Wire, August 23, 2000

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--August 23, 2000

Leading network service providers today announced the Content Bridge alliance. This newly announced alliance has been established to ensure that Internet online users receive the most up-to-date information available on the Web. Initial Content Bridge participants include Adero, Inc., America Online Inc. (NYSE:AOL), Digital Island, Inc. (Nasdaq:ISLD), Exodus Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:EXDS), Genuity Inc.(Nasdaq:GENU), Inktomi Corp. (Nasdaq:INKT), Madge.web (Nasdaq:MADGF), Mirror Image Internet Inc. (AMEX:XLA) and NetRail, Inc.

The Content Bridge alliance members are focusing resources on understanding Internet performance and control issues and investigating the creation of standards to address those issues. The goal is to provide the most efficient, scalable way of enabling the delivery of rich content from content providers to content consumers at the point of Internet access. Starting in fall 2000, Adero plans to roll out initial elements of Content Bridge, which will provide a platform for cross-network content distribution, enabling any content provider who opts to participate the ability to supply participating member Internet Service Providers (ISPs) with their most current content. In addition, they will maintain full control over updating and synchronizing the content on their own sites.

Content Bridge members have formed working committees that are defining content distribution exchange standards, facilitating the development of a roadmap for the exchange of other types of content such as streaming media, and establishing a forum for addressing additional technology issues. (See announcement distributed separately today, "Inktomi, Adero and America Online Announce Strategic Content and Technology Distribution Agreement.")

"Content Bridge is a great example of how Digital Island's pioneering FootPrint(TM) technology can be extended to leverage the content servers deployed in many ISPs worldwide," said Ruann F. Ernst, chairman and CEO of Digital Island. "Footprint customers will benefit from the increased worldwide reach and scale of our e-Business Delivery Network. Digital Island will offer its technologies for use and adaptation by Content Bridge, and work with the other members and industry leaders to standardize on these technologies."

"The rapid growth of Exodus(R) over the last six years is due in large part to the quality of the services we provide our customers and our dedication to superior performance," said Ellen M. Hancock, chairman and CEO of Exodus. "We support Content Bridge as an industry initiative because it ultimately promises to improve the performance and end-to-end quality of service of the Internet while enabling us to offer our customers additional benefits within the Exodus/Mirror-Image three-tiered content distribution model."

"As a Tier 1 network provider to thousands of enterprises, Genuity is committed to delivering cutting edge e-business solutions to our customers," said Paul R. Gudonis, chairman and CEO of Genuity. "Through Content Bridge we will further increase the value of our customers' content-rich Web sites by enhancing their performance and control beyond the edges of our network. Content Bridge will enable closer links between our managed hosting customers and access providers."

"Content Bridge enhances Madge.web's offering to businesses in providing reliable, high speed management of rich content," said Robert Madge, CEO, Madge.web. "Already Madge.web has reach to more than 30 countries around the world via our managed Overnet, and we intend to interconnect our Overnet to ISPs under the umbrella of the Content Bridge alliance in order to offer optimal content delivery to the home-based user. This will benefit both our hosted clients and those using our streaming media services, as well as enhancing the experience of the end-user."

"Mirror Image is proud to bring the middle tier of a three-tiered content delivery architecture to the alliance," said Cos Santullo, CEO of Mirror Image Internet, Inc. "By linking the massive aggregating power of our globally deployed Content Access Points to the edge networks of the alliance members we are able to provide increased value to our customers around the world."

"NetRail's business strategy is to genuinely partner with application service providers and network service providers to deliver a suite of personalized and bandwidth intensive applications to their end users," said Steve Massey, CEO of NetRail. "We have been growing in double digits, because we have positioned ourselves as the key element needed to deliver high speed services to our customers. NetRail's commitment to the Content Bridge will fully exploit our Independent Tier 1 backbone infrastructure, established peering relationships, and our strategic investments into the technology bringing data to the edge of the network."

About Content Bridge

Formed in August 2000, Content Bridge is an alliance that includes leading technology and network service providers. Content Bridge provides a platform for cross-network content distribution, streamlining the link between content providers and consumers. Initial members of the alliance include Adero, Inc., Digital Island, Inc., Exodus Communications Inc., Genuity Inc., Inktomi Corp., Madge.web, Mirror Image Internet Inc. and NetRail, Inc. For more information, access www.content-bridge.com.