TeleComputing Delivers Microsoft Exchange Services As Part of Complete ASP Solution for Office 2000; Customers Across Two Continents Leverage the Leading Collaboration System

Business Wire, Jan 12, 2000

Business Editors

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 12, 2000

TeleComputing Inc., the world's first provider of comprehensive computing and application services deployed from remote, secure data centers, today announced that it is delivering Microsoft Exchange as an integral part of its application service provider (ASP) offering to customers in the U.S. and Europe. The announcement coincides with Microsoft's announcement of its intention to offer the current Exchange Server 5.5, as well as the newest version of Exchange to be released later this year, to select ASPs in a lease model. This would allow customers to take advantage of the rich knowledge management features of Exchange as part of a complete IT outsourcing solution available for a fixed-monthly fee from TeleComputing.

TeleComputing also has worked with Microsoft to provide its customers with access to the Office 2000 suite of desktop productivity applications as part of its ASP offering. TeleComputing's services include complete management, support and maintenance of end-users IT needs from desktop to server. It distinguishes its service with high-levels of guaranteed availability, unmatched security, and robust application performance -- all benefits enabled by its proprietary TECOS software architecture which it uses to manage its data centers and is specifically tuned for Microsoft Windows environments.

"Microsoft's support of ASP services to deliver Exchange will mean new ways for customers to enhance their investment in Windows-based products and environments -- and new ways to benefit from the one of the world's leading systems for on-line collaboration and communication. We are pleased to work with Microsoft as a select ASP, as we have invested heavily in our ability to provide unprecedented levels of service and support for users of Microsoft Office 2000 and BackOffice products," said Jan Eigil Rydningen, president and CEO of TeleComputing. "By being able to deliver a completed, integrated Windows environment to our customers, we are taking the ASP model to the next level in terms of productivity and efficiency for companies all of sizes."

The highlights of Exchange 2000 that TeleComputing plans to utilize to enhance service availability include: partitioned data stores, fault tolerant SMTP routing, and active-active clustering. Exchange 2000 will also enable greater scalability through the ability to separate front end and back end servers, and dedicate servers to manage directory, protocol and storage. In addition, new capabilities for end users will be enabled through features such as web store, document services, wireless device and unified messaging services built into the platform.

"TeleComputing is an active supporter of Microsoft's Knowledge Workers without Limits program and an early participant in numerous Microsoft ASP-related initiatives," said Russ Stockdale, director of marketing for Server Applications at Microsoft. "Through this relationship with Microsoft, TeleComputing will make Exchange easier to use and deploy for a broader set of customers -- including small and medium-sized businesses and mobile professionals -- than ever before."

"Together Microsoft and TeleComputing are allowing us to take advantage of the powerful features of Exchange as part of a complete IT outsourcing solution," said Stephen Fragapane, CIO of Sterling Capital Ltd. "This fully integrated Windows environment enables us to be more productive and efficient."

About TeleComputing

TeleComputing is the world's first and leading supplier of Windows application delivery and computing services that extend from server to the desktop. As a pioneering application service provider (ASP) in full production since early 1997, TeleComputing works to bring the benefits of enterprise-quality computing as a service to small and mid-sized businesses. TeleComputing's ASP service represents the next generation of IT outsourcing, incorporating server-based Windows desktops with application delivery, data archival, help desk, and managed network connectivity, all delivered to customers with a Service Level Agreement (SLA) for a fixed monthly fee. TeleComputing's high service level assurance is made possible by its TECOS software infrastructure for ASP operations. The company operates ASP services from three secure data centers internationally, supporting customers at over 200 locations in Europe and the U.S. Founded in Norway in 1997, TeleComputing opened its US headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1999, and co-located its U.S. server operations at MCI Worldcom's UUNET facility in Vienna, VA. In addition to strategic business partnerships with Microsoft, Compaq, Citrix Systems, Marimba and UUNET, TeleComputing has an extensive network of ASP value-added resellers (VARs) and system integrators that sell and support its services in North America and Europe. For more information on TeleComputing go to www.TeleComputing.net

TeleComputing is a trademark and TECOS is a registered trademark of TeleComputing, Inc. All other trademarks referenced belong to their respective owners.