Mi8 Corporation to Offer Microsoft Exchange 2000 Via "Netsourcing"; Leading ASP Details Plans to Deploy Next-Generation Software

Business Wire, July 14, 2000

Business/High Tech Editors

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 14, 2000

Mi8 Corporation, the leading application service provider (ASP) for small and mid-size organizations, today announced plans to deploy Microsoft Exchange 2000. Mi8 made the announcement at the Microsoft Fusion event in Atlanta, Georgia, the year's largest event for Microsoft Certified Solutions Providers and other Microsoft business partners.

Mi8 was one of the first companies to offer Microsoft software solutions over the Internet, an approach Mi8 calls "Netsourcing." Mi8 deploys and manages the software on servers in world-class data centers, and Mi8's customers use the software as if the servers were running in their own office. Mi8 currently offers the Microsoft Office suite, Microsoft Outlook with Exchange Server 5.5, and other popular software packages via the ASP model.

Mi8 will upgrade its Exchange 5.5-based offering to Exchange 2000 in the third quarter of calendar year 2000. Mi8 customers will be upgraded at that time free of charge, and new users will automatically be provisioned on Microsoft Exchange 2000 when they subscribe to Mi8's service.

"We are pleased to work with Mi8 as they offer hosted services based on Exchange 2000. Exchange 2000's rich messaging and collaboration features make scalable and reliable hosted services available to a broad range of corporate customers," said Kevin Breunig, group product manager of Business Productivity Group Marketing at Microsoft. "Customers deploying Exchange 2000 with the help of Mi8 can now also take advantage of additional features like instant messaging, the web storage system and real time conferencing," said Breunig.

Mi8's Netsourcing approach leverages high performance Internet and wireless technologies to deliver Microsoft applications to any device, anytime, anywhere. Mi8 has announced several partnerships in the wireless space, including ThinAirApps, InfoWave and Research in Motion, maker of the popular Blackberry wireless device.

"Our goal is to let our customers focus on their core business, rather than worry about their IT infrastructure," said Dave Castellani, CEO of Mi8. "Our relationship with Microsoft enables us to deliver world-class software to our customers without the upfront expense and time usually associated with enterprise software deployments. Our technology allows us to serve mid- and large-size companies, while our pricing enables us to deliver these same systems in a cost-effective manner to even the smallest organization, allowing them to compete on equal footing with larger companies," said Castellani.

About Mi8

Mi8 provides application services for a wide variety of industries, enabling organizations to enhance productivity, reduce costs and focus on core business activities. Mi8 leverages high performance Internet and wireless technologies to deliver these application services to any device, anytime, anywhere. With major offices in Manhattan and London, Mi8 supports thousands of subscribers worldwide, including Cornell University, Arch Venture Partners, Miss Universe and BabyGear.com. More information is available at (www.mi8.com).