Infonet Supports Globalization of ERP and CRM Systems for Armstrong; Company Optimizes its Communications, Information Technology Worldwide

Business Wire, July 24, 2001

Business Editors

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 2001

Infonet Services Corp. (NYSE:IN)(FSE:IN), a leading provider of global communications services for multinationals, today announced that it is providing comprehensive worldwide network services for Armstrong World Industries.

To ensure that the company can optimally build and distribute its products globally, Armstrong is deploying its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems over Infonet's global network to 160 locations throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

The new services also support Armstrong's initiative to consolidate its many disparate networks resulting from the acquisition and divesting of companies over the past several years.

Armstrong Holdings Inc. (NYSE:ACK) is a global leader in the design, innovation and manufacture of floors and ceilings and the parent of Armstrong World Industries. Based in Lancaster, Pa., Armstrong has approximately 15,000 employees worldwide. In 2000, Armstrong's net sales totaled more than $3 billion.

Infonet's solution is based on global network services offering reliable, stable and proven technologies that also guarantee high levels of service. Through Infonet's Application Defined Networking (ADN) service, Armstrong has been able to prioritize network traffic, guaranteeing that its mission-critical ERP and CRM applications take precedence over other mission-supporting applications.

To ensure that all network requirements of these key enterprise applications are achieved, Infonet employed its state-of-the-art toolkit called the Network Analysis Program (NAP). Utilizing Infonet's patent-pending methodology, NAP consultants collected, profiled and analyzed the data traffic of Armstrong's network applications.

Baselining Armstrong's existing network performance, Infonet modeled the behavior and applications, then calculated the business benefits of alternative network designs utilizing Infonet's proprietary ROI Solution Builder software. The final analysis is designed to eliminate either over or under provisioning of Armstrong's network.

As a result, the network was configured based on the performance requirements of the company's enterprise applications requirements, thereby maximizing value and performance, in addition to generating a strong ROI for Armstrong.

According to Bill Hutchinson, Armstrong's manager of Infrastructure Services, "It is important to have a global ERP system with a completely robust and reliable network behind it. Infonet's NAP tools and methodology allowed Armstrong to optimize the cost and global availability of products, satisfying customer needs and growing our market share."

Going forward Armstrong can now correctly prioritize its network traffic to allow those applications that are most critical -- such as enterprise resource planning and ordering systems -- to take precedence over any other mission-supporting applications.

NAP has also enabled Armstrong to evaluate applications in terms of quality of service and allowed Hutchinson to determine how to allocate his scarce resources.

"NAP has helped us to fine tune our network, place emphasis where it needs to be and significantly lower our costs," observed Hutchinson.

"Infonet's ability to deliver networking in places that are a challenge for some global carriers has impressed us," continued Hutchinson. "They are able to come up with solutions, install connections and provide a robust and reliable network, while reducing costs by up to 40%. That's truly impressive," he concluded.

About Infonet

Infonet Services Corp. is an innovative leader in providing value-added global communications services to multinational entities.

Powering the enterprise-wide communications initiatives of more than 2,600 multinationals, Infonet provides a comprehensive portfolio of network-based solutions including Broadband, Internet, Intranet, MultiMedia, Remote Access, Local Access and Application Services (Call Center, Collaboration, Messaging and Hosting).

Infonet is a pioneer in providing multinationals with The Intelligent Edge in Global Communications(TM) -- a unique service based on its patent-pending tools that models and optimizes the complex relationship between applications and the global network.

Winner of the World Communication Awards 2000 for "Best Customer Care" and "Best Carrier," Infonet owns and operates The World Network(R), accessible from more than 180 countries, and provides local service support in nearly 70 countries and territories.

Founded in 1970, Infonet's stock is traded on the New York and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges under the symbol IN. Additional information about the company is available at www.infonet.com.

Safe Harbor Statement: Infonet may have made forward-looking statements in this release. These projections are based on information available to the company as of the date of this release and Infonet undertakes no duty to update the information to take account of later events. Risk factors investors should take into account that might affect results include: strength of the market for Infonet products and services, competition, the timely transitioning of new business opportunities to Infonet's network and the effect of currency fluctuation. Investors should refer to risk factors elaborated on in Infonet's 10K, 10-Qs and other recent filings made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These documents are available through the investor relations portion of Infonet's Web site at www.infonet.com.