Reuters Selects Akonix to Join Its Reuters Messaging Compliance Partner Program; Akonix L7 Enterprise provides complete solution for logging, archiving, compliance and control for Reuters Messaging users

Business Wire, Jan 18, 2005

SAN DIEGO -- Akonix Systems, Inc., the premier provider of solutions for security, control and integration of instant messaging (IM), extends its relationship with Reuters by becoming a certified member of Reuters Compliance Partner Program. Participation in this newly announced program enables Reuters Messaging (RM) customers to continue to take advantage of Akonix's award-winning Akonix L7 Enterprise IM management system for their enterprise-wide compliance, archiving, security and control needs.

Designed for the financial services industry, Reuters Messaging is a comprehensive business IM service, providing organizations with access to advanced real-time collaboration, and enabling customers to increase their productivity and generate business. Many Reuters Messaging users are subject to strict compliance regulations for message logging, archiving and review. Akonix L7 Enterprise provides a unified IM management solution, giving IT departments a simple solution to audit and store all IM communications, as required by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

For companies using Reuters Messaging in conjunction with public IM networks, Akonix L7 Enterprise provides an added security measure by offering a centralized, enterprise-wide solution for controlling, reporting, archiving and securing IM usage. Akonix L7 Enterprise is the only solution on the market that offers a dynamic protocol update service. This notifies administrators of new IM protocols and automatically updates the server without any service disruption.

Companies can also set acceptable IM guidelines by defining and applying content and user control rules. In addition, Akonix L7 Enterprise is the only solution in its class to offer integrated Spim and Malware filters, which are seamlessly updated as new threats appear, further protecting Reuters Messaging customers from this growing problem.

"Reuters is committed to broadening its standards based and open collaboration offering and addressing the evolving needs of the financial services market," said David Gurle, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Collaboration Services. "Through Reuters Compliance Partner Program, Reuters and Akonix are continuing their close collaboration in order to offer the most dependable, suitable and flexible compliance solutions to both existing and future Reuters Messaging customers."

"Akonix is pleased to join the Reuters Compliance Partner Program," said Peter Shaw, CEO at Akonix Systems. "Offering the power of Akonix L7 Enterprise for the Reuters Messaging environment gives Reuters customers the ability to easily adhere to corporate policies and regulatory requirements regarding the appropriate use of instant messaging."

About Akonix

Akonix is the leading provider of enterprise-class business solutions for leveraging the power of multi-network enterprise instant messaging. Akonix's award-winning products leverage patent-pending core technology, an advanced IM application development platform, and certified strategic partnerships to deliver multi-network management, security, integration and compliance capabilities across all major IM systems, including America Online(R) AIM(R) and ICQ(R), Microsoft(R) MSN, Yahoo!(R) Messenger, Microsoft Live Communications Server, Reuters Messaging, IBM Lotus Instant Messaging (Sametime) and Jabber.

More than 500 customers in Financial Services, Telecommunications, Energy, Technology, Healthcare and Entertainment depend on Akonix to manage, secure and enable IM for over 700,000 enterprise users. Akonix is the preferred IM management solution of some of the world's largest companies, including Cingular Wireless, Qualcomm, EMC and ING.

Akonix is widely recognized as the technology and market innovator with awards for its L7 Enterprise IM gateway from Windows & .NET Magazine, Network World, eWeek, SC Magazine, PC Magazine and Red Herring. Akonix is backed by leading venture capital firms Menlo Ventures, Mission Ventures, Palomar Ventures and Windward Ventures, who collectively manage over $3.5 billion in capital.