Infonet Applies for a Patent for Its Client Network Modeling Tools
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Tools Used to Design the Right-Sized Network for Infonet Clients
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 16, 2001--Infonet Services Corp. (NYSE:IN - news; FSE:IN), a leading supplier of global communications services to multinational enterprises, today announced that its Network Analysis Program (NAP) has been selected to become part of Infonet's active intellectual property patenting program.
As part of this program, Infonet conducts an internal review and selects from its rich service portfolio those technology offerings that warrant the added protection that a patent provides. Infonet uses in its consulting engagements a state-of-the-art toolkit, called NAP, to collect, format and analyze data traffic associated with a client's network applications.
As part of its previously announced Application Defined Networking approach, NAP assists multinational corporations in determining an optimal wide area network design based on the performance impact of enterprise-class software systems. These systems include such areas as: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Supply Chain Management (SCM).
The NAP is a unique consulting service that bridges software knowledge with network design to produce the right-sized network for the client. This reduces the costs associated with network over-provisioning by allowing the network to be configured based on the applications used by each individual corporation and thus avoids a one-size-fits-all network design. In addition, the NAP software program provides three key insights into the client's network.
First, the program baselines the current performance of the network. Next, it models the behavior of the enterprise-class software applications over various network topologies and protocols. And third, there is a unique ROI (Return On Investment) component that allows organizations to get more out of their existing IT budgets by calculating the direct business benefits of alternative network designs.
To date, Infonet has successfully performed NAP engagements throughout its client base. According to Bill Hutchinson, manager of Infrastructure Services for Armstrong World Industries: ``As a result of divesting and acquiring companies, Armstrong has had to consolidate disparate networks to support the globalization of our ERP process.
``Utilizing Infonet's NAP, we were able to analyze applications and place them in Quality of Service levels so that we could allocate our resources appropriately. We have used NAP to help us fine tune our network and are pleased with our results.''
``NAP's toolkit, as well as its proven ability to provide client value by demonstrating the performance characteristics of applications and all of the various associated metrics, called out the need to protect this unique intellectual property,'' said Paul Frankel, Infonet's vice president of Global Intranet Services.
``Infonet's filing of a patent application validates the culmination of many years of research, analysis and dialogue with actual clients and further differentiates Infonet's service offerings from our competition by providing clients with the ability to make better network-related decisions.''
Infonet's Network Analysis Program has been developed based on in-depth analyses of more than 20 leading enterprise-class software systems, such as J.D. Edwards, SAP, Baan, PeopleSoft, Oracle, Lotus Notes and CITRIX and how these applications perform on the Infonet World Network.
The NAP tools and methodology are applied to the client's specific environment by highly skilled, experienced Infonet consultants who conduct on-site visits to collect the client's existing mixture of applications, protocols and traffic flows on their current network. Pricing varies per the scope of the consultative engagement.
About Infonet
Infonet Services Corp. is an innovative leader in providing value-added global communications services to multinational entities. Powering the enterprisewide 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'' -- 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, accessible from more than 180 countries, and provides local service support in more than 60 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 that 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 10-K, 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.
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Contact:
Infonet Services Corp., El Segundo
Alex Rassey, +1-310-335-1144
or
Ruder Finn, New York
Alicia Dollard, +1-212-593-6343 |
