ABOV - Bigstep Selects AboveNet's Network to Deliver
E-Business Solutions
SAN FRANCISCO and SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 8, 1999--Bigstep.com, an ebusiness services
company, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with AboveNet Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:ABOV -
news), the architect of a global one-hop network that brings together high-bandwidth content sites, ISPs, and Application
Service Providers in centralized co-location facilities.
Bigstep.com will co-locate its servers at AboveNet's secure, fault-tolerant facilities and use AboveNet's superior network
performance to enable small companies to grow their businesses online.
Bigstep.com assists small companies in leveraging the Internet to extend their businesses, to reach new customers, and to offer
new services. Many small businesses want to be on the Web, but they lack the expertise and resources to manage the online
infrastructure themselves. Bigstep.com fills that gap and provides comprehensive, integrated services, including Web site
hosting, site building, marketing programs, communications, catalog building, reporting and customer email management. In
addition, Bigstep.com has announced that a number of leading organizations, including First USA, Washington Post
Newsweek Interactive and SCORE, have signed up to jointly develop, enhance and distribute the groundbreaking service.
''Bigstep.com is focused exclusively on being the definitive, brand name small companies trust to put their businesses online,''
said David Rich, Vice President of Marketing at Bigstep.com. ''AboveNet is a key partner for Bigstep.com, enabling us to
ensure our customers that their Web sites have the attributes customers have come to expect from the Internet super-stores --
they will be accessible quickly and reliably 24x7, every day of the year, to deliver high bandwidth content and applications.''
Under the terms of the agreement, AboveNet will provide Bigstep.com with co-location services in its highly secure,
fault-tolerant facilities -- a critical requirement for e-commerce applications -- and access to AboveNet's significant bandwidth,
which currently totals over10.5 Gbps. Bigstep.com also will benefit from AboveNet's more than 257 public and private
peering agreements with the leading ISPs and backbone providers worldwide.
''Bigstep.com has recognized that the small business owner needs a reliable, scalable e-business presence to be competitive in
today's markets,'' said Van Jepson, VP of Marketing, AboveNet. ''We believe the combination of Bigstep.com's integrated
and dynamic e-business service and AboveNet's reliable connectivity and non-stop facilities offers the edge small business
owners need.''
About AboveNet Communications Inc.
AboveNet Communications, Inc. is a leading provider of Internet connectivity and co-location solutions for high bandwidth
and business-critical applications. AboveNet, headquartered in San Jose, Calif., is the architect of the Internet Service
Exchange (ISX) -- a world class network that provides co-location services and Internet connectivity for Content Providers,
ISPs, and Application Service Providers (ASPs). The AboveNet Global One-Hop Network is designed to deliver fast,
scalable and reliable connections to the Internet and improves the Internet experience for end-users. With its Tier 1 status and
ISO 9002 certification, AboveNet is seeking to serve the global community of the Internet. For more information on
AboveNet and its service offering call 800/475-2733 or visit the company's Web site at above.net.
About Bigstep.com
Bigstep.com is an ebusiness services company whose mission is to lead the movement of independent businesses to the Web
by enabling them to build a customized ebusiness. The company has developed a Web-based service aimed at business
owners who have decided to build their business on the Internet but don't know where to start. The service is an integrated,
browser-based solution that will enable users to build an e-commerce Web site, communicate with customers, market the site
and track visitors. Based in San Francisco, Bigstep.com is privately-held and funded by US Venture Partners, Mayfield Fund,
Partech International, Draper Richards, Angel Investors LP, Argus Capital, Staenberg Private Capital and private investors.
AboveNet, Internet Service Exchange, ISX and AboveNet Global One-Hop Network are trademarks of AboveNet
Communications, Inc. All other company or brand names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are
associated.
The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical, such as statements relating to the ability of small
companies to grow their online businesses and the perceived benefits to those companies of the services offered, are forward
looking statements within the meaning of section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including
statements regarding the company's expectations, beliefs, hopes, intention or strategies regarding the future. Factors that could
cause or contribute to such differences include risks related to AboveNet's services, including network scalability and Internet
connectivity, the ability to maintain and increase peering relationships, and intense competition, the ability of Bigstep.com to
obtain and retain customers and provide satisfactory levels of service, and other factors and risks discussed from in
AboveNet's reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including AboveNet's quarterly
report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 1999.
Contact:
Brumfiel & Etienne
Montrese Etienne, 415/241-7194
me@brumet.com
or
The Weber Group
Tiffany Francis, 650/463-8642
tfrancis@ca.webergroup.com
or
AboveNet Communications
Rose Marr, 408/367-6681
rose@above.net |
