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Technology Stocks : Infonet - Leader of Managed Data Communicaton Services -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JakeStraw who wrote (164)	1/15/2002 8:18:53 AM
From: JakeStraw	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 241

Infonet Manages Network Build Out For Diners Club Europe Three-Year Agreement Provides Single Point of Contact and Maximises Return on Investment (ROI) for Network in Ten Key European Locations biz.yahoo.com BRUSSELS, Belgium--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 15, 2002-- Infonet Services Corporation (NYSE:IN; FSE:IN), a leading provider of global communications for multinationals, today announced it has been awarded a three-year multi-service contract with Diners Club Europe, the premier provider of payment systems and information management for business travellers, to manage its European network system application build out in ten key European locations (including UK, France, Germany, Italy, Benelux). Diners Club Europe will utilise this new network to enable its personnel to optimally function as one core European infrastructure linking cities that include Brussels, Vicenza and Rome, Italy, Meerbusch and Frankfurt Germany, Luxembourg, Amsterdam, Zurich, Paris and London. Diners Club Europe is the pan-European financial services company, whose network covers a large portion of the European union and members approximately 1.5 million cardholders. As a result of acquiring licenses to run businesses in additional countries based upon financial partner Citibank's organisational infrastructure, Diners Club Europe faced the challenge of improving their communications efficiency in regard to a variety of network applications including AS400, e-mail and HTTP. After a thorough and comprehensive review of several potential suppliers over a three-month period, Diners Club Europe chose Infonet to provide secure, regionalised support that capitalises on synergies created between its various operational areas and existing internal network applications. These synergies ensure a single point of contact and help maximise significant Return on Investment (ROI) on their present and future installation implementations. ``We required a supplier who could meet our quality performance objectives promptly and efficiently without interrupting our day-to-day operations for our personnel and facilities. Our selection of Infonet to build a single European network was based upon their current network performance, quality of service, regional and global reach and proven track record to run effective infrastructure consolidations,'' said Santo Leonardo, Chief Information Officer for Diners Club Europe. Under the terms of this agreement, Infonet will begin an immediate network installation, including Internet and firewall implementations within a two-month period, on a country-by-country basis throughout Europe. Additionally, anticipated future connectivity objectives will extend the scope of the service requirements between the two companies. ``Our relationship with organisations like Diners Club Europe is a true partnership,'' commented Michel Vervoort, General Manager of Infonet Belgium. ``We are pleased to provide Diners Club Europe with a solid communications infrastructure and single point of contact that meets their objectives and continues to deliver upon our firm commitments to our multinational clients,'' he concluded. About Diners Club Europe/GTP Holding S.p.A. Diners Club Europe is an extended franchise operating unit of GTP Holding S.p.A. GTP Holding S.p.A. is strategically committed to creating value through its business focus on goods and services targeted to upscale customers. GTP Chairman Tonino Perna and CEO Carlo Nicolai lead the GTP group that includes over 60 companies worldwide, 2,800 direct employees and 10 manufacturing plants. GTP Holding, through its 67 percent holding in IT Holding S.p.A., a company listed on the Italian Stock Exchange, is a global player in the fashion and luxury goods business. Its strong global brands include Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Malo, Exte and Gianfranco Ferre. Additionally, its 100 percent ownership of Franco Maria Ricci (FMR) makes it the world's leading publishing house for art books.