Data Return Announces Partnership With Compaq Services, the Leading Systems Integrator for Microsoft Exchange, to Address Messaging Requirements for Enterprise Customers.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 9, 2000

Solution to address migration, integration and hosting

requirements for enterprises standardized on Microsoft Exchange 

Data Return Corporation (Nasdaq:DRTN), a leading provider of advanced web and application hosting services for the Microsoft platform, today announced a partnership with Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE:CPQ), to provide enterprise customers with an end-to-end solution for all lifecycle integration services and on-going management of Microsoft Exchange. This solution leverages Compaq's 17 years of global messaging experience deploying many of the world's largest Exchange installations with Data Return's recently announced Messaging Center, a high-availability outsourced hosting solution for Microsoft Exchange.

&uot;Compaq is committed to providing customers with industry-leading, NonStop(TM) eBusiness infrastructures, services and solutions,&uot; said Ashok Shah, vice president, Compaq Professional Services Division, North America. &uot;This partnership helps to secure business advantages for our customers by combining Data Returns' expertise in advanced hosting with Compaq's experience as the premier integrator of Microsoft Exchange.&uot;

&uot;Enterprise customers standardized on other mail platforms need the assistance of a large scale integrator like Compaq to assist them in the migration to Microsoft Exchange. We are pleased to offer our services in conjunction with Compaq to address the on-going management of Microsoft Exchange once the migration effort is complete,&uot; said Sunny Vanderbeck, chairman and chief executive officer, Data Return Corporation. &uot;The ability for large enterprises to outsource Microsoft Exchange allows them to refocus their internal resources on more strategic eBusiness initiatives.&uot;

Compaq offers a complete range of professional services including migration assessments, rapid deployment pilots, scope consulting for planning and design, migration and integration, collaboration services, Exchange utility services, customized management and design services and end-user help desk support. Data Return's Messaging Center is an all-inclusive managed hosting services that includes all server and network hardware, system setup and configuration and 24 x 7 monitoring, management and support.

For more information about Messaging Center, please call 800/767-1514 or visit www.datareturn.com/exchange.

About Data Return

Managing over 1,600 applications for more than 1,000 companies worldwide, Data Return is a leading provider of advanced managed hosting services based on Microsoft technologies. Data Return customers include Microsoft, Fossil, Executive Software, PlanetOutdoors.com, Berlitz Languages, Sensormatic Electronics, Boeing Company and First USA Bank. Data Return is also a full-service Application Infrastructure Provider (AIP) that is helping Independent Software Vendors rapidly become Application Service Providers (ASP's). Strategic partners and equity shareholders in Data Return include Microsoft Corp., Compaq Computer Corp. and Level 3 Communications. For more information visit www.datareturn.com.

This press release contains forward-looking. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of risks, including changes in external competitive market factors, changes in or an inability to execute Data Return's business strategy, unanticipated changes in the hosting industry, the economy in general and changes in the use of the Internet. Data Return cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The matters discussed in this press release also involve risks and uncertainties summarized under the heading &uot;Risk Factors&uot; in Data Return's Prospectus dated October 27, 1999 and are updated from time to time through the filing of reports and registration statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Data Return does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.

Data Return is trademark of Data Return Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.