Data Return First To Market With Managed Hosting for Microsoft SQL Server 2000; Apps.com Deploys Microsoft .NET Technology With Data Return.

Business/Technology Editors

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 12, 2000

Data Return Corporation (NASDAQ: DRTN), a leading global provider of managed hosting services, today announced that it has successfully deployed an application using SQL Server 2000 for Apps.com. Data Return is the first managed service provider to announce support for the increased functionality and scalability that SQL Server 2000 offers in this new release.

"We are pleased with how quickly Data Return was able to migrate our production SQL 7.0 database to SQL 2000," said Brian Michon, vice president of Engineering and co-founder of Apps.com. "Data Return's engineers helped us maintain the high availability of our award winning site. SQL Server 2000's improved support for Windows 2000 fail-over clustering enables us to maintain the extremely high levels of availability required by the growing number of individuals and businesses dependent on Web-based applications and online business services."

According to recent TPC-C benchmark results (www.tpc.org), Microsoft SQL Server 2000 database server sets new price performance records for database driven applications. Data Return's managed hosting services reduce the time to market for customers who want to be among the first to take advantage of these unprecedented performance metrics.

Ryan Trout, Microsoft's Rapid Deployment Program Manager for SQL 2000, said, "Data Return is a member of the Rapid Deployment Program for SQL 2000, and has worked extensively with Microsoft to determine best practices for deploying SQL 2000 within a managed hosting environment." Trout went on to say, "Data Return's success in integrating SQL Server 2000 into the Apps.com managed hosting infrastructures shows that their technical teams are clearly among the best in the industry."

"Data Return will continue to lead the industry with first to market managed hosting solutions for Microsoft .NET technologies," said Jason A. Lochhead, Data Return CTO. "Data Return's involvement with Microsoft's Rapid Deployment team allows us to help our customers take advantage of new technology from Microsoft without the risk of learning on their own."

About Data Return

Recognized by Microsoft as the Windows 2000 Global Hosting Partner of the Year, Data Return specializes in providing high-availability managed hosting services for companies whose applications are based on Microsoft technologies. These services are utilized by many leading enterprises including Microsoft, Compaq Computer Corporation, RadioShack.com, Texas Instruments, Pier 1 Imports, and World Bank. Data Return also provides managed infrastructure services for the rapidly growing market of Application Service Providers (ASPs). Data Return strategic investors and Global Alliance Partners include Microsoft, Compaq Computer Corporation, and Level 3 Communications. For more information, visit www.datareturn.com.

This press release contains forward-looking information. 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 "Risk Factors" in Data Return's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Year Ended March 31, 2000 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 a trademark of Data Return Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.