New Edge Networks to Add End-to-End Class of Service on MPLS VPNs; Service Offering Enables Expansion into Large Enterprise Market Segment.

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- New Edge Networks plans to introduce class-of-service support for its Multi-protocol Label Switching network services, aiming to expand its offerings to also attract customers with larger bandwidth and performance needs. The company made its announcement at the Channel Partners Conference and Expo in Washington, D.C.

New Edge Networks expects to introduce by Oct. 1 five classes of service that will allow businesses to prioritize application data traffic over their IP-based VPN, short for Internet Protocol-based virtual private network. New Edge Networks will honor class of service across a customer's entire network, from customer location to customer location.

New Edge Networks accelerated its MPLS enhancements through investments from EarthLink (NASDAQ:ELNK), which acquired the company April 13.

The five classes of service are real time, interactive, enhanced, business class, and best effort, supporting everything from Internet telephony and video conferencing to email and point of sale transactions. Today, New Edge Networks offers a single class of business service with its MPLS technology at the core of its network.

"By offering five classes of service and honoring them across the customer's entire network, we are positioning New Edge Networks to effectively serve businesses with converged voice, video, and data applications," said Greg Griffiths, vice president of marketing for New Edge Networks.

"We honed our networking skills on building complex multi-site networks with DSL, T1, and frame relay access across the country," Griffiths said. "Now we intend to expand up-market, offering businesses the benefit of our MPLS capabilities, nationwide DSL coverage, and innovative networking approaches, such as on-net direct connections to payments processors and other major suppliers."

Customers decide how they prioritize their business applications. Typically, customers will use real time class of service for voice or video surveillance. The other classes of service can be used for prioritizing business applications that are less critical or time-sensitive, such as Internet access or email.

New Edge Networks' MPLS offering supports all standards-based routing protocols and any access technology such as xDSL, Frame Relay, ATM, or private lines. Today's xDSL access technology does not yet support class of service. New Edge Networks also can support any network topology, such as any-to-any, star, or hub and spoke. Customers can choose among managed or non-managed networks.

Through its national broadband infrastructure, New Edge Networks can provide MPLS access to more than 90 percent of U.S. business locations.

MPLS allows businesses to manage diverse traffic types, support different network traffic patterns cost effectively, and ensure business applications get the network performance they require. MPLS also can support a host of applications that large businesses are assessing or deploying. Among these are converged voice, video, and data applications, service-oriented architecture (SOA), data center connectivity, and security for complying with Payment Card Industry (PCI) security standards or HIPAA, short for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

About New Edge Networks

New Edge Networks builds and manages networks for businesses and communications providers. Through its nationwide backbone network with about 900 switches and Internet routers, New Edge Networks uses various access technologies (xDSL, frame relay, ATM, cable, wireless, and satellite) for providing broadband connectivity at any business address in the United States. Network options include any combination of access and network management functions. Based in Vancouver, Wash., New Edge Networks is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EarthLink Inc. (NASDAQ:ELNK). The company's Web site is www.newedgenetworks.com. Telephone: [phone].