Verio Announces Windows Server 2003 Web Hosting for Its Small and Medium Business Customers.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 23, 2003

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Eases Application Development and

Offers Enhanced Reliability and Scalability for Users of Windows On

The Verio Network

Verio, a subsidiary of NTT Communications and a leader in global IP solutions, today announced the worldwide availability of Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Web hosting to its small and medium shared hosting customers via all U.S.-based Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Hosting sales channels, including the viaVerio Shared Hosting Reseller Program and direct to users through its retail channels. Windows Server 2003 hosting plans, available since April through the viaVerio Shared Hosting Reseller Program, will now be backed by a 99.9 percent service level agreement (SLA), making Verio one of the first Windows Server 2003 shared hosting providers to offer this aggressive SLA.

Particularly important to developers, Windows Server 2003, along with the Microsoft .NET Framework, provides a foundation for the development of distributed applications and software integration using Web services, effectively enabling companies to deliver better information to customers more quickly. Application services built into the .NET Framework including Microsoft ASP.NET and data access, ease the development process. Developers can leverage existing Windows Server investments on the new operating system, or easily repackage applications as Web services. Verio plans to offer future regional training seminars on the .NET Framework.

By offering Windows Server 2003 hosting plans, Verio is helping customers capitalize on new technology to free them from the costs and hassles of in-house implementations, and allow them to concentrate on their businesses. In addition to simplifying the application development cycle for smaller businesses, and enabling them to cost-efficiently deploy Web services applications, this offering will benefit customers by providing increased security and scalability, as well as a strong 99.9 percent SLA.

"Many smaller enterprises have been reluctant to adopt Web-based technologies because of the high cost and lack of functionality. Verio is changing this by enabling Ozzworks and other viaVerio shared hosting partners to offer more robust solutions with reduced development and maintenance costs, such as solutions hosted on Windows Server 2003," said Jon Roach, owner of Ozzworks, a Web development firm in Dallas and a viaVerio shared hosting partner. "The versatility of Microsoft .NET Framework allows us to create powerful Web applications for our clients - they are amazed with the functionality of their new Web-based solutions."

Verio customers on the Windows platform will also benefit from a number of additional features and enhancements to Windows Server 2003:

-- Enhanced Security. Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0

incorporates increased server reliability into Windows Server

2003, enabling users to conduct business more securely on the

Internet. Additionally, Verio has an ongoing focus on

continually enhancing security offerings to protect customers

in today's current business environment.

-- Enhanced Reliability. Windows Server 2003 features an improved

fault-tolerant architecture with health monitoring and process

recycling, and with Verio's SLA, customers can expect 99.9

percent reliability.

-- Increased Scalability. Symmetric multiprocessing and

hyperthreading, used to distribute computing tasks across CPUs

on a server, enables Windows Server 2003 to deliver increased

scalability as customers add more sophisticated applications

to their Web sites, increasing performance by up to 140

percent in the file system and significantly better

performance in the Microsoft Active Directory service and IIS

6.0.

All new Verio SME Windows customers will be provisioned on Windows Server 2003 hosting plans.

"Microsoft's Windows Server 2003 is the ideal option for the small and medium customer segment served by Verio SME Hosting and its viaVerio shared hosting business partners," said Pascal Martin, general manager for Microsoft's Communications and Mobile Solutions Group. "This new operating system will help to lay the groundwork for the adoption of Web hosting offerings that will play a critical role in the implementation of Web services by small and medium businesses. Microsoft is excited that an industry leader like Verio is implementing this offering and that their customers will be able to reap the benefits of moving to Windows Server 2003."

"Momentum is quickly growing for Microsoft's Windows Server 2003 and .NET-connected technologies, and Verio believes it is crucial to keep its customers and channel offerings current with industry standards," said Doug Schneider, president of Verio's SME Hosting business unit. "By offering products such as Web hosting on Windows Server 2003, Verio is reinforcing its commitment to the small and medium customer segment and aims to help these customers, as well as viaVerio partners, grow their businesses. As a Microsoft Certified Partner and a participant in the Microsoft ASP.NET Web hosting program, Verio is delivering new technology choices to its SME customers and ensuring the path for future migrations."

John Bell, vice president, sales and marketing for Verio's SME Hosting business unit, said, "The Windows Server 2003 product is an important enhancement to Verio's offerings for small and medium business customers. Verio will continue working with Microsoft in the future to enhance our offerings to this market segment."

Verio will also offer Windows Server 2003 to its enterprise hosting customers in the fourth quarter of 2003. That hosting plan will be available through Verio's Enterprise Hosting business unit.

Pricing and Availability

Windows Server 2003 is available to both reseller and retail channels immediately. Verio will offer Windows Server 2003 through its shared hosting reseller partners through the viaVerio Shared Hosting Reseller Program, as well as through Verio retail channels. A range of hosting plans includes a broad discount structure and the availability of Microsoft SQL Server 2000 databases with specific plans.

More information on Verio's Windows Server 2003 Web Hosting retail offerings including pricing can be found at http://www.viaverio.com/windows2003.cfm; more information on partner offerings can be found at http://www.viaverio.com/products/winserver2k3.cfm.

About Verio

Verio Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of NTT Communications (NTT Com), which provides long distance and international telecommunications reaching over 200 countries worldwide. Verio is the world's largest operator of Web sites for businesses and a leading provider of global IP solutions. NTT Com and Verio market their global IP solutions under the NTT/VERIO brand. The company offers businesses a broad range of Internet services, including Web hosting, dedicated access, virtual private networks, and managed service offerings, among other enhanced services. Verio supports its operations with highly reliable and scalable global infrastructure and systems including the NTT/VERIO Global IP Network, and provides Web hosting services to customers in more than 146 countries. The combination of Verio and NTT Com offers services to meet the growing and diverse needs of all businesses, including small to medium businesses, large global enterprises and multi-national corporations. More information can be found at www.verio.com and www.ntt.com/index-e.html.

Microsoft and Windows Server 2003 are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft in the United States and other countries.