Verio Announces Government-Focused Partner Program; New Program Provides Channel Partners in the Government Sector with Enterprise Hosting and Networking Services

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 23, 2004--Verio, a leader in global IP solutions, today announced a new channel initiative that will create one of the first vertically-focused partner programs in the managed hosting space designed to serve the specific needs of the federal government sector.

This new program, called the viaVerio(R) Enterprise Hosting and Network Services Government Partner Program is part of the overall viaVerio channel program area that serves partners in the mid-to-large enterprise segment. The new program will focus on recruiting and developing partners that are under government procurement contracts in order to provide hosting and networking solutions to the federal government sector. Additionally, because Verio is currently the only provider to offer large-scale commercial next-generation Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) services, Verio solution provider partners and resellers will be able to target and serve those federal agencies that are required to upgrade to the new protocol.

"We provide specialized infrastructure outsourcing solutions and performance based services to government clients that require the highest level of integrated IT infrastructure services and support. We focus on using IT as a business enabler, because at the end of the day, our customers are looking for business results and a better way to manage their technology ownership costs. ATS partnered with Verio because they are one of the only providers that can offer the quality of complete hosting and IP solutions that our government customers demand," said Peter Spewak, senior vice president of Business Development, ATS. "Federal IT spending continues to escalate and we feel that partnering with Verio gives us an added edge to capitalize on this growth, which is why we're now working with Verio on several programs, including adding them to our GSA Millenia Lite schedule."

According to IT analyst research firm, GartnerGroup, federal information technology spending is expected to exceed $56.1 billion in 2003 and reach $59.7 billion in 2004. This new partner program will help Verio gain access to this burgeoning market while continuing to focus on strategic growth by working closely with the partner channel.

"The development of this new program - one of the first of its kind in the hosting space - was a logical next step for Verio. We've always said that our channel strategy is our business strategy and we want to build on the success of that strategy by targeting the government sector," said Craig Schlagbaum, vice president of enterprise hosting and access channel sales. "We quickly realized that, in order to be successful in this sector, partnering was essential. Through relationships with companies like ATS and Intelligent Decisions, we're able to target government agencies by offering a full set of products and solutions, along with the market expertise they require."

Partners in the viaVerio Enterprise Hosting and Network Services Government Partner Program will receive specific program benefits, including:

-- Large reseller discounts when selling Verio's services
-- Support for adding Verio's services to the partner's existing government contracts
-- Access to Verio's Direct Sales force and a select group of system engineers when targeting new customers
-- Market development funds to drive demand for both the partner company and Verio
-- Special support from the viaVerio Enterprise Hosting and Network Services channel team for pre- and post sales
-- Special operations support

Verio will work closely with a select group of strategic partners focused on the federal space. Each partner will be chosen based on a combination of strategic and tactical criteria, including, prior sales of hosting and other Verio services such as IP access or managed security; positioning with target government agencies and customers; and expansion plans for serving other government markets such as the public sector at the state and local level.

More information about the new program may be found at www.verio.com/partners/enterprise, or by phone at 866-237-4121. More information about Verio and NTT Com may be found at www.verio.com and www.ntt.com.

Verio's viaVerio program provides both larger channel partners and SME-focused partners with access to a variety of higher value hosting services, unavailable from many other companies, and offers resellers a range of Internet services targeting all markets, including Web hosting on a dedicated, shared, virtual private server or managed private server platform, as well as domain name registration and e-commerce solutions. In addition, viaVerio partners can receive volume discounts, private label opportunities, and technical, sales and marketing support based on the program they participate in. The viaVerio program also offers recurring commissions to larger channel partners who must meet specific requirements to participate in the program.

viaVerio is a registered trademark of Verio Inc. Verio and the Verio logo are trademarks and/or service marks of Verio Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other names are trademarks or registered marks of their respective owners

Founded in 1978, Advanced Technology Systems (ATS), Inc. specializes in the development of information technology systems and solutions for government and commercial clients. ATS core technology competencies include Enterprise Solutions, Enabling Technology, and Infrastructure Support, with specific domain expertise in areas such as homeland security, financial and asset management, and e-business systems. With approximately $117 million in annual revenues, ATS ranks in the top 10 percent of IT companies in the Washington Metropolitan area. For information about ATS and its products and services, visit www.atsva.com.

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 170 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