Equator One to Circle the Globe with Foursticks Network Performance Solution

Singapore, 03 March 2003 - Network performance software developer Foursticks and leading infrastructure management solution provider Equator One Pte Ltd have joined forces to create a world first in network performance integration.

The licensing agreement will see the Singapore-based company integrate Foursticks NP live network monitoring and control tools into its existing MAX network management suite. MAX NP joins Equator One's infrastructure management product portfolio for distribution via the company's international reseller network.

Mr Wilfred Wong, Chief Executive and Chief Technology Officer of Equator One, said his company was attracted by Foursticks' efficient method of handling Quality of Service management, combined with its open software development kit for future extensions.

"Foursticks has developed a superior network performance algorithm and policy based QoS, but importantly, it is an open system, which allows us to integrate NP software into the current and next generation performance controls in our MAX product suite," Mr Wong said.

"Foursticks allows us to give our customers a scalable, affordable IP-based solution that is quick to deploy, with low ongoing maintenance cost, resulting in a fast return on investment. Foursticks is in line with our philosophy to offer infrastructure management tools and capability for our customers in the simplest possible form."

MAX NP prioritizes bandwidth access to the traffic that brings most value to the business, guaranteeing delivery of applications that demand real-time response, such as audio and videoconferencing, Web services and transactional systems such as ERP and CRM.

"Enterprise customers are becoming increasingly aware that high-value network traffic represents only about 20 percent of total volume--yet all data is given the same level of access, or is managed using the existing, relatively primitive methods," Mr Wong said.

"MAX NP will give network owners new insights into who is using the network and for what purpose. It will enable dynamic controls that ensure profitable applications are always given priority, whereas less profitable applications are allowed background access, and zero-profit traffic can be eliminated entirely."

Foursticks VP for Sales Mr David Runacres said that the MAX NP integration was a world first in network performance management.

"Equator One and Foursticks engineers have worked together to ensure the integration happened smoothly," Mr Runacres said.

"Equator One resellers can now offer a unique product that complements the MAX Infrastructure Monitoring System to create a powerful network performance solution."

About MAX NP

MAX NP allows network managers to quickly and easily set business policies that improve user productivity and contain networking costs. The product's intelligent controls and accounting of application usage ensure that an enterprise's telecommunications spend is always in sync with the value the network is delivering.

• Bandwidth management to reduce communication costs
  
• Service level guarantee verification
  
• Enhanced service across wireless networks
  
• Enhanced peer to peer networking
  
• Application prioritization (class of service)
  
• Usage-based billing
  
• Elimination of non-business use of the Internet >
  

About Equator One

Equator One Pte Ltd is a leading provider of IT infrastructure management solutions that optimize the performance and availability of mission-critical computing infrastructure for enterprises and next-generation service providers.

Equator One's comprehensive suite of solutions are based on an open, distributed and scalable architecture, providing proactive monitoring, measurement and control of IT resources. The company offers service level agreement management, fault management and network performance management of all applications and systems sharing the network.

Equator One solutions allow customers to simplify management at all points of network congestion to reduce the cost of ongoing maintenance, deliver high return on investments and lower total cost of ownership. Located in Singapore, the company has established an extensive distribution network in Europe, Asia and Australia. www.equatorone.com

About Foursticks

Foursticks is a technology innovator founded in 2000 to develop a software-based solution to the growing problem of network congestion. The Foursticks product range has been designed for fast, flexible integration into third-party hardware and applications to guarantee network performance levels.

The company partners with service providers, equipment manufacturers and telecommunications companies through its sales offices and agencies in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, India, Germany and the United States.

The company launched its award-winning flagship enterprise product, Foursticks NP Gateway, in October 2002. Today Foursticks NP provides network performance control, including real-time monitoring, fault analysis, and service level agreement verification, to multinational corporations, schools, universities and government departments. www.foursticks.com