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News Releases
EarthLink's New Edge Networks Builds MPLS Network for Waxie
Sanitary supply firm uses video conferencing to cut travel costs, improve productivity
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – (Nov. 13, 2007) – New Edge Networks said it has completed installation of a managed private wide area network for Waxie Sanitary Supply, one of the largest distributors of sanitary maintenance supplies in the Western United States.
Waxie abandoned a legacy frame relay network in favor of a faster, more efficient network based on MPLS technology, short for Multi-Protocol Label Switching. Waxie switched to MPLS primarily to power its new video conferencing capabilities and substantially cut travel expenses. It also uses the network for powering the company’s enterprise resources planning, or ERP software, customer relationship management system, inventory control, Internet access, and email.
“To provide crystal clear video conferencing, we need high-speed pipes with class-of-service so we can prioritize network traffic and improve throughput,” said Clifford Robbins, director of information technology for Waxie, based in San Diego, Calif. “Waxie has always believed in using the latest technology to support our business.
“The T-1 MPLS network from New Edge gives us higher-speed lines, more classes of service for tagging network traffic, and more routing functionality so we can do a lot more networking than our previous network without using as much bandwidth,” Robbins said. “With faster throughput we can get more done, be more productive, and become more responsive to our customers. So far, we’ve had very good service.”
New Edge, the business communications unit of EarthLink Inc. (NASDAQ: ELNK), built and manages Waxie’s 15-sites MPLS network. Waxie has round-the-clock access to an online dashboard for monitoring network performance or to check status on automatically generated trouble reports.
“Increasingly more businesses with a small number of locations and critical networking needs are turning to T1-based MPLS networks to drive their business strategies,” said Greg Griffiths, vice president of marketing for New Edge Networks. “These are high priority businesses for us.
“Businesses with few sites need different levels of support and attention that major communications companies are challenged to provide,” Griffiths said. “Few sites does not translate to insignificant.”
New Edge customizes installation to best match the network needs of businesses and IT resources they have. For example, in certain highly sophisticated network deployments, New Edge sends in “Smoke Jumpers” – an internal moniker for skilled technicians – for coordinating on-site installations, testing, and network turn-up.
About Waxie Sanitary Supply
Waxie Sanitary Supply is America’s largest family-owned distributor of sanitary maintenance supplies. Waxie is an industry leader in the distribution of quality cleaning chemicals, equipment, disposables, and accessories to the building service contractor, school, hospitality, healthcare, military, government, industrial, and retail markets. Based in San Diego, the company consists of over 750 dedicated professionals working out of inventory centers servicing the Western United States including California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado. Additional information about Waxie Sanitary Supply may be obtained at www.waxie.com.
About New Edge Networks
New Edge Networks builds and manages private IP-based wide area networks that do not use the public Internet. Connecting business sites at virtually any address in the United States, New Edge allows businesses to choose any blend of available access technologies – from DSL and T1 lines to fiberoptic connections – for building private and secure MPLS networks with performance guarantees. A wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based EarthLink Inc. (NASDAQ: ELNK), New Edge is based in Vancouver, Wash. For more information visit www.newedgenetworks.com or call 1-360-693-9009.
Contact:
Sal Cinquegrani
(360) 906-9723
ATTN: New Edge Networks news releases contain information that is accurate as of the date they are issued. Information contained in past news releases may become out of date and the company does not assume responsibility for updating information contained in past news releases.