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Vancouver, Washington - (The Hosting News) - July 17, 2008 - Subsidiary of EarthLink Inc.'s business communications unit, New Edge Networks, has agreed to build and manage a national broadband network, with Edgenics Inc.

The alliance is designed to power video-centric IP services, interactive distance-learning and other Web 2.0 applications for schools. Edgenics received $11.2 million of federal funding to help fund the first phase of this national initiative.

Kevin Flaherty, Vice President of sales for New Edge remarked, ''This agreement is about demonstrating carrier flexibility and leveraging business relationships with other providers to help improve the quality of education for tomorrow's leaders. Edgenics will do well by doing something good for schools, especially those in rural areas and under-funded school districts.''

Edgenics, a privately held company based in Matawan, N.J., entered into a projected multi-million dollar agreement under which New Edge will build and manage a private network supported by Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) technology. New Edge will provide core broadband network resources to interconnect Edgenics' data-center facilities and support 'last mile' broadband connections to end users.

To facilitate cost-effective deployment, New Edge is enabling Edgenics to collocate its computer servers and routers within carrier interconnection centers around the country. This arrangement provides Edgenics with local or near-local network nodes that can easily and cost-effectively interconnect with the regional network nodes of the schools. This helps reduce ongoing communications transport costs.

New Edge will provide and manage a combination of broadband local access technologies with MPLS class of service to enable Edgenics to deliver video content over its IP network facilities in various modes such as live broadcasts, video on demand and two-way interactive videoconferencing.

Robert Dansby, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of Edgenics noted, ''MPLS technology is important for the success of our program because of its ability to provide quality-of-service and class-of-service performance standards that are crucial for high-quality video delivery. New Edge's new MPLS class of service over DSL certainly was a factor in our decision to partner with New Edge Networks. The lower the cost at which we can provide our services, the better we can provide services that benefit schools and students.''

New Edge was first to introduce MPLS class of service over DSL access. The service allows businesses to tag and prioritize applications data traffic using up to five classes of service over high-speed, low-cost DSL connections. New Edge honors these tags end to end across the customer’s entire network.

Edgenics plans to expand its distance-learning programs and other video-centric services nationally in five phases. The first phase of the MPLS-based network deployment will support Edgenics e-Learning services for about 175 schools and learning centers, primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and eastern Texas. It will also support the delivery of e-Learning services to schools in New Jersey, Michigan, Minnesota and Pennsylvania.

Mr. Dansby added, ''There are a number of university studies that show that distance learning is more effective the more closely it approximates face-to-face engagement - the more closely it approximates being in the physical classroom with the teacher. Video is the most challenging component of a virtual face-to-face environment. The infrastructure that many school districts have in place is unable to support the video-centric e-Learning services that are a focus of what Edgenics is doing.''

With its funding, Edgenics plans to provide broadband IP connections, technology and curriculum resources to schools, learning centers, universities and other educational institutions. Edgenics will offer video-centric distance-learning programs that help students and teachers around the country get affordable access to the latest academic curricula and certifications. Edgenics e-Learning Services offer a major boost to the quality of education, especially in areas where it is difficult to attract and retain teachers certified in math, science and foreign languages.

Edgenics is an e-learning company that focuses on providing innovative technology-based learning solutions and services. Edgenics works closely with its university partners and education professionals to provide high-quality educational content and instructional resources. Edgenics provides leading-edge interactive multimedia online distance-learning services using integrated software, Internet and networking technologies.

New Edge Networks is a wholly owned subsidiary of EarthLink Inc. (NASDQ: ELNK). New Edge Networks builds and manages private networks for businesses and communications providers. Through its nationwide backbone network with almost 900 switches and Internet routers, New Edge Networks uses any blend of network and access technologies (MPLS, frame relay, ATM, xDSL, cable, wireless, and satellite) for providing high-speed connections at any business address in the United States. Network options include any combination of access, network management functions, and on-site installation services.

To learn more about Edgenics, please visit: www.edgenics.com.

For more information about New Edge Networks, please visit: www.newedgenetworks.com.

Posted by editor on Thursday, July 17 @ 08:39:02 EDT (451 reads)
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