Web Hosting Provider Verio Hones U.S. Focus, Strategy to Serve Small and Midmarket Businesses and Partners

CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- Jan. 24, 2006 -- Verio Inc., a US-based subsidiary of NTT Communications Group and a leading provider of hosting and Internet services for small to midsized companies and partners, today announced the company's singular focus in the US on serving the online business needs of small and midsized customers and partners. As part of this strategy, Verio is set to launch a series of new product initiatives, including managed services for small and midsized businesses and related Internet services that meet the needs of customers as well as strategic partners. This focus will build on Verio's strong 10-year tenure in the market, as well as its existing leadership in reseller, OEM and partner programs.

In 2006, Verio is introducing new marketing services and professional services to help small and medium businesses improve results, and is creating innovative new partnerships to expand beyond its traditional marketing and distribution channels and small business segments. Recent research conducted by Verio shows that customers continue to value high-quality customer service and support, and are also increasingly looking for specific services that can help their business succeed online. These include services designed to drive traffic to a business' site, online sales services and managed solutions for small business needs. Verio also plans to introduce small and midmarket products and enhancements in the areas of security, storage and high-availability solutions.

To provide customers with a trusted resource for their online needs, Verio is devoting significant resources to bringing an easier to use, more consultative approach to small and midsized business customers and partners. The company will also launch a series of educational resource initiatives and campaigns that midsized and small business customers, partners and resellers can take advantage of throughout the year.

Verio will execute this newly-focused strategy under the leadership of two recently appointed executives. Kiyoshi Maeda serves as Verio's president and acting CEO, leading the company's strategy and business growth. Prior to this role, he oversaw global strategy and corporate planning for NTT Communications, and also headed several business development initiatives for the company. Verio has also recently appointed Dennis Boyle as its chief operating officer at Verio. Boyle has rejoined the company to head its day to day operations, sales and marketing, product management and customer-related initiatives. Boyle was previously with Campus Management Corporation, a software services provider, and before that was vice president of operations for Verio's small to medium business unit. He brings extensive consumer, partner and small business experience from previous positions with Office Depot, American Express and United Parcel Service.

"Today's shared hosting customers are demanding more from their hosting provider and basing buying decisions on business value, features and ease of use, rather than just price point and bandwidth," said Dennis Boyle, COO at Verio. "Verio helped define the Web hosting landscape and we have built strong service capabilities, extensive channel programs, and broad expertise throughout the years to ensure we remain the company that is best equipped to meet the changing demands of our customers and partners. We are continuing our forward momentum with an exciting and singular focus on small and midsized businesses and the needs that our customers have identified in that market."

"Verio is already engaged in significant business opportunities with our partners globally including regions such as Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America," said Verio President and acting CEO Kiyoshi Maeda. "We are also actively working on product and service initiatives, channel expansion and new partner opportunities to help ensure continued growth to meet our customers' needs and the changing demands of today's marketplace. Verio will continue to stand for quality and service for our customers, now more than ever," he concluded.

Previously, Verio also delivered enterprise hosting for large, multinational businesses. This business service, along with global IP network services, has been aggregated under NTT America in the US, enabling Verio in the US to focus exclusively on the unique needs of small and midmarket business customers, while continuing to serve partners of all sizes globally.

In Europe, such hosting services are provided by Verio Europe, which is strategically focused on large, multinational customers for complex managed hosting, as well as European OEM partners and small and midmarket customers, in conjunction with NTT Europe's global IP network services. Verio's products in both the US and abroad are supported by NTT Communications' extensive infrastructure, including premier data center facilities and its global network.

About Verio

Verio Inc. is a leading provider of hosting and Internet services for small and midmarket companies and partners worldwide, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of NTT America, US subsidiary of NTT Communications, which provides complementary global network access reaching over 200 countries worldwide. The company offers businesses a range of Internet services, including Web hosting, managed services and value-added professional service offerings. Verio supports its operations with highly reliable and scalable global infrastructure and systems including the NTT Communications Global IP Network, and provides business solutions to customers and partners in more than 146 countries. More information can be found at www.verio.com and www.ntt.com/index-e.html.

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.