SBC E-Services, Inc. Announces Achievement Of HP SP Certification

HostReview.com
Wednesday, November 19, 2003; 12:00 AM

San Antonio, Texas, November 17, 2003- SBC E-Services, Inc., a subsidiary of SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE:SBC), has been awarded HP SP Signature Certified status through the HP Service Provider (SP) Certification program, establishing SBC E-Services as an industry-recognized Web hosting and server collocation services provider.

The HP SP Certification program is a comprehensive assessment of people, processes and technology, and provides recognition of a service provider's (SP's) capability to consistently deliver a reliable hosting service to a defined standard, based on industry best practices. From information technology infrastructure to management best practices, participation in the HP SP Certification program represents a commitment to high standards that increases customer confidence. HP SP Certification is concerned with only the SP's ability to deliver reliable services. SP Certification is global in scope, ensuring that a service provider is capable of meeting consistent quality standards in each of its data centers worldwide.

"The HP SP Certification program provides guidance and confidence to companies outsourcing their hosting requirements to service providers," said Ken Bloom, acting managing director of the HP SP Partners and Programs. "The program rigorously assesses a service provider's IT systems and services running on the full range of HP platforms and storage, across six domains of availability: IT Service Management, Networking, Applications and Database, System Software, Hardware, and Environment."

SBC E-Services focuses on full end-to-end support for customers, including access, networking, equipment, and services. SBC experts handle all elements of customer need, from design to delivery to ongoing management of hosting services. SBC PremierSERVSM Hosting Solutions also include monitoring and reporting tools, which provide businesses with details required to proactively manage operations, system performance, resource availability and site usage.

The full SBC PremierSERV Hosting portfolio includes a wide spectrum of hosting solutions, from shared, managed and server collocation to enhanced services, such as storage and managed security, to meet customers' demanding hosting needs.

Additional information on SBC E-Services enhanced managed hosting portfolio and case studies on how SBC E-Services can help your business is available at www.sbc.com/premierserv.

About HP's SP Certification Program
The HP SP Certification program is a quality-based program with an on-site assessment delivered by Business Critical Consultants from HP Services, providing SPs with quality differentiation from their competitors. For more information, visit www.hp.com/go/spcertification.

About SBC Communications Inc.
SBC Communications Inc. (www.sbc.com) is one of the world's leading data, voice and Internet services providers. Through its world-class networks, SBC companies provide a full range of voice, data, networking and e-business services, as well as directory advertising and publishing. A Fortune 30 company, SBC is America's leading provider of high-speed DSL Internet Access services and one of the nation's leading Internet Service Providers. SBC companies currently serve 55 million access lines nationwide. In addition, SBC companies own 60 percent of America's second-largest wireless company, Cingular Wireless, which serves more than 23 million wireless customers. Internationally, SBC companies have telecommunications investments in 26 countries.