Fusepoint Launches Microsoft Exchange Managed Messaging and Collaboration Services

TORONTO - March 31, 2005 - Fusepoint Managed Services, a leading provider of outsourced IT services and managed applications, today announced the immediate availability of new Microsoft Exchange services designed to simplify the management of the world's most widely deployed messaging system for business-class e-mail, public folders, calendaring, and collaboration.

Fusepoint will become the first Canadian ‘pure play' managed services provider to offer businesses the end-to-end services required to host and maintain a high-performance, high- availability communications infrastructure based on Microsoft Exchange. Fusepoint now offers two newly tailored delivery options: 

§         Dedicated Exchange Service - a highly customizable approach to deliver an Exchange solution (500+ email boxes) tailored to a business' specific requirements, on a dedicated platform

§         Hosted Exchange Service - a complete and cost-effective packaged solution that can be deployed rapidly to meet the messaging needs (25-500 email boxes) of small and mid-size organizations

"E-mail is now considered an essential business communications tool in any corporate environment, yet the cost to effectively manage and maintain the integrity and reliability of these systems comes with a price tag that extends beyond simple dollar value alone," said Robert Offley, president and CEO of Fusepoint Managed Services. "It takes ongoing investments in hardware, software, and staffing to keep pace with the growing number of security advisories, viruses, patches, and SPAM.  Outsourcing Microsoft Exchange requirements under a ‘software-as-a-service' model will not only save money, but also will free up internal IT resources for more strategic business activities."

Offering user-based pricing; 24x7 monitoring; optional mobile and Blackberry support; and SPAM/content filtering - Fusepoint's Exchange services also provide the flexibility and scalability needed to grow an Exchange messaging and collaboration solution as a company's requirements change.

"Microsoft is committed to our technology partner community," said Lora Gernon, Director, Partner Sales Group, Microsoft Canada. "We continue to work closely with our technology partners to provide support for them to build solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2003 that address the evolving communication and collaboration needs of Canadian businesses."

About Fusepoint Managed Services

Fusepoint Managed Services is the leading provider of managed IT services and infrastructure for companies running mission-critical applications. Fusepoint's technical experts and world-class data centres ensure the continuity of our clients' businesses. We protect their networks, data and applications against unforeseen disasters and malicious threats while reducing their operational costs and safeguarding their corporate reputation.

Fusepoint's range of services include managed hosting, managed application services, business continuity, security and professional consulting services.

Built on a foundation of unrivaled technical expertise and proven operational processes, Fusepoint's managed IT solutions are SLA-guaranteed, scalable and designed to reduce IT cost structures while mitigating risk of service disruption. Picked as a "company to watch" by IDC Canada, Fusepoint maintains a national network of state-of-the-art data centres and offices strategically located in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Quebec City. For more information please visit www.fusepoint.com.