VIA NET.WORKS USA Implements Sphera Platform for Hosting Customers [22nd July 2003]

ATLANTA, and NEWTON, Mass., Jul 22, 2003 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- VIA NET.WORKS USA (VIA USA), an Atlanta-based managed Web hosting company and the local U.S. operation of VIA NET.WORKS Inc., and Sphera Corporation, the leading global provider of Web hosting automation and management software, today announced VIA USA's deployment of the Sphera solution and migration of their customer base to the Sphera platform. Sphera's HostingBusiness Suite(TM) will empower customers and partners with self-service account management and automation capabilities.

"Our customers and partners want to have more control over their Web hosting and services," says Rich Grady, managing director, VIA USA. "Sphera's self-service platform will allow customers to automate provisioning of Web sites, e-mail accounts and DNS records, greatly reducing the administrative time our customers and VIA's support teams spend on these tasks. The result is greater efficiency at lower costs for all parties."

VIA USA's operation serves both Windows and Linux customers in shared and dedicated server environments. "Sphera's solution allows us to put more sites on a single server, integrate with our billing software, reduce operating expenditures and empower our customers with self-help capabilities," adds Grady. "In short, it delivers exceptional value, flexibility and quality of service to our customers, while providing us with the scalability and operational efficiency needed to expand our business profitably."

VIA USA will also use Sphera's ResellerDirector(TM), a module of HostingBusiness Suite, to provide value-added services to its large community of reseller partners. Sphera's advanced branding capabilities enable resellers to create private labels for their services, offer diverse feature and service packages, and manage their businesses effectively with management tools and reports. Additional benefits include:

-- Streamlined customer administrative tasks and new account setup capabilities

-- Customer-facing and private-label integrated ticketing and billing functionality

-- Reduced support overhead and system administration through a self-service model

-- Maintained customer relationships through private branding of end-user and reseller control panels

-- Self-service administration of accounts and features through intuitive GUI

-- Multi-language interface enables resellers around the globe to serve customers more effectively

Grady continues, "The majority of our resellers take level-one support calls. By giving resellers and their customers a comprehensive control panel to self-provision and solve basic technical issues, we expect to help them reduce 60-70 percent of their support-call traffic. Their technical experts can now spend more time developing Web sites and proactively enhancing the customer experience and less time responding to calls."

"Having worked with VIA since 2001, we have seen first-hand how the company puts its customers first in the decision-making process," says Adi Pundak-Mintz, interim CEO, Sphera. "VIA immediately saw the benefits our solution would have for their business, their resellers' business and their customers' experience. We are delighted to provide the tools to make that promise a reality."

About VIA NET.WORKS USA

VIA NET.WORKS USA (VIA USA), an Atlanta-based managed Web hosting company, is a local operation of VIA NET.WORKS Inc. VIA USA provides business customers in more than 85 countries with superior managed hosting services, Internet infrastructure and exceptional customer service. For more information on VIA NET.WORKS USA, visit www.vianetworks.net, e-mail sales@vianetworks.net or call 404.495.5660.

About VIA NET.WORKS Inc.

VIA NET.WORKS Inc. is a leading provider of business communication solutions to small and medium-sized businesses in Europe and the United States. VIA's local operations offer a comprehensive portfolio of flexible and reliable managed services including internet access, DSL and lease line connectivity, VPNs, hosting, security, applications and voice. Through its bundled solutions and market-specific partner relationships, VIA is in a unique position to deliver long-term value-added services to its many customers. For further information, please visit our Web site: http://www.vianetworks.com

About Sphera

Sphera Corporation is a global leader in Web hosting automation and management software. Sphera provides value to hosting providers and resellers through service differentiation, increased operational efficiencies, enhanced customer satisfaction and increased profitability. Sphera's HostingBusiness Suite(TM), which includes HostingDirector(R) and ResellerDirector(TM), delivers immediate ROI by generating new revenue opportunities, slashing costs and winning customer loyalty. Headquartered in Newton, MA, with EMEA offices in London, Sphera is backed by well-established global venture capital firms including JVP, TLcom Capital Partners, Gemini Israel Funds, Vision Capital, Bank of America and Reuters Greenhouse Fund. For more information, visit www.sphera.com, or call 1-866-SPHERA-1.

Sphera, HostingBusiness Suite, HostingDirector and ResellerDirector are registered trademarks.

SOURCE Sphera Corporation; VIA NET.WORKS USA

Robin Hodus of Sphera Corporation, +1-617-614-1822, or
rhodus@sphera.com; or Sandra Fathi of Affect Strategies, +1-201-862-1101, or
sandra@affectstrategies.com for Sphera; or Jeremy Porter of Porter Moye Inc.,
+1-404-223-2411, or porter@portermoye.com, for VIA NET.WORKS USA