Eschelon Telecom Offers New Levels of Security Using Mirapoint Appliances [May 3, 2005]

SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 3, 2005 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Mirapoint today announced that Eschelon Telecom, a provider of voice, data, Internet services and business telephone systems, has deployed Mirapoint's RazorGate 450 appliances to provide proven, scalable, email security for their customers. Eschelon Telecom serves over 45,000 business users in seven cities across North America and with an ever-increasing number of subscribers, required a scalable, highly-effective security solution that could protect its customers from spam and viruses. In addition, Eschelon Telecom needed a solution that could be quickly deployed alongside their existing email server.

"At Eschelon, we have a commitment to provide our customers with high-quality services that achieve the highest levels of customer satisfaction," said Steve Kolar, senior director of IP network operations and engineering with Eschelon. "We selected Mirapoint because their mature email security appliances combined with their proven expertise in messaging gives us a robust solution we can build our business on. We also found that Mirapoint is the only vendor that understands the complete messaging lifecycle and has modular solutions that are flexible for our growing demands."

In order to find the best business-grade security solution for its customers, the Eschelon team, working with Mirapoint value-added reseller partner The Newman Group, began reviewing Mirapoint's RazorGate email security appliances. After completing the review process, Eschelon selected Mirapoint over other solutions because of the RazorGate appliance's proven scalability and reliability, consistent high catch-rates for spam and viruses, and unique MailHurdle(TM) edge-blocking and Rapid Anti-Spam(TM) real-time protection technologies. Key to Eschelon's decision was Mirapoint's Junk Mail Manager, which provides per-user controls for spam management that better protects Eschelon's subscribers' company-confidential email communications. Junk Mail Manager helps Eschelon differentiate its email security offerings, as well as generate new revenue specifically based on this new, value-added service capability.

"Eschelon Telecom is a great example of how our customers are benefiting from the appliance approach, as well as being creative in using Mirapoint's multi-layered features and unique technologies to deliver compelling messaging services," said Barry Ariko, CEO and Chairman of Mirapoint. "Mirapoint has a long history of providing solutions to our customers that are inherently easier to manage than traditional software products."

About Mirapoint Appliances
Mirapoint is the only vendor in the industry with proven email server and security appliances for any size organization. Designed to complement any email server, Mirapoint's RazorGate email security appliances provide multi-layered protection at the network edge to block hackers, spam, and virus threats, as well as provide advanced management of message traffic through policy enforcement tools, content filters, and detailed reporting.

Mirapoint's Message Server is the industry's only dedicated appliance that integrates email routing, storage, access and management with Mirapoint's comprehensive, multi-layered Full-Spectrum(TM) email security technology. The Message Server is designed to support any enterprise, service provider, government, or education customer trying to deliver email to a broad base of users that demand anytime, anywhere access to carrier-grade email services.

About Eschelon Telecom, Inc.
Eschelon Telecom, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is a rapidly growing provider of integrated voice, data and Internet services. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the company offers small and medium sized businesses a comprehensive line of telecommunications and Internet products including local lines, long distance, business telephone systems, DSL, Dedicated T-1 access, network solutions and Web hosting. With the acquisition of Advanced TelCom, Inc. completed, Eschelon employs approximately 1,200 telecommunications/Internet professionals, serves approximately 56,000 business customers, and has more than 380,000 access lines in service throughout its markets in Minnesota, Arizona, Utah, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada and California. For more information, visit Eschelon's Web site at www.eschelon.com.

About The Newman Group
The Messaging Solutions and Services Division of the Newman Group specializes in improving email delivery and security infrastructures by delivering proven, reliable cost effective solutions that eliminate downtime, reduce security threats, increase employee productivity, and improve overall messaging and network efficiency. Products and services include complete email system solutions, virus protection, spam control, fraud (phishing) protection, and disaster recovery solutions. For more information, visit The Newman Group Web site at www.nofailemail.net.

About Mirapoint
Mirapoint(R) is a leader in solutions for message networks used by service provider, enterprise, education and government institutions. Customers use Mirapoint solutions, including the RazorGate email security appliances, to build message networks that intelligently and securely route, store, access and manage Internet messages, including email. Mirapoint is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., with offices throughout North America, Europe and Asia. For more information on Mirapoint, visit its Web site at www.mirapoint.com.

SOURCE Mirapoint, Inc.