Amman-2/7/2003
 
Amman, JORDAN - Jordan Telecom, Jordans leading provider of telecommunications services, in collaboration with TRINEC Jordan, a  premier Application Service Provider, today announced the launch of "ARSEL", a secure, high performance messaging and collaboration service designed for companies of all sizes based on Microsoft messaging solution known as " Hosted Exchange."
 
The ARSEL Service offers robust features and functionality at a lower cost of ownership than any equivalent in-house solution, while also ensuring top performance and availability. The service provides Web, mobile and PDA based access to email and key collaboration tools such as group distribution lists, calendaring, contacts database management and file sharing.

Deployed in Jordan Telecom datacenters  ARSEL offers a fully redundant network, server, and storage architecture with integrated monitoring and trouble-response processes to ensure availability. ARSEL also provides  24x7 customer-care hotline service.
 
Customers benefit from fixed monthly per user pricing, dedicated storage per user, virus protection, patch upgrades, low upfront costs, no additional expenses for maintenance and upgrades and reduced overall capital equipment and software costs. More importantly, companies can focus IT resources toward core business objectives while eliminating the costs associated with lost productivity resulting from email downtime.
[ri1]
 
"Business messaging and collaboration is a critical part of a company's infrastructure," said Mr. Pierre Mattei,  Jordan Telecom CEO "The ARSEL solution offers enterprise level security and performance at a cost effective level for various sized companies. The service is optimized for the best user experience possible, frees critical IT resources and is offered in various cost effective pricing plans designed to meet customers' current and future business needs added Mr. Mattei"
 
"ARSEL provides businesses of all sizes with a powerful messaging and collaboration solution previously available to only the largest enterprises," said Samer Hanna, President of TRINEC. "JT's rollout of this service underscores the vitality of the market for outsourced services as a way to cost-effectively enhance business productivity and competitiveness." TRINECs technology platform, which has been tested and proven, is designed for scalability, performance and availability.
 
Based on Microsoft technology, " Microsoft Hosted Messaging and collaboration solution enables operators and service providers like Jordan Telecom and TRINEC to deploy a scalable and validated messaging solution so they can cost-effectively deliver secure, customer-oriented collaborative messaging service , said Mr. Charbel Fakhoury, General Manager of Microsoft Eastern Mediterranean
 
For Virus protection and content filtering ARSEL service includes solutions from Trend Micro?, a leader in network antivirus and Internet content security software and services. Denis Payen, xSP Business Development Director of Trend Micro said, Over 90% of viruses today[1] enter networks via email or the Internet, making virus protection an essential component of any business messaging infrastructure. Downtime caused by computer viruses can result in costs and loss of productivity. The antivirus service based on Trend Micro solutions, specifically developed for Microsoft applications will contribute to a secure best of breed messaging environment for ARSEL customers. 
 
-Ends-
 
About Jordan Telecom   www.jordantelecom.jo
Jordan Telecom, established in 1971, is the provider of Jordans only fixed line network (Jordan Telecom), an ISP (Global One), a GSM operator (MobileCom) and Internet content delivery services (e-Dimension).  Jordan Telecom has the exclusivity on fixed line voice and data transport until end of 2004 and provides a highly-developed fixed line network which forms the backbone of Jordans communication services. 
 
The privatization of the company in January 1997 and the partnership with France Telecom, in January 2000 have allowed the company to make major investments in the network and services offered.  A Data Communications Network and an Internet Access Project has created the national IT hub, which includes national switching and international connectivity through Flag and satellite, as well as establishing a state-of-the-art digital network covering 98 percent of the population.  The partnership with France Telecom proved to be the most advanced global telecommunications merger in the Kingdom, paved the way for the government's shares to be the public in the companys IPO at the end of 2002. 
 
About TRINEC S.A.L (www.trinec.net)
Founded in Lebanon in 2000, TRINEC is the leading Application Service Provider ASP in the Middle East. TRINEC provides its customers with remote access to applications hosted in secure Data Centers, supported by world class IT talent, available 24 hours a day. Customers can access the applications over the internet or via dedicated leased lines, paying a monthly fee per user per application that covers all the costs associated with software licensing, deployment, hosting, support and network management services.  
 
About Microsoft Corporation
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing.  The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software any time, any place and on any device. 

In 1999, Microsoft opened a representative office in Lebanon to oversee the companys operations in Cyprus, Jordan, Malta and Lebanon, followed by the opening of an office in Jordan in 2001 to participate in the growth of the IT sector in the country and help people realize their potential  In 2002, the company became a full-fledged subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation.  Microsoft Eastern Mediterranean is a subsidiary part of the Middle East sub-region.

Microsoft Corporations address on the World Wide Web is: www.microsoft.com
Microsoft Mediterraneans Web site is at: www.microsoft.com/middleeast.
 
About Trend Micro
Trend Micro is a leader in network antivirus and Internet content security software and services. The Tokyo-based corporation has its European headquarters in Marlow, England, and business units worldwide. Trend Micro products are sold through corporate, value-added resellers and managed service providers. For additional information and evaluation copies of all Trend Micro products, visit: http://www.trendmicro-europe.com
[1] According to ICSA LABS 8th Annual Computer Virus Prevalence Survey

 [ri1]Better explain what is ARSEL before giving out quotes. Dont make it too technical

© Press Release 2004