Vancouver, Washington – (The Hosting News) – January 19, 2007 – Wholly owned subsidiary of EarthLink Inc., New Edge Networks, has entered into an agreement with Pet Supermarket Inc., to design, build, and manage a new private network linking 110 store locations primarily in the Southeast.

Installation work is underway and New Edge Networks expects to complete the network by the end of March. Under terms of the agreement, New Edge Networks will install digital subscriber lines at each store location and link them together through a private fully-managed network that does not touch the public Internet. New Edge Networks will also coordinate installation of in-store computer applications to the wide area network.

Pet Supermarket, which currently uses dial-up telephone lines for running most store applications, initially will use its new scalable network for three-second card payment transactions, loyalty program, and real-time access to back office systems for remote maintenance. Future applications include Internet telephony service and digital video monitoring. The network is compliant with Payment Card Industry security standards for safeguarding cardholder information.

A key design feature of Pet Supermarket’s network includes use of an existing direct connection between New Edge Networks and card payment processor First Data Corp. The direct connection enables Pet Supermarket stores to send their respective card payment transactions over a private network directly to First Data rather than funneling traffic through their headquarters.

Joe Ganzi, IT manager for Pet Supermarket based in Sunrise, Fla. explained, ”The direct connection especially appealed to us because it will help our stores continue operations and process transactions even when hurricane threats sometime force the evacuation of our headquarters staff.”

Use of an always on, redundant direct connection eliminates the added monthly communications cost for a retailer to provide a dedicated private circuit to the payment processor. It also eliminates a single point of failure for all stores if their connection goes out of service. New Edge Networks and each payment processor with whom it has direct connections jointly manage direct connections to ensure round-the-clock access and reliability.

Greg Griffiths, Vice President of Marketing for New Edge Networks added, ”A private network will help Pet Supermarket maintain a competitive edge, improve store efficiency, and improve the overall customer experience.”

Pet Supermarket is headquartered in Sunrise, Florida. Each one of their more than 110 conveniently located stores offers more than 8,000 pet products at competitive prices. Pet Supermarket employees pride themselves on customer service, knowledge and concern for pets.

New Edge Networks, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a wholly owned subsidiary of EarthLink Inc. (NASDQ: ELNK). New Edge Networks builds and manages private networks for businesses and communications providers. Through its nationwide backbone network with about 900 switches and Internet routers, New Edge Networks uses any blend of access technologies (xDSL, frame relay, ATM, cable, wireless, and satellite) for providing broadband connectivity at any business address in the United States. Network options include any combination of access, network management functions, and on-site installation services.

For more information, please visit: www.newedgenetworks.com.

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