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VFM Interactive Selects Q9 To Host Interactive Content for Lodging and Travel Industry Web Sites
Toronto, ON - February 2, 2005 - Q9 Networks Inc. (TSX:Q), a leading provider of outsourced Internet infrastructure and related managed services, is pleased to announce it has been awarded a managed hosting contract by VFM Interactive Inc., a Toronto-based producer and distributor of online marketing content for the lodging and travel industry.
VFM's multimedia content, including virtual tours, videos and photographs, is distributed to the Web sites of more than 1,000 individual hotels and resorts worldwide, as well as an extensive network of more than 5,000 online travel agencies and other travel-related Web sites.
Under the terms of the agreement with VFM, Q9 is providing a comprehensive suite of managed services including physical space, servers, firewalls, load balancers and Internet bandwidth that will ensure the highest reliability and availability of VFM's distribution network and rich media content.
"We have grown our business to a point that it requires the services of a truly world-class infrastructure provider," says Paolo Boni, President and CEO of VFM. "Q9, with its blue-chip customer list, first-rate facilities and comprehensive solutions, amply demonstrated that it is the company best qualified to meet the needs of our critical systems."
Q9 delivers unparalleled service through an extensive suite of customer care products, including a Web-based portal that provides complete visibility into customer equipment and Q9 services. All Q9 and customer systems are monitored from the Q9 Network Operations Centre (NOC) 24 hours a day, seven days a week. NOC experts are also available to customers on an around-the-clock basis to resolve issues and provide advice.
"We are delighted to have been selected by VFM Interactive," says Osama Arafat, CEO, Q9 Networks. "VFM joins leading enterprises in many industries that have chosen to rely on Q9 for the delivery of mission-critical Internet applications and services. VFM can continue its rapid growth, secure in the knowledge that its Internet infrastructure will have the highest level of reliability and availability."
Q9's sole focus on Internet and related infrastructure allows it to hire, train and retain highly qualified experts in network-specific disciplines. Key services are backed with service level agreement (SLA) guarantees for installation time and problem identification and response. These factors enable customers to outsource mission-critical systems to Q9 with complete confidence.
About VFM Interactive
VFM Interactive is the leading producer and distributor of rich media content for the lodging and travel industry. With a focus on distribution strategy, VFM produces a variety of multimedia content including video and 360° virtual tours and distributes this content to its clients' websites as well as its network of partner online travel agencies including Travelocity, Orbitz, Travelweb, TripAdvisor and thousands of others. Through effective distribution and flawless on-demand streaming, VFM helps clients maximize their presence on the web, turning consumer research into revenue by offering travel consumers the ability to visualize their travel purchase. VFM provides content distribution services for more than 1,000 individual hotels and resorts, including Choice, Crowne Plaza, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Interstate, Marriott, MGM, Outrigger, Radisson, Regent, Sheraton, W, Westin, and Wyndham properties. VFM Interactive's head office is located in Toronto, Canada.
About Q9 Networks
Q9 Networks is a leading Canadian provider of outsourced Internet infrastructure and related managed services.
Q9's data centres and network are backed by an industry leading SLA which guarantees 100% network and power availability.
Q9 managed services, including: bandwidth, dedicated servers, firewalls, load balancing, virtual private networking
(VPN) and back-up/restore, enable the rapid provisioning and scalability of client infrastructure.
For further information, please contact:
Media Relations:
Kevin Spikes
Director of Corporate & Investor Relations
Toronto: 416-365-7211
Toll Free: 1-888-696-2266
media.relations@Q9.com
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