Microsoft and Cable & Wireless/Exodus Speed Web Services Development And Deployment for Customers

NEW ORLEANS, April 10, 2002 — Today at Microsoft Tech
·Ed 2002, Microsoft Corp. and Cable & Wireless announced a global strategic alliance aimed at making the development and deployment of XML Web services faster and easier for customers. As one of the first solutions to be delivered by the alliance, Cable & Wireless will deploy a distributed Microsoft® .NET application platform that will give customers the infrastructure and managed services necessary to seamlessly build, deploy, manage and monitor XML Web services on the Exodus (TM) hosting network. This and future solutions will combine Microsoft .NET technologies, including Microsoft Windows® .NET Server and Microsoft Visual Studio®
.NET, with key technologies such as hosting infrastructure and managed services from Exodus, Cable & Wireless’ U.S. hosting service.

By deploying .NET to power the Exodus distributed platform, customers will be able to deploy XML Web services to the Exodus network without making significant application changes. The platform also will allow customers to deploy Windows 2000 servers and applications in Cable & Wireless Internet Data Centers worldwide, while taking advantage of service offerings such as traffic management, network services and content delivery to achieve optimal performance, reliability and scalability.

“Cable & Wireless recognizes the value customers can derive from deploying XML Web services,” said Eric Rudder, senior vice president of the Developer and Platform Evangelism Group at Microsoft. “This alliance advances existing Exodus managed hosting infrastructure and services by taking advantage of Microsoft .NET technologies to empower customers to build, deploy and manage Web services.”

“By investing in XML Web services, Exodus is taking the next step in providing leading hosting infrastructure and managed services to our customers,” said Bill Austin, CEO of Exodus. “The .NET Platform combined with the Exodus managed hosting and content delivery infrastructure will provide a foundation for the delivery of compelling Web services scenarios to drive greater efficiency, performance and overall business value for Exodus customers.”

Exodus has incorporated several Microsoft .NET technologies into its current Web services offerings, including a Consolidated Reporting Service available through the myExodus portal. The Consolidated Reporting Service offers customers integrated reporting capabilities for Exodus managed services. Exodus plans to roll out its distributed application platform and additional services built on .NET technologies throughout the year.

About Exodus, a Cable & Wireless Service

As of April 1, 2002, all hosting and content delivery services historically offered by Cable & Wireless, Digital Island and Exodus will be managed by one business division and marketed in the United States as Exodus, a Cable & Wireless Service, and in the rest of the world as Cable & Wireless. Supported by Cable & Wireless’ powerful global infrastructure and financial strength, the combined business is uniquely positioned to provide managed hosting and interactive Web services for business customers.

About Cable & Wireless

Cable & Wireless (NYSE “CWP”) is a major global telecommunications business with revenue of over 8 billion ($11 billion U.S.) in the year to March 31, 2001, customers in 70 countries and consisting of two core and complementary divisions: Cable & Wireless Regional and Cable & Wireless Global. Cable & Wireless Regional offers a full range of telecommunications services in 35 countries. Cable & Wireless Global’s focus for future growth is on IP (Internet protocol) and data services and solutions for business customers. It has developed advanced IP networks and value-added services in the United States, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region in support of this strategy. With its financial strength and the capability of its global IP infrastructure, Cable & Wireless holds a unique position in terms of global coverage and services to business customers. More information about Cable & Wireless can be found at http://www.cw.com/.

About Microsoft

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.

Microsoft, Windows and Visual Studio are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

Exodus and the Exodus logo are trademarks of Cable & Wireless Internet Services Inc. and are registered in certain jurisdictions.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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