XO Communications Offers Enterprise-Class Hosted Services on Cloud Computing Platform
- New Managed Server Solution Provides Business Continuity, Flexibility, Security, and Lower Total Cost of Ownership to Small and Medium Size Businesses
HERNDON, VA – November 11, 2008 XO Communications today announced the launch of XO Managed Server, its new enterprise-class, fully managed server solution designed for small and medium sized businesses (SMBs). By offering hosted services in the “cloud”, XO Communications provides enterprise-level capabilities such as fault-tolerance, high availability, scalability, and unsurpassed security without the capital expenditures and on-going maintenance for UPS capacity and upgrades, data systems and backup, cooling, power capacity and reliability, network capacity, physical and logical security, and other IT infrastructure. Runaway IT budgets will be a thing of the past for SMBs that move to XO Managed Server.
“The average small business has a shared server, email server, fax server, networked printer/copier, along with a VoIP phone system. They probably have an IT closet that is overheated, under-maintained, and not backed-up,” said Craig Collins, president, Concentric, a business unit of XO Communications. “By getting rid of old, underpowered servers and moving them onto the cloud, SMBs will get better economics, better performance, and higher reliability. Just as your phone system is moving out of the office, your IT should move out of your office.”
The Concentric Cloud Computing Platform is a fault-tolerant, high availability, distributed computing infrastructure. Key benefits include on-demand processing power, bandwidth and storage capacity, high-availability, fast error recovery, and lower total cost of ownership. Complete maintenance of hardware, operating systems, pre-installed applications, and 24x7 phone-based technical support are included in the base price.
"The beauty of hosting infrastructure in the cloud is that it delivers enterprise-grade technology to SMBs with low up-front costs and easy scalability. Adding a management layer allows SMBs to reap even more benefits,” said Phil Shih, Research Analyst, Mass Market Hosting, Tier1 Research. “Tier1 Research continues to see strong growth in mass-market hosting as SMBs continue to look for third party providers to take care of all their IT needs.”
Managed Server Features and Benefits
XO Managed Server offers full administrator control for Windows® and Linux operating systems which are accessed using Remote Desktop and SSH (Secure Shell) respectively, as well as with third party tools, including VPNs for secure connections. Managed Server is ideal for multi-server configurations as well as variable loads where customers may need to upgrade servers (CPUs, memory, disk) dynamically. Other features and benefits include:
- Scalability – Dynamic real-time resource allocation with near zero downtime; add CPU, memory, and storage quickly and easily
- Availability – Fast failover with no single point-of-failure and 99.9 percent SLA on power, network, and server availability
- Reliability – Network and hardware redundancies with daily backups
- Security – Both network and OS-based firewalls, continuous monitoring of network and server activity
- Flexibility – SMBs can install and run their own applications and host their own Internet web sites, intranets, and extranets; SMBs also control all files and processes on the server via administrative-level access
- Manageability – Centralized console for status and management of all servers; flexible management levels based on customer requirements; single-login account management and consolidated invoice; easily add other Concentric Hosted Services
Pricing and Availability
XO Managed Server is available immediately. Pricing starts at $195.00 a month.
About Concentric
Concentric provides enterprise hosted IT solutions that streamline IT management, improve security and uptime, and reduce costs for organizations of all sizes. The company’s innovative technology platform is based on patented, clustered architecture that delivers superior reliability, scalability, and security. Services include applications hosting, business-class email, anti-spam and anti-virus solutions, and managed servers, all backed by 24x7 live customer support and an in-house Professional Services group to help businesses that need additional resources. Concentric is a business unit of XO Communications, a leading national telecommunications provider. For more information, visit www.concentric.com or call (866) 500-9696.
About XO Communications
XO Communications, a subsidiary of XO Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: XOHO), is a leading nationwide provider of advanced communications services and solutions for businesses, enterprises, government, carriers and service providers. Its customers include more than half of the Fortune 500, in addition to leading cable companies, carriers, content providers and mobile network operators. Utilizing its unique combination of high-capacity nationwide and metro networks and broadband wireless capabilities, XO offers customers a broad range of managed voice, data and IP services with proven performance, scalability and value in more than 75 metropolitan markets across the United States. For more information, visit www.xo.com.