Press Release
June 28, 2004
Epoch Integration Welcomes New Customers for NeedTEXT Network Management Suite For BlackBerry
Products continue to gain popularity within enterprise IT departments looking to reduce system downtime using BlackBerry
Toronto, ON - Epoch Integration Inc., a leading provider of software for network management, today reported that its NeedTEXT suite of products continues to be chosen by organizations using the BlackBerry® wireless platform, developed by Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM), as an essential solution for wireless access to business-critical infrastructure systems. New customers include such high-profile organizations as Metro Nashville Public Schools, Alagasco (an Energen Company), Lacerte Technologies Inc., ICON Clinical Research, The Doe Run Company, 454 Life Sciences, IT Services NY, Insulectro, and Teva Pharmaceuticals USA.
The NeedTEXT suite of software allows IT professionals, such as network and system administrators, to effectively manage their servers and other network equipment using BlackBerry Wireless HandheldsÔ. The suite combines system availability status and event notification information with completely interactive control of host systems, directly from a BlackBerry handheld. Administrators therefore have the ability to troubleshoot and respond to network events, such as server failures, from the palm of their hand, even if they are away from a desktop terminal.
"The ongoing adoption of NeedTEXT software by these high-profile organizations is a clear indication of the product suite's value," said Ramon Tavares, president at Epoch Integration Inc. "The pace and complexity of technology-driven business dictates that network administration professionals are often away from their desks – troubleshooting issues and supporting their end users. By giving administration staff the critical ability to diagnose and repair their systems while mobile, we are changing the way that IT departments approach the task of maintaining 24/7 uptime."
The NeedTEXT suite includes:
NeedTEXT Shell: NeedTEXT Shell is the leading mobile terminal for secure access to UNIX and Linux systems, routers and switches, from a BlackBerry handheld. Features include telnet and SSH support, VT100 terminal emulation, AS/400 key-mapping, and scroll-bar panning for ease of use on a BlackBerry Wireless Handheld. Behind-the-firewall installation and advanced authentication and encryption provide a high level of security. Using NeedTEXT Shell and BlackBerry, network administrators have the ability to react to system events while away from their desks, significantly reducing downtime. More information is available at www.needtext.net/shell.
ASG-MobileControl: Provided by Epoch Integration under license from ASG, MobileControl enables secure access to Windows-based servers and applications from wireless handhelds, including BlackBerry handhelds. Administrators can manage Active Directory, Microsoft Exchange, SQL, and Terminal Services with the same level of control that they are used to on their desktop. In addition, users have the ability to start and stop Windows NT Services, access printer queues, monitor event logs and perform many other network administration tasks while away from their desks. As a result, IT professionals have the ability to react to system events immediately, from wherever they are, and significantly reduce downtime. More information is available at www.needtext.net/mobilecontrol.
NeedTEXT Monitor: NeedTEXT Monitor automatically scans your network and discovers your servers, routers, and other network equipment, including the available service ports for each device. The software begins monitoring your systems immediately, and notifies administrators on their BlackBerry Wireless Handheld as soon as an error condition is discovered. NeedTEXT Monitor checks the status of any host or service on customer networks, including web pages, databases, email servers, Windows NT Services, host disk and O/S statistics. Additional features include a secure web-based user interface for remote access and BlackBerry users can view host availability status directly on their BlackBerry handheld. More information is available at www.needtext.net/monitor.
Customer quotes and success stories are available for download from http://www.needtext.net/shell/case-study.jsp.
The NeedTEXT suite of products is affordably priced for small and medium-sized businesses, as well as branch divisions of larger enterprises. The software is easy to install, requires no additional training services, and provides immediate return on investment for customer organizations.
About Epoch Integration
Epoch Integration is a leading designer, developer and marketer of network management solutions for the worldwide infrastructure software market. The company's products, including the popular NeedTEXT suite, give Information Technology professionals the ability to manage their networks 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. By combining automated network monitoring and event notification with true two-way system access from handheld devices on global wireless networks, Epoch Integration effectively closes the loop on network management, thereby enabling significant reductions in downtime and its associated costs. The company currently provides network management solutions to such high-profile customers as Raytheon Missile Systems and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in addition to small and medium-sized businesses around the globe. Founded in 1997, Epoch Integration is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Please visit www.epochintegration.com.
The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.
