Interland Attains Gold Certified Partner Status In Microsoft Partner P

    Business Editors/High-Tech Editors

    ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 19, 2005--

    Interland Further Distinguishes Itself by Earning Microsoft Competencies In Advanced Infrastructure and Networking Infrastructure

    Interland (Nasdaq: INLD), a leading provider of Web hosting and online services for small and medium-sized businesses, today announced it has attained Gold Certified status in the Microsoft Partner Program with competencies in Advanced Infrastructure Solutions and in Network Infrastructure Solutions, recognizing Interland's expertise and total impact in the technology marketplace.
    As a Gold Certified partner, Interland has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and proven its ability to meet customers' needs. Microsoft Gold Certified partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, giving them a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
    "We view our relationship with Microsoft as an advantage for our company and our customers," said Glenn Hofmann, vice president of products and technology for Interland. "As a Gold Certified partner, we're proud to be working so closely with Microsoft to deliver business-class hosting and online services to small and medium-sized business."
    "Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities. They need to trust in someone that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans. Microsoft Gold Certified partners, which have certified expertise and direct training and support from Microsoft, can build a positive customer experience with our technologies," said Allison Watson, vice president of the Worldwide Partner Sales and Marketing Group at Microsoft Corp. "Today, Microsoft recognizes Interland as a new Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise in providing customer satisfaction with Microsoft products and technology."
    As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified Status, Interland had to declare at least one Microsoft Competency. Microsoft Competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner's capabilities with specific Microsoft technologies to customers looking for a particular type of solution. Each competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the technology industry. Interland joins the Microsoft Partner Program with competencies in both Advanced Infrastructure Solutions and in Network Infrastructure Solutions.
    The Advanced Infrastructure Solutions Competency is designed for partners with proven expertise in designing and/or implementing complex infrastructure solutions such as Active Directory-based and Microsoft Integration Server design and deployment solutions, or Microsoft Exchange Server migration or deployment solutions. Because customers are increasingly asking to do more with less, partners with the Advanced Infrastructure Solutions Competency can identify their unique skill in helping customers access management solutions, improving operational efficiency and reducing security risks.
    "Our industry partners allow us to deliver high-quality solutions and applications to our customers. And we're always looking at ways to improve our relationships," said Paul Flessner, senior vice president of the Server Platform Division at Microsoft. "Solutions Competencies enable Microsoft to provide resources and training to partners seeking to meet, and even surpass, customer needs. The competencies also provide industry partners with a way to showcase their expertise to customers who depend on them for services, such as building their critical infrastructure needs such as storage and hosting solutions."
    Microsoft Gold Certified Partners enrolled in the Networking Infrastructure Solutions Competency have proved their competency in implementing technology solutions based on either the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or Windows 2000 Server operating system, with a particular focus on Microsoft Small Business Server 2000 and Windows Small Business Server 2003. These implementations may include crafting solutions that connect Windows-based servers, PC locations and the Internet; installing a server farm; or building a small-business Windows Server stand-alone solution that includes file and print capabilities.
    "We place tremendous value on our partners, who help us deliver solutions and applications to customers," said Allison Watson, vice president of the Worldwide Partner Sales and Marketing Group at Microsoft. "Solutions Competencies provide an integrated partnering framework that recognizes an enterprise's expertise and rewards it for the effect it has in the technology marketplace. It also allows companies to demonstrate for customers their knowledge of building solutions based on Microsoft technologies, such as setting up networks using Windows Server 2003 and Windows Small Business Server 2003."
    The Microsoft Partner Program was launched in December 2003 and represents Microsoft's ongoing commitment to the success of partners worldwide. The program offers a single, integrated partnering framework that recognizes partner expertise, rewards the total impact that partners have in the technology marketplace, and delivers more value to help partners' businesses be successful.

    About Interland

    Interland, Inc. (Nasdaq: INLD) is a leading Web-hosting and online-services company dedicated to helping small and medium-sized businesses achieve success by providing the knowledge, services and tools to build, manage and promote businesses online. Interland offers a wide selection of online services, including standardized Web hosting, e-commerce, application hosting, and Web-site development, marketing and optimization tools. For more information about Interland, please visit www.interland.com, email moreinfo@interland.com or call 1-800-336-9883.

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CONTACT: Interland, Atlanta Mike Neumeier, 404/260-2649 mneumeier@interland.com

KEYWORD: GEORGIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE SOFTWARE COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS INTERNET E-COMMERCE SOURCE: Interland, Inc.

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