May, 2001 : Exodus to Host Covisint Internet Operations

📅 May 14, 2001 - Exodus Communications Inc. (exodus.net), a leader in providing complex Internet hosting and managed services, announced on Monday that it had landed what may prove to be one of the largest hosting deals in the business-to-business sector. The company has been chosen to provide infrastructure to support the worldwide Internet operations for Covisint (covisint.com), the global automotive e-business exchange.
Officially launched in February of 1999, Covisint is a joint project originally developed by auto manufacturers DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Nissan and Renault, along with technology companies Oracle and Commerce One. It is intended to help save the industry millions of dollars in administrative costs by automating the purchase of supplies and raw materials using the Internet. Covisint says it expects to become a central marketplace for parts auctions and project collaboration between as many as 40,000 companies doing business with the automotive industry, handling up to $750 billion in purchasing each year when fully operational.
Exodus says it is providing a complete hosting solution for the exchange, serving multiple locations around the globe. Exodus will be supporting Covisint's services by providing fully managed services including facilities, security, storage and network services, monitoring and professional services.
According to Covisint, the deal fits in will with Exodus's proven ability to provide support for major enterprises and other large organizations. Covisint says the deal also works well for the small-staffed exchange by allowing the company to focus on its business operations, rather than its Infrastructure.
Exodus says it is excited to be handling the Internet infrastructure of an operation as complex as the automotive industry collaboration. The big deal is a big plus for Exodus, which, like its competitors, has been hit hard by the downturn in the Internet, sector. Last week the company announced that it would be cutting 15 percent of its workforce, or 675 employees.
Covisint says it selected Exodus over the competition largely because of the global presence of the hosting company's data centers, and its professional services. With more than 4,500 customers, Exodus says it works to ensure that its clients? Internet operations are always available and secure, providing a full range of managed services.