Provision Networks Working with Microsoft to Deliver Enhancements to the Terminal Services Platform

Protocol Enhancements for Latency Reduction and Graphics Acceleration Will Drive Broader Adoption of the RDP-Based Provision Management Framework

February 22, 2007 – Reston, VA -- Provision Networks, a global provider of application delivery and dynamic desktop deployment (D3) solutions for the Microsoft Windows Terminal Server platform, today announced that Microsoft supports the company’s efforts to further extend the Provision Networks enterprise feature-set and deliver RDP latency reduction and graphics acceleration – improving audio, video, graphics and multimedia application responsiveness over low bandwidth, high latency connections.

Provision Networks latency reduction for RDP enables remote users on high latency connections to receive an instant response to typed data while the actual transmission back from the terminal servers is performed in the background.

Graphics acceleration features from Provision Networks enhance the end-user experience by providing for more responsive web browser scrolling and better performance for graphically intensive and Flash-embedded websites. This acceleration feature also extends to multimedia applications by leveraging the local codecs for playback.

“We are committed to helping customers adopt the Terminal Services platform as a strategic IT solution,” said Mike Schutz, Group Product Manager, Security and Access, Microsoft. Corp. “Provision Networks is a key member of the Windows Terminal Services ecosystem delivering value-added solutions for adoption of the platform in the mid-market.”

“Provision Networks is committed to extending support for the Terminal Server platform for the Longhorn release and beyond,” said Paul Ghostine, CEO and Co-Founder of Provision Networks. “The RDP protocol is a strategic component of our solution offerings. Developing additional critical extensions for the platform today and for Longhorn will only accelerate the deployment of terminal server solutions.”

Provision Networks Value-Add

The Provision Management Framework (PMF), Enterprise Edition is a full-featured application delivery and access infrastructure solution that leverages the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 platform, and delivers anywhere, anytime, anyhow access to applications and network resources. Enterprise features such as Seamless Windows, Application Publishing, Load Balancing, Access Control, a Web Portal and an SSL Gateway embrace the RDP protocol and enhance the deployment, manageability, performance, and security of Terminal Services environments of all sizes.

The Provision Management Framework feature-set includes:

• Application, desktop, and content publishing
• Performance-based load-balancing
• Web interface and SSL gateway
• Seamless windows, multi-monitor support, and up to 4096x2048 resolutions
• Kerberos credentials pass-through
• Support for two-factor authentication
• Native support for Win32 and Windows CE client devices
• RDP gateway supporting any third-party RDP client
• Universal print driver for client-side and network printing
• User profile management and acceleration
• USB handheld redirection (Pocket PC, Palm, and BlackBerry)
• Virtual IP address management
• Virtual time zone management
• Virtual memory optimization
• CPU utilization management
• Application compatibility enhancements (file and registry redirection)
• User environment configuration and lockdown
• Application and host/URL access control
• Microsoft SoftGrid integration for application isolation and streaming
• Desktop integration

Customer Demand

“We have been successfully using the Provision Networks solution to deliver applications to 600 Network PCs across 17 motor retail locations in Ireland,” said Gary Parkinson, IT Director with Agnews. “Eliminating the effects of high latency would help us maintain even better service levels for our staff.”

“Provision Networks has been an instrumental platform for allowing our outsourced facilities secure access from India,” said Jeff Brown, Telecommunications Manager with Investools. “Although we’ve experienced little to no latency, graphics acceleration would be very useful.”


Partner Support

“Latency reduction and graphics acceleration are the two final barriers for extensive proliferation of the Provision Networks and Terminal Services platforms,” said Jennifer Savoia, Director of Engineering with Precision Computer Services, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and Provision Networks Certified Solutions Advisor based in Connecticut. “Customers with highly latent WAN links and graphical content demand these features.”

“We have an extensive background deploying and supporting terminal services and the Provision Networks solutions,” said Simon Hamilton, CTO of 4sol, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and Provision Networks Certified Solutions Advisor based in Ireland. “The enhancements unveiled by Provision Networks will certainly be welcomed by customers across the board.”

“We applaud Provision Networks’ commitment to further extend their comprehensive feature-set,” said Jeanne Johnson, Principal and Co-Founder of Server Centric Consulting, a Microsoft Certified Partner and Provision Networks Certified Solutions Advisor based in Saint Louis, MO. “Enhancing the performance of the RDP protocol itself, will finally eliminate any widespread adoption obstacles.”

“Provision Networks has delivered a very compelling solution for our mid-sized customers,” said Paul Robinson, Managing Director of Thinstore, a Microsoft Certified Partner and Provision Networks Certified Solutions Advisor based in the UK. “We are pleased by the cooperation between Provision Networks and Microsoft. This lends tremendous support for our field sales and marketing activities.”

Availability

The latency reduction and graphics acceleration features for Windows 2003 server will be delivered gradually over the course of the next few months with initial availability of the latency reduction features early in the first half of 2007. These enhancements will also be available for the general release of Longhorn.

About Provision Networks

Provision Networks is a global provider of server-based application delivery and dynamic desktop deployment solutions. Provision Networks solutions embrace and extend the Microsoft Terminal Services platform and VMware Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, delivering resilient, scalable and dynamic on-demand access for enterprises worldwide.

Provision Networks produces and markets three product suites through a global network of value-added resellers:

- Provision Management Framework – Enterprise Edition
- Provision Management Framework – Standard Edition
- Provision Networks Virtual Access Suite – for the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

With a world-class client list, comprised of some of the world’s largest commercial enterprises, and government organizations, Provision Networks is the most trusted name in application and access infrastructure virtualization.

To learn more about Provision Networks and our enterprise access solutions, please visit us at www.ProvisionNetworks.com.

## Provision Networks, the Provision Networks product names, and the Provision Management Framework are registered trademarks or trademarks of Provision Networks in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies. ##