Technology Partners Will Provide RMI.NET With New Billing Systems, Customer
Service Interface, Financial Applications Package and Management Information
Systems To Streamline Operations, Improve Customer Care, Reduce Costs
And Better Integrate Acquisitions
DENVER, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- RMI.NET, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMII), a national
e-business and convergent communications company, announced today five
strategic partnerships with nationally recognized business application
development companies. These partnerships will help streamline management
information systems, billing, financial applications and customer care, and
position the company for premier service into the next millennium.
(Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990628/RMILOGO )
In announcing the partnerships, RMI.NET noted that it has teamed up with
Oracle Corp., based in Redwood Shores, Calif.; Novazen, Inc., based in
Boulder, Colo.; Portal Software, Inc., based in Cupertino, Calif.; Consortia,
based in Lincoln, Neb.; and Clarify, Inc., based in San Jose, Calif.
"RMI.NET has experienced tremendous growth organically and through
acquisitions in the past 15 months, and we outgrew our old systems," said
Douglas H. Hanson, chairman and chief executive officer for RMI.NET. "The
success of a company in today's world is measured by its internal operating
systems. With the assistance of our new partners, RMI.NET is set to meet the
challenges of tomorrow with our new billing, customer service and financial
applications packages.
"This action will allow us to reduce costs, provide better customer
service and better integrate our acquisitions," Hanson said. He noted that
the company initially expects to save approximately $4.8 million a year
through consolidations and minor workforce reductions.
Since June 1998, RMI.NET has acquired 19 companies for a total of $37.8
million in common stock transactions. The company's customer base has grown
from approximately 11,500 customers to more than 92,000 customers. Its
employee base has grown from fewer than 100 employees to more than 450
employees. This growth fueled the need to find better software systems to
manage company operations, Hanson said.
"We believe the we have found five companies that are the 'best of' in
their field of expertise. These companies will help provide us with a
seamless system to better manage our information infrastructure, and will
position us for continued growth and success into the next millennium," Hanson
added.
The five companies will provide RMI.NET with the following applications:
-- Oracle Corp. -- RMI.NET will utilize the Oracle Financial Application
software to better manage accounting efforts. This package also will help the
company in its decision-making efforts through a data warehouse program.
-- Novazen, Inc. -- Novazen is providing RMI.NET with a state-of-the-art
Internet Customer Care (ICC) and Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment
(EBP&P) application. The Novazen solution allows the company's customer base
to view and pay their consolidated invoice via the Internet. This will
directly increase customer satisfaction and the company's overall customer
care capabilities.
-- Portal Software, Inc. -- Portal provides RMI.NET with Infranet, which
gives RMI.NET additional customer management and billing software
infrastructure. It will allow the company to better manage its customer
accounts, support services and collections.
-- Consortia -- Consortia provides RMI.NET with a means to better manage
and maximize marketing intelligence, utilizing analysis tools for the creation
of a comprehensive marketing and sales database. This is turn will give the
company accurate corporate and competitive analysis capabilities.
-- Clarify, Inc. -- Clarify provides software to allow easy customer sign
up and turn up sales force automation, which will allow the company to better
service and respond more quickly to the needs of its customers and the
marketplace.
RMI.NET also noted that it has completed a company-wide Y2K examination of
its major systems and will be 100 percent in compliance for the switch to the
next millennium. The company began Y2K testing of its systems in 1997.
About Oracle
Oracle Corp. is the world's leading supplier of software for information
management, and the world's second-largest software company. With annual
revenues of more than $9.1 billion, the company offers its database,
application server, tools and application products, along with related
consulting, education and support services, in more than 145 countries around
the world.
About Novazen
Founded in 1997 and based in Boulder, Colo., Novazen, Inc. has developed
an advanced Internet-based customer care product suite designed to redefine
and improve the interaction between businesses and their customers. With
Novazen Internet Customer Care, Novazen Electronic Bill Presentment and
Payment, and Novazen Bill consolidation, communications companies, financial
institutions, e-commerce businesses, utilities, and other industries can
leverage the Internet to increase customer satisfaction and lower customer
care costs. Novazen is financed by leading venture capital firms Columbia
Capital, Rho Management Company, Bessemer Venture Partners, Cedar Grove
Investments and Meyer, Duffy & Associates.
About Portal
Portal Software, Inc., is building business infrastructure for the
Internet. Portal is a leading provider of customer management and billing
software for Internet and emerging, next-generation communications services.
The company's real-time solution enables service providers to manage
customers, support services and collect money. Portal's customers include US
WEST, BellSouth.net, Qwest, Concentric, Microsoft, Juno Online, France
Telecom, Demon, OzEmail and ICL.
About Consortia
Consortia is a full-service integrated database marketing company
specializing in strategic consulting, database analysis, market research,
tactical program design, program implementation, program results tracking,
program results analysis and tactical consulting. Headquartered in Lincoln,
Neb., Consortia has offices in Denver, St. Louis, Chicago, Sioux Falls, S.D.,
and Omaha.
About Clarify
Clarify Inc. is the world's second-largest front office software provider.
Clarify eFrontOffice combines customer relationship management, Internet
relationship management and e-business capabilities in a single solution
allowing companies to quickly deploy e-business sales and service initiatives.
Clarify is the choice of leading corporations including British
Telecommunications, Compaq, Ericsson, Federated Department Stores, First USA,
General Electric, Gillette, Microsoft, Nortel Networks, Prudential, Sony Corp.
and Toyota.
About RMI.NET
Denver-based RMI.NET, Inc., formerly Rocky Mountain Internet, is a
national commerce solutions provider focusing on turnkey e-business
applications and convergent communications. RMI.NET has developed and
provides small and medium-sized companies with scalable e-business
capabilities; customized web page development and hosting; nationwide Internet
dialup and dedicated access; Digital subscriber line (DSL) service; and
traditional communication services. The company wholly owns a proprietary
portal site and search engine, Infohiway, at http://www.infohiway.com. For more
information on RMI.NET, call (800) 864-4327, or visit the company's web site
at http://www.rmi.net.
This press release might contain forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual
results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements as a result
of risks and uncertainties, which are described in the cautionary statements
section of the company's 10K dated December 31, 1998, and may include other
risks described in all Securities and Exchange Commission filings submitted as
of this date.
SOURCE RMI.NET, Inc.
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.rmi.net
Photo Notes:
NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990628/RMILOGO
PRN Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or 201-369-3467
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/139760.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 139760
CONTACT:
Mark Stutz, Manager, Media Relations,
303-313-0672, mark.stutz@corp.rmi.net, or Steven P. Eschbach,
CFA, Vice President, Investor Relations of RMI.NET, Inc.,
303-308-2272, steve.eschbach@corp.rmi.net
|
