Leading Auto Parts & Accessories Supplier, Performance Products, Selects Digex to Host Its Online Store

LAUREL, Md., May 21 Digex, Incorporated , the leading managed hosting provider for business on the Internet, today announced that Performance Products, Inc., a leading auto parts and accessories supplier, has selected Digex to host and manage its popular online store, which has served over a million satisfied customers.

Since 1964, Performance Products has provided a wide selection of auto parts and accessories for numerous vehicles, including Porsche, Mercedes, Ford, Chevrolet, GM, Jeep and Toyota, through its direct-mail catalogue. In 1996, Performance Products moved its offerings to the Internet and has since served millions through its online store. Last year, Internet sales accounted for 28 percent of the overall revenues for the company. The online store is now a mission critical component for Performance Products, but along with increased Internet sales came a need for performance, availability, scalability and security of the online business.

Digex is providing Performance Products with a fully managed hosted solution to ensure 24x7x365 availability for its growing online client base. The environment is built on a multiserver Windows 2000 platform with a SQL Server 2000 database and multiple failover firewalls to provide an added level of security. The solution includes Digex's Intelligent Director service, an advanced load balancing service that helps optimize site performance by intelligently routing traffic among multiple Web servers while solving many of the most common traffic flow problems. Like all Digex managed hosting solutions, the platform is supported by the unrivaled reach, performance and reliability of the facilities-based WorldCom global network.

In addition, Performance Products have engaged the Digex Application Optimization Center (AOC) for Migration Services. The Digex AOC helps clients enhance their application performance and has achieved ISO 9001:2000 registration, demonstrating a commitment to quality production processes and procedures.

"Our Internet sales grew 157 percent last year and now constitute almost a third of our overall business," said Amer Kuric, eBusiness manager for Performance Products. "Due to increased online demand we decided to go with a managed hosted platform that lets us concentrate on our business rather than on managing our Internet site. Digex provides us with a secure, reliable, highly available solution that is scalable for future growth."

"Leading suppliers like Performance Products realize that the Internet is not just a supplement to their catalogues, but a key element of their overall business that increases sales and reduces the costs of doing business," said John Callari, senior vice president of sales at Digex. "We provide the managed hosting to ensure that PerformanceProducts.com can handle the increasing traffic from people who want to get their auto parts online, around the world and around the clock."

About Performance Products

Performance Products.com (its on-line business) and Performance Products (its off-line business) are both privately held, established, ethical, entrepreneurial, successful direct-marketing businesses. Due to its sales volume and 36 years in the business, it has developed strong alliances with vendors and manufacturers alike. Its relationships ensure that it delivers the best value and service available to its customers.