Networking: GNC Awards New Edge Networks Contract For $14M Private Network
New Edge Networks
New Edge Networks recently announced it received a $14M contract to provide a private network to General Nutrition Centers Inc., the largest global specialty retailer of nutritional supplements. The new network will ensure optimal GNC customer privacy, improved network security, and high-speed data communications.
Under terms of a four-year contract, the EarthLink Inc. subsidiary will build and manage a private nationwide network that will power GNC's new point of sale system for more than 3,500 corporate owned and franchised retail outlets throughout the country. The high-speed network will use a blend of DSL, short for digital subscriber line, and frame relay access technologies.
"Customer privacy, network security, and excellent customer service are paramount considerations for GNC," said Jerry Werner, vice president and chief information officer for GNC, based in Pittsburgh, Pa. "New Edge Networks earned GNC's business for demonstrating flexibility and designing a fully managed private network that uses a blend of access technologies – without traversing the public Internet."
GNC awarded the contract to New Edge Networks following a diligent review of various major carriers and network configurations. GNC has been using standard telephone connections for its business operations and processing credit card payments.
Installation for the first 150 stores is underway.
"This agreement is a testament of the value of a single source provider for private connections anywhere and New Edge Networks' vast DSL coverage which spans almost 90 percent of U. S. business locations," said Linda Beck, president of New Edge Networks.
"GNC's new network is scalable for future growth and will enable the company to easily introduce new automated applications that will improve efficiency yet hold down overall communications costs," Beck said.
About GNC
GNC, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., is the largest global specialty retailer of nutritional products, vitamin, mineral, herbal and other specialty supplements and sports nutrition, diet and energy products. GNC has more than 4,800 retail locations throughout the United States (including more than 1,000 franchise and 1,200 Rite Aid store-within-a-store locations) and franchise operations in 48 international markets. The Company – which is dedicated to helping consumers Live Well – also offers products and product information online at
www.gnc.com.
About New Edge Networks
New Edge Networks, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a wholly owned subsidiary of EarthLink Inc. New Edge Networks builds and manages private networks for businesses and communications providers. Through its nationwide backbone network with almost 900 switches and Internet routers, New Edge Networks uses any blend of network and access technologies (MPLS, frame relay, ATM, xDSL, cable, wireless, and satellite) for providing high-speed connections at any business address in the United States. Network options include any combination of access, network management functions, and on-site installation services. For more information visit
www.newedgenetworks.com.
SOURCE: New Edge Networks