Darwin Networks Selects Portal Software For Customer Management and Billing Platform

Darwin Networks is implementing Infranet across all four of its divisions to support high-speed Internet access services targeted to businesses, residential and college housing sites, hotels and public kiosks.

"An increasing customer base and expanding service portfolio caused us to seek a robust, full-featured enterprise billing system that provides enough flexibility and scalability to continue our focus on providing world-class customer care," said Henry Powell, vice president of information services at Darwin Networks. "Portal Software is the recognized leader in the Internet billing software industry and will help us meet that goal."

Infranet will simplify Darwin Networks' ability to bring new Internet services to market while adapting to the needs of each individual customer through customized billing and sophisticated pricing models. In addition, Darwin Networks will integrate the software with its operations systems, giving customers immediate access to technicians and allowing them to submit service change requests online.

"Customer demand is driving Internet service providers to implement systems that deliver services faster and more cost effectively," said Steve Sommer, vice president, business development at Portal Software. "By implementing Infranet as its customer management and billing platform, Darwin Networks will enable its customers to manage their own services, optimizing customer care and order processing. In addition, it will have the flexibility and scalability to grow its customer base and quickly deploy new products and services."

Portal Software, Inc., is building business infrastructure for the Internet. Based in Cupertino, Calif., Portal is the 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, Qwest Communications, Covad, Inktomi, T-Online, France Telecom, Demon and Juno. Information about Portal and its products can be found at .

Darwin Networks provides high speed Internet access and network solutions to small and medium-sized businesses; office, flex, industrial and retail properties; apartment, condominium and student housing complexes; hotels and telephone companies; using various wireless and wireline technologies. The company has agreements in place and in progress to launch services in approximately 1,200 locations in over 40 states and Canada. The Louisville, Kentucky-based company offers a full complement of marketing and support services, including training, to assist business owners, property managers and their staffs in marketing and implementing these new services.

Additionally, Darwin is the nation's premier provider of public Internet access kiosks. To date, the company has installed hundreds of units throughout the country, in hotels, restaurants, tourist/travel centers, cafes, airports, and more. The company also produces, installs and operates multimedia kiosks designed for retail/eCommerce, interactive information distribution, communications, entertainment, advertising and other uses.

Darwin Networks has corporate offices in Louisville, KY, Seattle, WA and Boston, MA Walnut Creek and San Diego, CA. The company's investors include Broadband Solutions, LLC (led by Chrysalis Ventures, LLC), Paul Allen's Vulcan Ventures, Richland Ventures, River Cities Capital and associates of Moore Capital. For more information about Darwin Networks, please visit www.darwin.net.