SAN JOSE, Calif., May 7, 2001 - Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, today announced a Content Services designation within the Cisco Powered Network Program for service provider customers that build and deliver content services based on Cisco content networking products and solutions. Cisco today also announced that Digital Island, Digital Pipe, Mirror Image Internet, RELERA, Terra Lycos Mexico, US Data Authority and Verado are the first service providers to receive the new designation.

The program enables Content Services-qualified Cisco Powered Network members to achieve sustained differentiation and growth in profitability by harnessing the power of Cisco's content networking solutions, using the existing Cisco Powered Network program resources, and capitalizing on Cisco's leading-edge content networking expertise, industry leadership and unparalleled market development resources. The Cisco Powered Network mark assures enterprises that their services are delivered over an end-to-end Cisco infrastructure, which ensures optimal compatibility with your own network environment and ensures higher availability and reliability.

"Cisco's content networking solutions allow service providers to cost-effectively and rapidly deploy new, high-value content services that are critical success factors for enabling a variety of Web business applications, such as corporate and client communication, e-commerce, customer care and e-learning," said Kevin Outcalt, director of the Cisco Powered Network Program. "Cisco developed the Content Services designation to identify and assist service providers that have turned to Cisco for the innovative solutions that will help them capitalize on these emerging opportunities in the Internet economy."

Cisco has built the industry's most comprehensive architecture for deploying integrated services that optimize eCommerce and Web content delivery. By adding these integrated solutions to their existing IP networks, service providers can quickly and cost-effectively provision a variety of new, high-value content-based services including enterprise and Internet content delivery networks (CDNs), streaming media, content acceleration, high-value hosting and e-commerce.

Cisco announced that the following customers have received the Cisco Powered Network Content Services Designation:

Digital Island (NASDAQ: ISLD) is integrating Cisco content networking products into its content delivery, managed hosting and network services to help provide customers a fast, reliable and consistent global network for profitable e-Business transactions.

Digital Pipe, Inc., a provider of intranet content delivery network solutions, will deploy and manage Cisco's Content Delivery Network products "behind the firewall" to enable scalable streaming media and rich e-Learning applications.

Mirror Image Internet, an innovative provider of Internet content delivery services and subsidiary of Xcelera Inc. (AMEX: XLA), complements its internally developed, patented technology with Cisco content networking solutions to automatically distribute fresh content worldwide, adding speed and scalability to Web sites.

RELERA, an outsourced managed hosting service provider, will deliver dedicated caching and load balancing, shared caching and enterprise and internet CDNs to customers in each of its 11 markets.

Terra Lycos, a new global Internet network operating in 42 countries, will provide in Mexico content distribution and caching services to their Dial Up Access (Terra Premium and Terra Libre), Dedicated Access, VPN and Web Hosting users.

US Data Authority, a national network service provider and Internet Infrastructure company, will deploy value-added services such as transparent caching and Internet and enterprise CDNs.

Verado (NASDAQ: VRDO), a provider of secure outsourced data center and managed service solutions for businesses, intends to offer flexible and redundant solutions, such as e-learning, scalable streaming media and secure managed hosting, for customers in its nine state-of-the-art data centers.

Service Providers qualify for the Content Services Cisco Powered Network designation by meeting certain criteria, including building an end-to-end Cisco-based content service using relevant Cisco products for intelligent network services, Content Distribution and Management, Content Routing, Content Switching and Edge Delivery. Eligible products currently include the Cisco Content Engine 500 series, Cisco LocalDirector 400 series, Cisco Catalyst 4840G, Cisco CSS-11000 series, Cisco Content Router 4400/4450 and Cisco Distributed Director 7200, Cisco Content Engine 500/7300 series and Cisco Content Distribution Manager 4600 series.

Cisco established the Cisco Powered Network program in 1997 as a way for Service Providers to differentiate their services in an increasingly competitive marketplace. The program recognizes service providers who provision their services end-to-end with Cisco equipment and is designed to help member companies develop and market high-quality services, thus giving more confidence to the enterprise customers they serve while creating greater business success. All Cisco Powered Network members agree to maintain high levels of network quality and customer satisfaction, as well as a minimum annual investment in Cisco equipment.

Cisco Powered Network service providers can take advantage of Cisco's brand and reputation, participate in a wide range of joint marketing and technology sharing activities, reduce their marketing and sales costs, gain access to Cisco's customer base and benefit from numerous programs to improve network operations and security.