New Edge Networks’ Online Gateway Earns Customer Value Award

FROST & SULLIVAN SAYS ‘MyEdge’ PORTAL STANDS OUT FOR EASE OF USE, INNOVATIVE FEATURES

VANCOUVER, Wash. – (Oct. 1, 2008) – New Edge Networks, the business communications unit of EarthLink Inc., (NASDAQ: ELNK), says its online gateway for customers and partners received a customer value award from Frost & Sullivan, a global research and growth consulting firm.

In presenting the 2008 North American Customer Value Award for best business portal for large and distributed enterprises, Frost & Sullivan noted that New Edge Networks’ portal offers customers one-stop access to an online portfolio of ordering, billing, trouble ticketing, network performance and collaboration tools.

Frost & Sullivan reviewed and assessed online portals offered by seven leading national communications providers based on predetermined criteria. Researchers also conducted interviews with business users.

“New Edge Networks’ MyEdge portal stands out for its ease of use and array of innovative features and tools that anticipate customer needs,” said Lynda Stadtmueller, senior research analyst for business communications services at Stratecast, a division of Frost & Sullivan.

“The MyEdge portal is an outstanding communications and collaboration tool that offers significant value to customers by allowing them greater control over their distributed networks and their New Edge Networks accounts,” Stadtmueller said. “New Edge Networks has identified its portal as a strategic initiative, and continually solicits and acts on feedback from customers and partners to improve the customer experience.”

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents its customer value award for business customer portals to the company that has best demonstrated the ability to serve its customer base with more innovative e-servicing strategies than competing vendors.

New Edge Networks will receive its award during a banquet on Dec. 3 in San Antonio.

“This award is an affirmation of the strategic importance New Edge Networks places on a portal that delights,” said Greg Griffiths, vice president of marketing for New Edge Networks. “This is one of seven tenets we track for measuring customer satisfaction. A highly functional customer-facing portal is essential for both our customers and our company to drive efficiency, cost savings and customer satisfaction.”

In addition to the basic portal capabilities such as role-based permissions, bill viewing, ordering, trouble reporting and ticketing, and network performance management functions, New Edge Networks’ MyEdge portal also demonstrates “best-in-class” characteristics that aide in maximizing efficiency. Among these are:

A mapping feature powered by Google Maps that provides both high-level network visibility and the ability to click on each location for detailed site data
Track routers and customer premises equipment returns
Site installation monitoring
Real time access to technician notes
Live chat with network operation center technicians
A copy of the Frost & Sullivan’s award description, measurement and selection criteria is available at www.newedgenetworks.com/frost/mns. More information about Frost & Sullivan’s best practices awards program is available at www.awards.frost.com.

About New Edge Networks

New Edge Networks builds and manages private IP-based wide area networks that do not use the public Internet. Connecting business sites at virtually any address in the United States, New Edge allows businesses to choose any blend of available access technologies – from DSL and T1 lines to fiber-optic connections – for building private and secure MPLS networks with performance guarantees. A wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based EarthLink Inc., (NASDAQ: ELNK), New Edge is based in Vancouver, Wash. For more information visit www.newedgenetworks.com or call 1-360-693-9009.