Equant and GoRemote Internet Communications Inc announced that they will deliver a unique Adaptive VPN solution that extends Equant''s MPLS-based IP VPN to connect 264 retail stores of leading marketer of high quality children''s and adult''s footwear The Stride Rite Corporation, by using GoRemote''s secure managed broadband network services.

Stride Rite selected the Equant and GoRemote Advantage Small Office Solution, using GoRemote Branch Office, to connect its retail stores after it determined that the solution offered the highest degree of availability, reliability and security, as well as significant cost savings. This U.S. retail network builds on the existing partnership between Stride Rite and Equant, expanding the already installed Equant MPLS IP VPN in North America and China. Earlier this year, Stride Rite also outsourced to Equant key IT functions, including network security, email filtering and wide area network management services.

With the retail network, Stride Rite intends to achieve its goal of greater store productivity and customer service enhancements by connecting its retail stores across the U.S. with its corporate headquarters. The company will run several applications over the managed broadband network, including those from the point-of-sale (POS) system that will enable real-time access to updated inventory and customer information. In addition, the company plans to enhance the customer experience by automating its gift card and customer loyalty systems. All of these enhanced functionalities were not possible with Stride Rite''s previous POS system.

"Stride Rite conducted a comprehensive evaluation of several private and public network solutions," said Yusef Akyuz, CIO of The Stride Rite Corporation. "The Equant and GoRemote solution not only addresses our service level concerns, but it exceeds expectations as the best solution on the market to meet Stride Rite''s retail business needs."

Stride Rite Children''s Group President Pam Salkovitz, added, "Our customers trust Stride Rite for best fit and service. This solution will result in enhanced services to our loyal customers."

"Having real-time access to customer and internal data contributes to the success of retailers," said Sean Connolly, senior vice president at Equant. "Leveraging the alliance between Equant and GoRemote will give The Stride Rite Corporation a competitive advantage by enabling them to better serve their customers and to always be ahead of ongoing shifts in retail business."

"When Stride Rite looked to reliably connect its store locations while providing secure access to its corporate networks, they realized that the Equant and GoRemote solution meets those needs, while increasing internal productivity and customer satisfaction," said Tom Thimot, GoRemote president and CEO. "Our solution offers companies such as Stride Rite the reliability and security of a private network with the cost savings structure of the public Internet."

Last month Equant teamed with GoRemote to complete its existing Small Office Solutions portfolio with Advantage DSL, powered by GoRemote Branch Office(TM), a public Internet backbone IP VPN solution. By combining their robust broadband performance, cost-effective IP VPN technology and proactive network monitoring services, the Equant and GoRemote alliance provides companies with a complete, fully managed IP VPN solution for connecting dispersed branch offices and retail locations to corporate data centers and networks.

The Advantage Small Office Solution is aimed at smaller offices such as retail outlets with up to five users, has full helpdesk back up and can replace dial-up and VSAT connections with a higher speed, always-on and fixed- cost solution. A key benefit of Small Office Solutions is the fully inclusive package that bundles the router, the access and IP bandwidth together.

Equant is a recognized industry leader in global communications services for multinational businesses. Equant combines its network expertise with its expanded services capabilities to provide global, integrated and customized communication services to enable its customers'' key business processes.

GoRemote Internet Communications Inc is a leading provider of secure managed broadband network services, enabling customers to achieve best-of-breed network security and to increase critical business application performance, while reducing capital and operating expenses associated with their network.

US based Stride Rite Corporation is the leading marketer of high quality children''s footwear in the United States and is a major marketer of athletic and casual footwear for children and adults. Our business was founded on the strength of the Stride Rite children''s brand, but today includes a portfolio of great American brands addressing different market segments within the footwear industry. In addition to the Stride Rite brand,we market footwear under the following owned or licensed brands: Keds, Grasshoppers, Sperry Top-Sider, and Tommy Hilfiger.
 
Stride Rite Corp