FOSTER CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov. 12, 2003–
Aggregation of Financial Services and Networking Companies in
Chicago Internet Hub Enable Streamlined and Cost-Effective
Connectivity
Equinix, Inc. (Nasdaq:EQIX), the leading provider of network-neutral data centers and Internet exchange services, today announced that First Traders Analytical Solutions (First Traders) will move the company’s IT operations from a proprietary data center to Equinix’s Chicago Internet Business Exchange(TM) (IBX(R)) center. The move will enable the options trading software and services provider to directly interconnect with the key financial services companies operating within Equinix’s center and to enhance the electronic delivery of their products and services.
First Traders provides software products and services for the electronic options trading marketplace to Wall Street firms, executing brokerage firms, hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, the retail trading community and the U.S. options exchanges. The company has a specific expertise in systems to price, execute and manage trades in listed options. As the company moves to offer more products and services electronically, a reliable IT infrastructure has become a critical component to the company’s business operations.
Equinix’s Chicago center is already home to a large number of financial services companies and all of the leading global network service providers. The ability to reach all of these companies within the same location was the reason First Traders selected Equinix. In addition to reducing the costs and complexity of maintaining separate transit connections to geographically diverse partners, the direct interconnection amongst the aggregation of companies within Equinix’s Chicago center also facilitates a more streamlined data path that can avoid unnecessary transit through multiple Internet networks, including routers, switches and congested long-distance circuits, to reach end-users.
“With some of the largest names in financial exchanges and the financial services industry as customers, First Traders has the highest requirements of performance and security for our IT operations, and we have previously hosted these operations internally,” said James Kallimani, managing director of First Traders. “With Equinix we have a partner that meets our high expectations and also offers a unique environment where we have the flexibility to deploy new and innovative electronic services for our customers.”
“Our Chicago IBX center has become a leading communications hub for banks, trading exchanges and others in the financial services industry,” said Peter Van Camp, CEO of Equinix. “Companies such as First Traders can leverage the one stop shop of Equinix’s Chicago center to reach all of their strategic partners within the same physical location, resulting in a more efficient communications infrastructure that reduces costs, enhances performance and opens new market opportunities.”
About Equinix
Equinix is the leading global provider of network-neutral data centers and Internet exchange services for enterprises, content companies, systems integrators and network services providers. Through the company’s 13 Internet Business Exchange(TM) (IBX(R)) centers in five countries, customers can directly interconnect with every major global network and ISP for their critical peering, transit and traffic exchange requirements. These interconnection points facilitate the highest performance and growth of the Internet by serving as neutral and open marketplaces for Internet infrastructure services, allowing customers to expand their businesses while reducing costs.
Equinix and IBX are registered trademarks of Equinix, Inc. Internet Business Exchange is a trademark of Equinix, Inc.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from expectations discussed in such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, the challenges of operating IBX centers and developing, deploying and delivering Equinix services; competition from existing and new competitors; the ability to generate sufficient cash flow or otherwise obtain funds to repay outstanding indebtedness; the loss or decline in business from our key customers and other risks described from time to time in Equinix’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, see Equinix’s recent quarterly and annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are available upon request from Equinix. Equinix does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.
