240+ Cisco Certified Individuals Demonstrates Commitment to
Highest Levels of Customer Satisfaction and Networking
Knowledge
JACKSON, MS, September 23, 1999 - In an ongoing effort to
publicly recognize partners who increase customers' satisfaction
levels, Cisco Systems today awarded MCI WorldCom Gold Level
Certification Status.
The recognition was awarded based on MCI WorldCom's Managed
Services offering, which provides end-to-end, local-to-global-to-local
network design and implementation, legacy network migration, equipment
procurement, network performance management and around-the-clock
monitoring services. The Gold Level Certification Status, achieved by
only one percent of Cisco partners, acknowledges MCI WorldCom's
continuous investment in delivering leading internetworking knowledge,
technology and equipment to achieve the highest level of customers
satisfaction.
"The priority of all Cisco certification programs is to widely
deploy and replicate quality user service and support to a global
customer base," said Tom Stevenson, vice president, global
partners, Cisco Systems. "Gold Level Certification Status -- the
highest recognition available from Cisco -- demonstrates MCI
WorldCom's understanding of the strategic business value of
end-user satisfaction and its ability to meet customer needs."
"Cisco's Gold Level Status recognition -- in addition to
more than 240 individual Cisco Certifications -- is one more indication
that MCI WorldCom is committed to providing the highest level of
customer satisfaction," said Chris VanLuling, director of
enterprise product marketing for MCI WorldCom Managed Services.
"By harnessing all of our unique resources -- from accredited
technicians, sales people and state-of-the-art technology to the only
local-to-global-to-local network -- we offer world-class expertise and
provide a leading edge, cost-effective solution."
Gold Level Requirements
The purpose of the Cisco Gold Certification Program is to recognize
those Cisco channel partners who increase end-customer satisfaction by
solving problems quickly. These channel partners also understand the
strategic business value of 'the network' and have the
expertise to meet end-customer needs.
MCI World has met, and in many cases has exceeded, a variety of
stringent requirements in order to achieve Gold Certification. For
example, MCI WorldCom has nearly four times the required number of
individuals at the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) level.
The CCIE program sets the professional benchmark for internetworking
expertise and CCIEs are recognized throughout the internetworking
industry as highly qualified professionals whose expertise has been
tested and validated both by passing a written examination and a
rigorous, two-day hands-on lab examination. MCI WorldCom also has
achieved or exceeded the required number of individuals certified as
Sales Experts, Cisco Certified Network Professionals (CCNPs) and Cisco
Certified Design Professional (CCDPs). Additionally, since 50 percent
or more of customer call escalations are required to be placed by a
CCIE, ensuring that all Level 2 diagnostics have been applied before
escalating to Cisco, customer satisfaction is further ensured as a Gold
Partner.
Gold Certified channel partners are Cisco equipment resellers whose
customers typically work with the largest network installations. Cisco
Channel partners provide a comprehensive service offering, including
complex network design and implementation, post-sales support lab
facilities, remote diagnostics and on-site troubleshooting.
MCI WorldCom provides managed network services worldwide and leads
the industry in delivering customers with a wide range of expert,
single-point--of-contact solutions. Through both standard managed
services and highly tailored customer-specific solutions, enterprise
requirements can be met on all levels, providing direct value through
the reduction of the total cost of ownership for supporting emerging
technologies.
MCI WorldCom is a global leader in communications services with 1998
revenues of more than $30 billion and established operations in over 65
countries encompassing the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific
regions. MCI WorldCom is a premier provider of facilities-based and
fully integrated local, long distance, international and Internet
services. MCI WorldCom's global networks, including its
state-of-the-art pan-European network and transoceanic cable systems,
provide end-to-end high-capacity connectivity to more than 40,000
buildings worldwide. MCI WorldCom is traded on NASDAQ under WCOM. For
more information on MCI WorldCom, visit the World Wide Web at
http://www.wcom.com.
