WorldCom Expands Global Remote Access Capabilities for Industry-Leading Internet and IP VPN Services

World’s Largest Dial Access Network Provider Delivers Greater Ease-of-Use, Flexibility and Guaranteed Performance for Traveling and Remote Workers

CLINTON, Miss., April 17, 2002 -- WorldCom (NASDAQ: WCOM), the leading global business data and Internet communications provider, today unveiled expanded global remote access capabilities, featuring WorldCom Access Manager, a universal remote access tool that simplifies secure IP VPN and Internet connections over any access method. Combined with enhanced Service Level Agreements and extended global coverage to more than 80 countries, WorldCom's advanced remote access suite helps U.S. and multinational businesses reduce connectivity costs while supporting higher levels of productivity for traveling and remote workers.

Ideal for companies looking to outsource their growing remote access needs or complement existing in-house networking capabilities, WorldCom's global remote access solutions are backed by the world's largest dial access network, one of the industry's highest connection rates and the reach and reliability of WorldCom's facilities-based global IP network.

"WorldCom today provides one of the industry's most comprehensive suite of remote access solutions," said Brian Brewer, WorldCom Chief Marketing Officer. "The company's unparalleled network expertise, reach and reliability coupled with our new Access Manager make transport-independent secure access a reality from virtually anywhere around the world."

WorldCom Access Manager

Much more than a traditional "dialer," WorldCom Access Manager is a universal remote access client that allows companies to effectively manage global workforce connectivity from end-to-end. From end-user to centralized network administrative functions, WorldCom Access Manager and its integrated back-end management system, Enterprise Service Manager (ESM), delivers a seamless solution to launch a VPN client, authenticate access and establish secure connections to corporate networks over dial, DSL or dedicated connections.

WorldCom Access Manager's advanced capabilities include an intelligent phone book, an easy-to-use interface and the ability to control user preferences to optimize employees' use of the Internet. In addition, with WorldCom Access Manager, automatic software updates can be pushed to an entire dispersed workforce. Later this year, customers will also benefit from enhanced security features, including the capability to deploy personal firewalls.

Because WorldCom Access Manager allows remote workers to modify and implement network services regardless of their location, employees can save both time and administrative costs. What's more, network administrators benefit from better command and control of a distributed workforce. Through a single point of entry, ESM allows administrators to easily create and modify user groups, configure multiple product sets, set user passwords and prohibit more costly 800-dial accessibility.

By incorporating WorldCom Dial Analysis(sm) into Access Manager, businesses can analyze the efficiency of their network services by viewing customer-specific dial-up statistics on network performance, connection speeds, telephone numbers dialed, connection history and length of calls. This unique service, supported by Visual Networks IP performance management technology, allows network administrators to monitor, adjust and manage users' access experience, across the enterprise and into the PC environment, increasing productivity and end users' efficiency.

WorldCom Internet Dial Services

For more than a decade, WorldCom has been the industry leader delivering Internet solutions for businesses around the world. Because of WorldCom's global backbone reach and capabilities, it is able to offer customers some of the industry's most precise and comprehensive Service Level Agreements available today. For the first time, WorldCom has extended its SLAs to include all Internet Dial Corporate customers while creating more refined metrics for its Internet Dial Corporate Gold customers. WorldCom's new SLAs assure the highest level of service available today, based on accessibility, login success rates, throughput, modem connect speeds, latency and packet delivery.

Ideally suited for large businesses, WorldCom Internet Dial Corporate and Internet Dial Corporate Gold deliver direct dial-up connections to the Internet in more than 80 countries. Designed as a complete dial services suite, WorldCom Internet Dial Corporate Gold customers benefit from one of the most comprehensive global dial packages in the industry, comprising WorldCom Access Manager, ESM, and WorldCom's industry-leading SLAs for a full-service solution.

WorldCom Fully Managed IP VPN Remote Services

With WorldCom's fully managed IP VPN Remote Service solution, businesses can securely connect to their corporate intranet or extranet in more than 80 countries including the addition of Chile, Greece and the Philippines.

Combined with WorldCom's new Access Manager capabilities and enhanced Dial Service Level Agreements, WorldCom's industry-leading IP VPN remote solutions provide customers with the performance and reliability sought by enterprises in today's global business environment. WorldCom's new Access Manager delivers an unparalleled IP VPN end-user experience regardless of access method or application while delivering greater control to VPN administrators and overcoming time and cost-intensive issues for IT staffs. WorldCom IP VPN remote customers can also now utilize Dial Analysis, the new online performance management tool, to gain increased visibility into their networks.

"WorldCom's advanced remote access solutions are valuable enhancements to its VPN and Corporate Dial offerings," said Steven Harris, research manager with International Data Corp. "With more companies managing a remote workforce than ever before, WorldCom is making it easier to manage and satisfy end-user requirements."

About WorldCom Group

WorldCom group (NASDAQ: WCOM) is a pre-eminent global communications provider for the digital generation, operating in more than 65 countries with annualized revenues exceeding $21 billion. With one of the most expansive, wholly owned IP networks in the world, WorldCom provides innovative data and Internet services for businesses to communicate in today's market. For more information, go to http://www.worldcom.com.