e-Smart Selects Stratus Continuum 418 Server

Stratus Computer announced that e-Smart Direct Services Inc, a leading provider of electronic financial transaction processing for financial institutions and retailers in Canada, has selected the Stratus Continuum 418 server to run its mission-critical financial processing services business. The Stratus system was chosen over high availability platforms from other vendors, including Compaq Computer, because of its simplicity and serviceability.

The Stratus system, because of its exceptional processing performance, also qualifies e-Smart to serve as a Direct Connector Member to the Interac Association, the premier Canadian ATM and debit network.

e-Smart is a networking service bureau for Canadian financial service organizations and the retail and commercial marketplaces. The company supports average daily processing volumes of 50,000 transactions and disbursements of $3 million. e-Smart expects to provide service to more than 2,500 ATMs by the fourth quarter of 2000.

"We wanted the most critical link between our financial services customers and their end-users' transactions to be invisible, with virtually continuous operating performance," said Mischa Weisz, president and CEO, e-Smart Direct Services. "Because our business addresses a financial institution's complete transaction processing needs -- from ATMs and credit cards to Internet banking -- it's imperative that we deploy a system that provides around-the-clock availability. We chose the Stratus solution because it delivers the simple, powerful, reliable and continuously available computing we were seeking, letting us focus our resources on the equally important service aspect of our business."

"It is a great opportunity to now be included as one of the six Direct Connector Members to Interac," he continued. "This select membership, achieved through rigorous IT guidelines, has enabled us to provide more affordable, easy access to our customers. Because Interac is widely accepted throughout Canada, it also allows us to broaden our customer base in the retail and commercial marketplace."

Around-the-Clock Availability

e-Smart's computing platform consists of an HP-UX-based Stratus Continuum system and an Interac connectivity application from Oasis Technology. The Oasis Interac application eliminates the need for e-Smart to switch debit and shared cash transactions through banks, allowing the company to perform transactions directly.

"Due to its enormous market presence, Interac is a part of everyday life for Canadians, and e-Smart's connectivity to a system of this breadth is vital," said Brian Cook, senior vice president of sales, Oasis Technology. "The Interac application provides Canadians with secure, convenient access to their money whenever they need it, wherever they are in the country. Our close relationship with Stratus has enabled our companies to co-develop an optimal solution for e-Smart."

Simple, Continuous, Reliable: The Stratus HP-UX Solution

Stratus' capability to deliver uninterrupted processing is due to the self-contained, duplexed architecture of the Continuum system. The computing infrastructure is designed so that all critical hardware components are duplicated. If one part fails, the other continues processing without any application interruption. Unlike cluster solutions, which are designed to recover from failure, Stratus systems are designed not to fail at all.

If a component of a Stratus system does falter, the server "phones home" to a service support center that immediately dispatches a replacement. Because the part is "hot-swappable," the customer can switch the components without any operating interruption.

"As electronic transactions and online banking trends skyrocket, end-users expect all of the conveniences associated with the Internet -- including the freedom to complete transactions whenever and wherever they wish," said Michael Thompson, senior vice president of Worldwide Sales and Marketing, Stratus Computer. "As a leading services bureau, e-Smart is well aware of these market demands and has strategically chosen Stratus servers to deliver continuous and reliable performance under pressure. We look forward to continued collaboration with e-Smart in the future."

About Stratus Computer

Stratus Computer, www.stratus.com, offers the world's most proven range of continuously available computer platforms, application solutions, professional services, and technologies for mission-critical business operations. Stratus serves customers worldwide, focusing primarily on financial services, retail, travel, electronic commerce, healthcare, public safety and gaming industries. Many of Stratus' customers are highly visible industry leaders such as prominent U.S. securities firms, major credit card companies, the largest stock exchange in Asia, the largest options exchange in the world, and 15 out of the world's 20 largest banks.

Contact Kristina White, kristina.white@pnicg.com of Porter Novelli Convergence Group, 617-450-4300, or Karen CK Drake of Stratus Computer, 978- 461-7708, karen_drake@stratus.com.