ATLANTA, Dec. 10, 2014
/PRNewswire/ -- EarthLink Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: ELNK), a
leading managed network and cloud solutions provider for
multi-location businesses, today announced that Mississippi-based Hancock Fabrics, operating
262 retail stores in 37 states, recently selected EarthLink to
simplify infrastructure operations via a comprehensive, secure
managed network solution. Once implemented throughout all
locations, Hancock Fabrics will rely on its private EarthLink MPLS
network to run in-store applications including point-of-sale,
inventory management and employee communications and training.
EarthLink's Hosted Voice solution will handle voice traffic,
delivering a fully-featured hosted PBX system without the cost to
purchase and maintain on-premise equipment, while their
network-based firewall will protect the network and deliver
reporting and analytics. In addition, Hancock Fabrics will deploy
EarthLink Secure WiFi™ to all locations to further enhance their
customer shopping experience with a more secure wireless network
for social media engagement and valuable business intelligence
analytics.
Hancock Fabrics selected EarthLink based on satisfaction of
multiple factors including network reliability, security, and the
opportunity to reduce credit card processing costs with EarthLink's
MPLS Direct Connect service to their payment processor. As a
result, the company will reduce transaction times to as little as
two seconds and cut transaction fees using MPLS Direct Connect
services to route credit card transactions directly from the
point-of-sale over the MPLS network to payment processors.
Hancock Fabrics also will use EarthLink's PCI Compliance
Solutions to provide additional financial protection from potential
data breaches, and to help them achieve and maintain PCI compliance
including employee training, security policies, record-keeping, and
quarterly vulnerability scans.
"When Hancock Fabrics assessed providers, EarthLink won the
business on several fronts, but primarily due to the outstanding
relationship and confidence we built with the local account team,"
said James Hayes, Divisional Vice
President of IT, Hancock Fabrics. "While the cost-savings with
EarthLink is important to our bottom line, it's their keen
understanding of retail dynamics that won our business. This is a
true partnership and I consider them a part of my IT staff."
Hayes estimates that EarthLink's multi-faceted solution will
save Hancock Fabrics approximately 20 percent over their previous
plan even though it delivers more robust functionality.
Commenting on Hancock Fabrics' new EarthLink solution,
Rick Froehlich, EarthLink Executive
Vice President, Products and Consumer said, "Hancock Fabrics has a
vision of how technology can create more dynamic customer
interactions, and EarthLink is very pleased to work with them to
make it a reality. Their more secure WiFi network will enable
everything from better wireless intrusion protection and social
analytics to personalized, opt-in marketing programs and PCI
compliance. With EarthLink managing their network infrastructure
and connectivity for a fluid, secure and enhanced shopping
experience, their IT team can focus on proactive initiatives that
add value to the business and positively impact their bottom
line."
About EarthLink
EarthLink (EarthLink Holdings Corp., NASDAQ: ELNK) provides
managed network, security and cloud solutions for multi-location
businesses. We help thousands of specialty retailers, restaurants,
financial institutions, healthcare providers, professional service
firms and local governments deliver a reliable and engaging
customer experience in their stores and branch offices. We do so by
building and managing MPLS WAN networks, by providing virtualized
infrastructure, security, hosted voice, secure WiFi and compliance
solutions, and by offering exceptional customer care. We operate a
nationwide network spanning more than 28,000 fiber route miles,
with 90 metro fiber rings and secure data centers that provide
ubiquitous data and voice IP service coverage. Our EarthLink
Carrier® division sells facilities-based wholesale
telecommunications to other providers and our award-winning
Internet services connect hundreds of thousands of residential
customers across the U.S. For more, visit www.earthlink.com and
follow @earthlink, LinkedIn and Google+.
About Hancock Fabrics
Founded in 1957, Hancock Fabrics is committed to nurturing
consumers' creativity. We are the inspirational authority in fabric
and sewing with a complete selection of fashion and home decorating
textiles, crafts, sewing accessories, needlecraft supplies and
sewing machines. Hancock Fabrics currently operates 262 retail
stores in 37 states, along with the Internet store,
www.HancockFabrics.com.
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SOURCE EarthLink Holdings Corp.