ECI To Become Helpdesk Service Provider For Partner Communications, Inc.

eCi announces that it will soon be providing third-party Internet Helpdesk services for Partner Communications, Inc. of Central Iowa.

On June 21, 2001, eCi will begin 24/7 technical support for Partner Communications Internet services. As a third-party support provider, eCis flexibility allows ISPs to more conveniently meet the needs of their customers. By providing transparent identity" support for several ISPs, eCis costs are spread over multiple customers. This allows eCis cost per incident to be much lower than for an ISP providing the service in house. eCis experience and infrastructure also makes start-up very simple.
Following years of experience providing third-party technical support for leading consumer electronics manufacturers, eCi felt it could easily meet the needs of ISPs. In 2000, eCi began offering its third-party support services to ISPs and has developed several partnerships. By tailoring services to meet the needs of each ISP, eCi delivers comprehensive technical support solutions with options that include 24 hour a day support, market and statistical research, and performance benchmarking.

About eCi
Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, eCi also has offices in Santa Clara, California and Manning, Iowa. The majority of ISP support is handled in Manning. The new facility, a cooperative effort between eCi and the city of Manning, has added new jobs to the Manning area. As eCis technical support business expands, the company intends to establish additional centers in rural Midwest locations to take advantage of the strong work ethic and educational level these areas offer, as well as to bring employment opportunities to underemployed residents.

About Partner Communications, Inc.
Based in Gilman, Iowa, Partner Communications, Inc. provides local Internet services for several communities located in Central Iowa, such as Newton, Grinnell, Tama/Toledo, and Marshalltown. As a subsidiary of Partner Communications Cooperative, the company provides dial-up, wireless, and web hosting solutions.