FAST SUPPLIES SURFNET WITH SCALABLE SEARCH PLATFORM

National computer network for higher education and research in the Netherlands chooses FAST Data Search for its scalability and flexibility

(PRWEB) November 17, 2003 --Fast Search & Transfer (FAST), the leading developer of enterprise search and real-time alerting technologies, and SURFnet announced today that FAST Data Search has been selected to power the search services of their SURFnet network. SURFnet is used on a daily basis by approximately 500,000 people and directly connects more than 150 higher education and research institutions in The Netherlands, including universities, polytechnics, research centers, scientific libraries, and academic hospitals.

By migrating from its current use of AltaVistas enterprise search technology to the FAST enterprise search platform, SURFnet will now be able to index over 5 million structured and unstructured objects on a single system, take advantage of FASTs advanced linguistics, and provide its many SURFnet users with faster and more relevant information as a result of their research queries.

Continued innovation ensures that SURFnet users have at their disposal one of the worlds fastest and most advanced networks for accessing information and communicating with others anywhere in the world," commented Egon Verharen, Manager of the Advanced Services department at SURFnet. In addition to its experience in online information gathering and proving its ability to simultaneously manage the large number of search queries entered into SURFnet with highly relevant responses, FAST Data Search was the only enterprise search offering that could meet our demands for scalability."

SURFnet closely watches the latest developments in technology and is a front-runner in both Internet infrastructure and Internet applications," stated John M. Lervik, FASTs chief executive officer. This partnership continues to expand our relationship with some of the worlds leading publishers, scientific researchers and universities. In addition, SURFnets deployment of FAST Data Search further validates the tremendous value our technology offers to companies and organizations in need of a platform solution that can scale massive amounts of structured and unstructured data, reduce costs, and instantly retrieve information with the highest relevancy."

The unique, single-platform approach of FAST Data Search is setting new search standards for customers and partners worldwide by providing them with scalable, industrial strength search solutions that address their needs and allow them to migrate from smaller installations to enterprise-wide deployments, as required, without changing software platform.

The FAST Data Search suite of enterprise search solutions offers the most comprehensive combination available of powerful real-time search technology, business search management tools, and information analysis capabilities. FAST Data Search enables companies and organizations to develop information transparency and utilization across organizational units and geographical areas. This results in improved efficiency through collaboration, information sharing, and real-time data monitoring and filtering, as well as a dramatic boost in ROI and lowered total cost-of-ownership.

The FAST Data Search product suite supplies a complete information retrieval solution ideal for key vertical markets including Financial Services; Government; Media and Publishing; Life Sciences; and e-Commerce applications.

About SURFnet
SURFnet operates and innovates the national research network in The Netherlands, to which 150 institutions in higher education and research in the Netherlands are connected. To remain in the lead SURFnet puts in a sustained effort to improve the infrastructure and to develop new applications to give users faster and better access to new Internet services. Currently SURFnet's network innovation is funded by the Dutch government via the GigaPort project. For more information please visit http://www.surfnet.nl/en/.

About FAST
Fast Search & Transfer (FAST) creates the real-time search and filter technology solutions that are behind the scenes at the worlds best known companies with the most demanding search problems. FASTs flexible and scalable integrated technology platform enables enterprise customers to elevate their search capabilities to unprecedented levels. FAST closes the gap between information and action, connecting people to the relevant information they seek regardless of medium, in turn driving revenue and reducing total cost of ownership by effectively leveraging IT infrastructure for our clients and world-class partners. A wide range of global customers and partners, including the Allegis Group, AT&T, Cardinal Health, CareerBuilder.com, Charles Schwab & Co., Chordiant, CIGNA, CNET, Dell, Fidelity Investments, Findexa, FirstGov.gov (GSA), Freeserve, IBM, LexisNexis, The National Library of Norway, the UK Office of National Statistics (ONS), Overture, Reed Elsevier, Reuters, SBC Communications, SURFnet, Tenet Healthcare, T-Online, US Army, University of Bielefeld (Germany), and Virgilio (Telecom Italia) currently use FASTs powerful enterprise search technology solutions.

FAST operates globally with presence in the United States (Boston, Washington DC, Chicago, Cleveland, San Francisco), Europe (Norway, France, Germany, Italy, UK), and Japan. FAST is publicly traded under the ticker symbol 'FAST' on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Please visit www.fastsearch.com for more information.

© 2003 Fast Search & Transfer ASA - Fast Search & Transfer, FAST, and the FAST four-colored logo are trademarks of Fast Search & Transfer ASA. All rights reserved. FAST disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.

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