EarthLink's (Nasdaq: ELNK) launch of its IT service suite is another example of how it's continuing down the path of becoming more of a solutions provider.
The IT service suite, which follows the introduction of its Complete business service offering (voice, data and Internet solutions), is centered on helping business customers "streamline" their IT functions and security services by having EarthLink offer them in a hosted fashion via their data center.
Under the new IT service umbrella are seven main offerings: virtualization, managed security, connectivity services, application services, managed desktop support, and data center services.
A key target for this product offering is the small and growing mid-sized business customers, two segments that often lack staff or the capital to get these services.
"Once only available to large enterprises with big IT staffs, we can now offer the benefits of virtualization to businesses of all sizes," said Brian Fink, EarthLink executive vice president and chief strategy officer, in a statement.
While EarthLink has been growing out its network and service capabilities via various acquisitions, broadening the solution set will give it more weapons to win over businesses that now have a larger pool of service providers besides the typical ILEC to get their service.
EarthLink's bet on business services continues to pay off for the competitive provider. In Q4 2011, business services revenue comprised 75 percent of EarthLink's revenue, up from 36 percent in the same period in 2010.
For more:
- see the release
Special report: The most important M&As of 2011
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