Direct Edge Launches Suite of Connectivity Services

Press release:

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Nov 15, 2010 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- Direct Edge announced today it will begin offering customers access to a suite of cost-effective connectivity services that provides a one-stop shop for market data feeds and direct market access to all major exchanges via their Direct Edge connection. This new service, Connect Edge, will help customers reduce costs by eliminating the need for individual telco connections to each marketplace and make Direct Edge their primary source for marketplace connectivity. In addition, customers who wish to independently manage their own connectivity can utilize EdgeLink, which enables them to directly connect to one or more Direct Edge customer routers.

For customers who already have a direct connection to the Direct Edge infrastructure, Connect Edge extends their reach by providing access to other market centers for market data and access. Those who currently don't have a direct connection to the Direct Edge infrastructure can use Connect Edge by cross connecting from within their own facility to one of Direct Edge's three Points of Presence (PoP), located at Equinix NY4 in Secaucus, NJ, Savvis in Weehawken, NJ and Telx in Clifton, NJ.

Connect Edge offers numerous advantages over other connectivity services in the market, including:

  --  Lower Telco Costs: Connectivity for data feeds start as low as $500 per
     month including market data for both A and B streams over separate
     handoffs.

 --  Fast Access: Circuit latency to some markets is under 100 microseconds
     round-trip.

 --  Burst Protection: Direct Edge monitors requested bandwidth for order
     entry traffic, but does not rate limit the connection. That means the
     customer is never in danger of oversubscribing. Additionally, for
     multicast data, Direct Edge's 10Gb network backbone has more than enough
     capacity to support current and future market data rates from the
     exchanges.

 --  No Long-Term Commitments: Billing is on a month-to-month basis with only
     a 30-day cancellation period required.

"Direct Edge is committed to meeting the needs of all market participants, beyond simply matching buyers and sellers," said Kevin Carrai, Head of Connectivity Services, Direct Edge. "By leveraging our state-of-the-art exchange connectivity we are able to help customers lower costs and provide them with high-speed, low latency access to market data and direct connections to all major exchanges -- a critical element that many market participants such as smaller firms desire, but were unable to afford until now."

In addition to Connect Edge, Direct Edge offers customers access to EdgeLink as part of its suite of connectivity services. EdgeLink enables customers to directly connect to one or more Direct Edge customer routers. Through EdgeLink, customers have the freedom to independently manage their own connectivity by choosing the telecommunications provider of their preference, or if they have a presence in the Equinix NY4 facility, they may cross-connect directly to Direct Edge. Similar to the benefits brought forth by Connect Edge, EdgeLink is a financially attractive option that will help improve access and speed for customers who feel this solution best meets their needs.

More information about Direct Edge is available at www.directedge.com.