HOUSTON - July 20, 2004 - NextiraOne, LLC, a Platinum Equity company and leading provider of integrated enterprise network solutions and services, has achieved Elite Advantage Partner status in the award-winning Partner Advantage program launched by Nortel Networks*. NextiraOne was the first partner to complete the audit by satisfying all non-conformance requirements needed to pass the Nortel Networks Partner Advantage Assessment for 2004.

"We are very pleased to have achieved Elite Partner status," said Michael Ruley, president and CEO for NextiraOne. "In our industry, it is essential to develop and maintain great partnerships. We are focused on fostering our relationship with Nortel Networks, as it is mutually beneficial in growing our businesses."

Partner Advantage is designed to help channel partners adapt to the changing marketplace, build brand equity and deliver end-to-end converged networking solutions and services. The program consists of three tiers - Advantage Partner; Premium Advantage Partner; and Elite Advantage Partner - based on volume performance, portfolio breadth, and sales, service and operating capabilities and performance metrics. Each designation carries exclusive requirements for channel partners and provides significant benefits to both clients and solution providers large and small.

Nortel Networks has been recognized for successfully engaging value added resellers (VARs) and integrators. The company's enterprise channel program recently received a Five-Star Rating from VARBusiness and a Channel Champions award from CRN in the voice over IP (Internet Protocol) technical criteria category.

Partner Advantage designees are a select group whose performance and service levels have distinguished them from other Nortel Networks resellers. To date, there are 96 channel partners who have received a Partner Advantage designation and of these only 14 channel partners in North America have achieved Elite Partner status. Many more companies are still working to meet the performance-based criteria during 2004.

NextiraOne has a full range of Nortel Networks voice, data, call center and optical certifications, including Alteon, Bay RS Routers, Baystack, BCM, Business Policy Switch, CallPilot, Contivity, CSE1K, Meridian 1, Norstar, Optera, Optical, Passport 6K/7K/15K, Passport 8600, SL-100, Succession and Symposium.

About NextiraOne
NextiraOne North America is a leading provider of integrated enterprise network solutions and services that enable effective business communications. NextiraOne provides services from planning to the implementation, support and management of voice, data and converged communications networks. The company also provides solutions featuring best-in-class technologies from leading manufacturers and vendors. NextiraOne offers consultation and solutions development ranging from contact center applications to network infrastructure outsourcing. For more information, please visit www.NextiraOne.com. NextiraOne is owned by Platinum Equity (www.platinumequity.com), a global acquisition firm specializing in the strategic operation of mission-critical services and solutions businesses according to a unique M&A&O^SM model of value creation.

*Nortel Networks is a trademark of Nortel Networks.
Use of the terms "partner" and "partnership" does not imply a legal partnership relationship between Nortel Networks and any other party.

Contact:

For NextiraOne:
Shannon Sullivan
M/C/C Communications
972-480-8383
shannon_sullivan@mccom.com