Matrix24x7 Helps Retailers Reduce Downtime through Improved Monitoring of Critical Network Devices

New device monitoring and management platform from Direct Source and Zone24x7
provides a more reliable and secure environment for enterprise information
NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
With retailers struggling to increase revenue in the wake of an economic
downturn, maintaining optimal information technology system performance is a key
component for operational management this year.

Direct Source, a national retail systems integration, deployment and services
provider, and Zone24x7, a leader in enterprise technology solutions, have
partnered to deliver an enterprise device monitoring and management platform,
aimed at tier one retailers. The platform allows system administrators to
effectively monitor and manage the entire retail IT infrastructure on site or
remotely, effectively decreasing performance management issues that can lead to
device downtime. It features a fused management environment for diversified IT
infrastructures, including retail point-of-sale systems, peripherals and mobile
devices.

"The relationship between Zone24x7 and Direct Source goes back more than 15
years, to the days when signature capture was in its infancy and considered
disruptive technology," said Llavan Fernando, Chief Executive Officer, Zone24x7,
and co-founder of @POS. "It is a great pleasure to form this alliance with true
professionals, where yet another breakthrough technology, Matrix24x7, can
positively affect the device management within retail establishments."

Matrix24x7 helps retailers lower network management costs by reducing the
downtime associated with failures. Remote management functionality allows
administrators to not only monitor and manage the IT infrastructure, but also
access and control devices.

Notifications, which include device alerts on issues or equipment failures,
ensure that quick action is taken to solve network problems before they cause
downtime. The monitoring infrastructure also allows problems to be fixed during
scheduled downtime, saving time and money, and enabling proactive maintenance.

"Device performance is and should always be top-of-mind with retailers," said
Brad Fick, President, Direct Source. "With Matrix24x7`s monitoring capabilities,
retailers cannot only ensure that business is maintained, they can also lower
costs by reducing unscheduled downtime. Through our partnership with Zone24x7,
retailers now have an integrated solution that can improve store operations
through improved device performance."

Included in the platform are performance management functions for asset
tracking, deployments, applications, users and power consumption. Matrix24x7
also helps track peripheral asset inventory to reduce the amount of spare
equipment purchased, and the technology features unique device locking and
tracing mechanisms that are capable of making the devices more secure throughout
the infrastructure.

"As an enterprise 2.0-enabled platform, Matrix24x7 is geared towards companies
entrenched in the retail space," said Manjula Dissanayake, Vice President of
Global Operations, Zone24x7. "IT administrators can view device health and
correct identified faults in the infrastructure easily, which results in
significant long-term cost savings."

Direct Source and Zone24x7 will demonstrate Matrix24x7 at the National Retail
Federation show, booth # 2143, Jan. 12-13 in New York City.

About Direct Source

Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., Direct Source (www.directsource.com) is a
nationally-recognized retail installation and integration services provider for
tier one retailers, with an expanding network of more than 1,500 national
installation specialists. Direct Source`s flexible in-store solutions are
designed to help retailers maintain a competitive edge and improve store
productivity and customer service. Not influenced by individual manufacturers,
single vision systems or the latest in unproven technologies, Direct Source
draws upon its flexible, innovative, industry-encompassing experience to
recommend independent solutions, both hardware and software, that help clients
operate faster, smarter and more profitably.

About Zone24x7

Zone24x7 Inc. is a leading global provider of technology innovation services
headquartered in San Jose, Calif, with offices in the USA, Malaysia and Sri
Lanka. Zone24x7 was recognized as a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and a
Windows Embedded Partner due to its excellent technological solution delivery.
Zone24x7, with a talented resource pool, delivers innovative solutions and
technology advantage for its customers to achieve business success.

Media Contacts:
Padilla Speer Beardsley for Direct Source
Amy Fisher, 612-455-1773
afisher@psbpr.com
or
Zone24x7
Schayne Jallow, 408-268-8589
schaynej@zone24x7.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009