Hughes Providing CSK
Auto With Managed Network Services Solution
(18 October 2006) Hughes Network
Systems, LLC, a leader in the top-tier managed network services market, today
announced that it has completed the rollout of HughesNet(TM) Managed Network
Services at 1,175 CSK Auto retail locations.
HughesNet Managed
Network Services employs a combination of satellite and DSL broadband
technologies as dictated by the needs of the customer, all managed through a
common, fully- integrated service and support infrastructure.
Before
choosing Hughes as its broadband service provider, CSK Auto considered an
all-terrestrial network. However, after evaluating the various options, CSK
concluded that the HughesNet Managed Network Services solution was the most
effective means of meeting its security, coverage, and economic
requirements.
CSK Auto owns and operates more than 1,280 retail auto
parts stores in 22 Western and Midwestern states under the brand names Checker
Auto Parts, Schuck's Auto Supply, Kragen Auto Parts, and Murray's Discount Auto
Stores. CSK Auto is utilising its HughesNet Managed Network Services as the
backbone between its stores and corporate headquarters. According to Larry
Buresh, CSK Auto's senior vice president and CIO at CSK Auto, is using the
network to support numerous real-time applications such as credit and debit
verifications, inventory availability inquiries, return verifications, as well
as a variety of web-based back office applications.
"Besides the obvious
need to control cost, security, coverage and managed services were high on our
requirements list. After evaluating the various alternatives available to us,
we concluded that the HughesNet service was the clear choice for meeting our
array of requirements. No other solution provided the combination of security
and geographic coverage," said Buresh. "The convenience of a fully managed
service through a single point of contact was a key element in our decision as
well."
"Hughes also assumed management responsibility for a number of
stores that were already deployed with DSL," said Buresh. "Being able to pick
up the phone and call one vendor for all of our broadband needs was a
plus."
"We believe CSK's requirements are representative of the evolving
needs of the marketplace. We've worked hard to develop our HughesNet broadband
VPN offerings to meet the challenges our customers face. CSK conducted
extensive evaluation and testing of the various alternatives prior to making
their decision and we are extremely pleased to have been selected by them for
this mission-critical network," said Ken Cohen, assistant vice president of
marketing at Hughes.
Rollout of the network was completed earlier this
year.
About CSK Auto
Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, CSK Auto
Corporation, parent company of CSK Auto, Inc., is the largest retailer of
automotive parts and accessories in the Western United States and one of the
largest retailers of such products in the entire country based on number of
stores. As of April 30, 2006, CSK Auto operates 1,288 stores in 22 states under
the brand names Checker Auto Parts, Schuck's Auto Supply, Kragen Auto Parts and
Murray's Discount Auto Stores.
About Hughes Network
Systems
Hughes Network Systems, LLC is the global leader in providing
broadband satellite networks and services for large enterprises, governments,
small businesses, and consumers. HughesNet is a fully managed, nation-wide
broadband offering from Hughes that encompasses all broadband solutions,
bridging the best of satellite and terrestrial technologies. To date, Hughes
has shipped more than one million systems to customers in over 100 countries.
Its broadband satellite products are based on the IPoS (IP over Satellite)
global standard, approved by the TIA, ETSI, and ITU standards
organisations.
Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., in Germantown,
Maryland, USA, Hughes maintains sales and support offices world-wide. Hughes is
a wholly owned subsidiary of Hughes Communications, Inc.
(source: Hughes
Network Systems)