Rent-A-Center Completes Wireless Network Deployment of Over 2500 SonicWALL SOHO
TZWs
Award-winning Solution Provides Flexible VPN Connectivity With Reliable
IPSec-based Security Services
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SonicWALL,Inc. , a leading
provider of integrated security, productivity and mobility solutions, today
announced that Rent-A-Center Inc., the largest rent-to-own operator in the
United States, has completed its deployment of a national, secure wireless
network featuring the SonicWALL SOHO TZW. SonicWALL partner High Touch, Inc. has
installed a total of 2,564 SOHO TZW wireless security appliances at
Rent-A-Center retail stores across the nation.
Rent-A-Center launched the network to provide its local retail outlets with
secure Internet-based connectivity back to the home office. "With our new
network, our stores are directly communicating inventory and sales data to our
own central database, providing the company with up-to-date information for our
businessplanning processes," said Roscoe Wasco, chief information officer for
Rent-A-Center. "Plus, by implementing a wireless solution, we are also able to
coordinate sales transactions in-store with independent kiosks and the main
customer counter. Our salesco-workers now have all the necessary information to
provide customers with timely, knowledgeable service. SonicWALL's solution has
not only improved communications for the company but has enhanced our business
productivity." "The successful deployment of such a large wireless network is a strong
indicator that enterprise wireless has arrived," said Jeff Wilson, principal
analyst: VPNs and security, Infonetics Research. "Wireless security concerns
have been addressed by products like the SonicWALL SOHO TZW, so now companies
are starting to take note of the business benefits offered by a secure, wireless
network." The Rent-A-Center wireless network is jointly managed by Rent-A-Center and High
Touch, Inc. personnel using SonicWALL's renowned Global Management System (GMS). SonicWALL GMS provides Rent-A-Center network administrators with a central
management tool for configuring VPN tunnels, creating policies on the network
such as security levels and information access and monitoring network
resources.
"We are extremely pleased that Rent-A-Center has its new wireless network up and
running," said Matthew Medeiros, SonicWALL president and CEO. "The network was
brought online at an impressive rate of up to 100 stores per day, and
installation went very smoothly. This type of success is proof that the
SonicWALL solution is the optimal choice for retail chains looking for a
progressive wireless network." The Award-Winning SOHO TZW: Wireless Innovation and Value The SonicWALL SOHO TZW integrates secure wireless, firewall and VPN
technologies, delivering the convenience of both wireless and wired connectivity
in one easy-to-use solution for small to medium-sized networks. With the SOHO
TZW, network administrators have the flexibility to create multiple trusted
zones of access, providing an unprecedented level of control without
compromising network security.
About Rent-A-Center Inc.
Rent-A-Center Inc., headquartered in Plano, Texas currently operates 2,647
company-owned stores nationwideand in Puerto Rico. The stores generally offer
high-quality, durable goods such as home electronics, appliances, computers, and
furniture and accessories to consumers under flexible rental purchase agreements
that generally allow the customer to obtainownership of the merchandise at the
conclusion of an agreed-upon rental period. ColorTyme, Inc., a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company, is a national franchiser of 329 rent-to-own stores,
317 of which operate under the trade name of "ColorTyme," andthe remaining 12
of which operate under the "Rent-A-Center" name. For more information about
Rent-A-Center, visit the Web site at http://www.rentacenter.com/.
About High Touch, Inc.
High Touch, Inc. is a leading provider of software, hardware, and automation
services for the Rent-to-Own, Education, and Payday Advance Industries. The
company's software is currently used to manage more than 3900 Rent-to-Own stores
in the US, Canada, and US Territories. High Touch, Inc. is headquartered in
Wichita, KSand is employee-owned. For more information, contact High Touch at
316-832-1611 or visit the company web site at http://www.hightouchinc.com/ .
About SonicWALL, Inc.
SonicWALL, Inc. is a leading provider of integrated network security, mobility,
and productivity solutions for the SMB, enterprise, e-commerce, education,
healthcare, retail/point-of-sale, and government markets. Core technologies
include firewall, VPN, wireless, SSL, anti-virus, and content filtering, along
with award-winning securitymanagement solutions. Together, these products and
technologies provide the most comprehensive Distributed Security Architecture
available. SonicWALL, Inc. is headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA. SonicWALL trades
on the NASDAQ exchange under the symbol SNWL. For more information, contact
SonicWALL at 408-745-9600 or visit the company web site at
http://www.sonicwall.com/ .
Safe Harbor Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The
forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements regarding
the performance capabilities of the SOHO TZW and our Global Management System,
the ability of our products to improve our customers' productivity, our ability
to provide wireless network solutions to additional retail customers, and the
adoption of wireless technology. These forward- looking statements are based on
the opinions and estimates of management at the time the statements are made and
are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. In addition, please see the "Risk Factors" described in our Securities and
Exchange Commission filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2002 and Form 10-Q for subsequent periods, for a more
detailed description of the risks facing our business. All forward-looking
statements included in this release are based upon information available to
SonicWALL as of the date of the release, and we assume no obligation to update
any such forward-looking statement. NOTE: SonicWALL is a registered trademark of
SonicWALL, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be
trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. DATASOURCE: SonicWALL, Inc.
CONTACT: Kristin Fabos of SonicWALL, Inc., +1-408-962-7108, or ; or Diane Ugolik of SHIFT Communications, +1-415-591-8403, or , for SonicWALL, Inc.
Web site: http://www.hightouchinc.com/ Web site: http://www.rentacenter.com/ Web site: http://www.sonicwall.com/
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