EarthLink Set to Promote Managed Services and Cloud Services

Most consumers know EarthLink Inc. as an Internet service provider. But EarthLink also has a managed services practice and the EarthLink Cloud service. I haven’t heard much about either service but I suspect that’s about to change. The reason: EarthLink has promoted Brian Fink into the post of executive VP of managed services — where he’ll also work to promote the EarthLink Cloud to partners and customers.

Fink will position EarthLink as a national managed services provider for small, midsize and national customers, according to a prepared statement from the company. Meanwhile, the EarthLink Cloud allows partners and customers to launch Linux and Windows servers in 15 minutes or less, the company claims. It’s built atop the Xen hypervisor, Dell servers and Cisco networking equipment, according to EarthLink’s website.

Fink has worked in and around the managed services and telecom markets for roughly 20 years. Before joining EarthLink in January 2011, Fink’s previous experience included positions at IntegraTouch LLC, One Communications, Global Crossing / Frontier Communications, Schneider Communications, and AT&T Bell Labs.

Recent and Forthcoming Financial Clues

EarthLink is expected to announce Q2 results on Thursday, July 28. The company’s Q1 results, announced back on April 28, show just how aggressively EarthLink has been shifting from consumer to business revenues. In a Q1 earnings statement EarthLink said:

Assuming EarthLink delivers Q2 results on July 28, I will reach out to the company shortly thereafter to learn more about Fink’s next steps with the managed services and cloud services. In the meantime, I assume EarthLink is in a quiet period and Fink can’t say much until Q2 results are disclosed.