Cutthroat Communications Establishes New Identity – TransAria, Inc.

Cutthroat Communications, a Bozeman-based telecom services company, recently changed its name to TransAria, Inc. http://www.transaria.com/ , which over time will replace its current brand name in most of its markets. The purpose of the new name is to provide greater out-of-region name appeal and brand consistency as the company expands throughout rural America.

Cutthroat Communications, http://www.cutthroatcom.com named after the west slope cutthroat trout with the intent of creating a native-to-Montana identity, has been providing managed data services to businesses and government in Montana for over two years. While the company has experienced significant growth throughout the state, it also has expanded outside of Montana in areas where the name of the trout sub-specie is not well known.

“Our name has not been immediately associated with the trout or Montana outside of the state,” according to Jeff Marlow, CEO of TransAria. “For that matter, the name has occasionally evoked other connotations, and that’s the major reason for the new name.”

However, the new name of TransAria will not replace the Cutthroat brand in Montana immediately; instead, it will be phased-in over time. “At least over the next twelve months, we will refer to our company in Montana as Cutthroat Communications – a TransAria company – before transitioning the name completely to TransAria.” Marlow also noted, “The same process of phasing in the TransAria brand over time will exist for companies that we acquire. By handling the name transition that way, customers are less likely to be confused by the new name and logo once the transition is complete.” Marlow added that three acquisitions of broadband Internet providers will likely be made in 2004, adding to the one previously made in Alaska approximately a year ago.

About Cutthroat Communications – A TransAria Company

Cutthroat Communications is a managed data services provider serving customers in Montana, Alaska, Wyoming, Oregon, and Washington. The company provides a wide array of data services ranging from VPN’s (virtual private networks), scalable bandwidth ranging from 128 KBS to 45 MBS, automated bandwidth-on-demand, and hosted applications for large business and government to basic high speed Internet for SOHO and residence. Cutthroat offers its commercial customers 7 X 24 network monitoring services, as well as enhanced traffic utilization and network surveillance reporting. The company also offers professional services, which include network audits, system design, security analysis and wireless WAN (wide area network) implementation.

Contact:

Jeff Marlow

TransAria, Inc.

Phone: 406-556-1785

Fax: 406-585-9685

Email Address: