ASHBURN, Va. -- MCI, Inc. (Nasdaq: MCIP - News) today announced that MCI is providing Cray, the global leader in supercomputing, with an IPv6 network for interoperability testing and product development of next-generation applications and software. A long-time MCI customer, Cray provides innovative computing platforms that enable scientists and engineers in academia, government and industry to meet both existing and future computational challenges.

Under this agreement, MCI is providing Cray with an IPv6 network to perform interoperability testing on its leading Cray X1/X1E Supercomputers as well as other Cray supercomputer products when IPv6 is added. Cray is also using IPv6 to test and develop next-generation software and applications for its customers worldwide. Cray will leverage MCI's IPv6 overlay network that rides on its global IP backbone.

"MCI is enabling innovative computing businesses like Cray to support IPv6 networking solutions, driving new efficiencies, productivity, security and global connectivity," said Nancy Gofus, MCI senior vice president of Product Management. "MCI's implementation of IPv6 over our global IP backbone is helping early IPv6 adopters like Cray foster IP innovation in the years ahead."

IPv6 is Internet Protocol Version 6 which is designed to replace the current Internet protocol called Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4). Known as the next-generation Internet protocol, IPv6 is addressing limitations in IPv4, including limited IP address space for the growing number of devices connecting to the Internet and private IP-enabled networks. IPv6 is also expected to add several improvements including enhanced network routing, network auto-configuration and stronger security. It also allows for better support for mobility and more easily enables renumbering. IPv6 will gradually replace IPv4, with the two protocols co-existing for a number of years during the transition.

"Due to the finite number of IPv4 addresses within today's current environment, Cray is experiencing an increasing demand from the U.S. government and our Asia-Pacific customers for hardware, software and applications that are IPv6 compliant," said Darren Dehnke, network engineer at Cray Inc. "Our customers are making long-term investments in their network infrastructure so it is critical that Cray supercomputers have the capability to evolve with IP technology. MCI is helping us to meet our customers' needs today, while positioning Cray for future migration to IPv6 as its usage becomes more widespread."

MCI Inc.

Cray Inc.