IMA Partners with ALCATEL to Offer Seamless Computer Telephony Integration -CTI- Solutions

Business Wire, Dec 29, 1999

Business & High-Tech Editors

SHELTON, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 29, 1999

IMA (NASDAQ: IMAA), a leading global provider of synchronized, multi-channel e-business solutions, today announced a joint business development initiative with ALCATEL, leading provider of network, voice and data communications solutions.

As part of this initiative, IMA has interfaced its market-leading EDGE customer interaction software product to the ALCATEL Omni4400 platform. This creates an integrated solution allowing enterprises to significantly improve customer service and call center operations, increase sales force effectiveness and better leverage marketing knowledge throughout the organization.

IMA and ALCATEL solutions bring together expertise in telecommunications and software in a unique arrangement, delivering CRM solutions that facilitate the coordination of multiple business functions, focusing on satisfying customer needs through multiple channels of communication (one-to-one, call centers, Web). ALCATEL provides seamless computer telephony integration (CTI) applications to help call center agents work more effectively and deliver better services. For example, screen pop-ups will provide agents with timely access to business and customer information at their desktop; telephone control through PCs will allow for more efficient calling; and real-time performance data will help call center managers monitor the effectiveness of their operations.

"Users will enjoy the benefits of an integrated IMA and ALCATEL CTI solution that can help increase the quality and performance of their telemarketing and customer service operations," said Jim Anderson, Sr. Vice President, Worldwide Sales & Marketing for IMA. "This is another example of IMA commitment to partner with leading hardware and software vendors in order to provide EDGE users with robust and open links to key technologies."

Nicolas de Kouchkovsky, Marketing Director for Call Center Solutions, commented: "This alliance is great news for any company that requires leading-edge CRM resources. It combines ALCATEL's leading role in call center and Web-enabling technologies with IMA's position and expertise in the CRM market."

About ALCATEL

ALCATEL builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data communications solutions to established and new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers worldwide. With 120,000 employees and sales of EURO 21.3 billion ($25 billion), ALCATEL operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit ALCATEL on the Internet at www.alcatel.com.

About IMA

IMA provides synchronized, multi-channel e-business solutions, enabling businesses to create market demand, manage that demand, and then respond to it in the most effective manner with world-class customer interaction software solutions. Gartner Group ranks IMA as a leader in customer service and support systems and as a visionary in sales applications. Over 400 global organizations including Bose Corp., Humana, ICT Group, Lloyds TSB, Texas Utilities, U.S. Cellular Corp. and Xerox depend on IMA products and services to help grow their business through the process of acquiring and retaining customers. IMA has headquarters in Shelton, Connecticut and offices and representatives worldwide. More information about IMA's products and services can be found on the World Wide Web at www.imaedge.com, requested via email at ima@imaedge.com or by calling 1-203-925-6800.

NOTE: IMA and EDGE are registered trademarks of Information Management

Associates, Inc. All other trade names are trademarks of their

respective companies.

Except for the historical information contained in this announcement, the matters discussed in this announcement are "forward-looking statements" (as that term is used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that involve risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). In particular, IMA draws the reader's attention to the "Risk Factors" stated in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 dated July 30, 1997 and its accompanying Prospectus, the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q dated August 14, 1997, November 14, 1997, May 15, 1998, August 14, 1998, November 14, 1998, May 17, 199, August 16, 1999, November 22, 1999, the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 30, 1998 and March 31, 1999, as well as to the Company's periodic and current report as they are filed with the SEC.