Progress Software and Aurora Products Company Announce Application Service Provider—ASP—Business Partnership

Business Wire, Nov 11, 1999

BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 11, 1999--

Leading Vendor of E-Commerce Systems Joins

Progress Software's ASPEN(TM) Program

Progress Software (NASDAQ: PRGS), a leading supplier of application development, deployment and management products and services, today announced that Aurora Products Company, a leading provider of information technology services, e-commerce solutions and software products to a variety of industries, has signed a partnership agreement under Progress Software's ASPEN Program. The ASPEN Program accelerates the entry of Progress Software's Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) into the Application Service Provider (ASP) distribution model, thereby expanding their revenue and distribution opportunities.

"As an early adopter of the ASP model, we have seen our success from this new way of doing business build rapidly," said Michael Heines, president of Aurora Products Company. "Some of our customers have staked their business success on the e-commerce capabilities we provide them, but they don't want to own the infrastructure themselves. The assistance we anticipate from Progress Software's ASPEN Program will enable us to drive the penetration of our Progress-based ASP applications even faster."

Aurora Products Company is a leading provider of hardware and software to the retail, catalog and direct marketing industries, as well as a leading supplier of Website development, hosting and e-commerce product solutions to a variety of vertical industries. The company has been operating as an ASP for nearly two years, offering its Progress(R)-based applications to such high-profile customers as Glidden Paint and Fitness Quest. In turn, Fitness Quest's site is accessible from such high-traffic sites as CBS SportsLine, Fogdog Sports, QVC and ESPN. In joining Progress Software's ASPEN Program, Aurora Products looks to expand its existing ASP market by further growing its customer base.

"Aurora Products is a working demonstration of what Progress Software has firmly believed since the birth of the ASP concept--that the ASP model can, and will be, successful," said Mike Mitsock, vice president of Progress Software's ASP Business Unit. "With nearly two years' ASP experience under its belt and hundreds of customers worldwide, Aurora Products is cutting through the clutter of this early market and 'leading by doing.' By adding the ASPEN Program's unique combination of technology, services and industry alliances, Aurora Products can now build upon its already strong position in the ASP software market."

A channel pioneer, Progress Software has long been recognized for its ability to give ISVs the technology and services they need to meet the rigorous requirements of middle market, resource-constrained environments and to deliver industry-specific solutions more quickly, more tightly integrated and at a low total cost of ownership. With its strategy, the company is now at the forefront of the ASP market, providing an established infrastructure for bringing 2,000 ISVs and their more than 5,000 Progress-based applications to this new distribution channel.

Progress Software's Application Service Provider ENablement

Program

Progress Software's ASPEN Program offers technology, services and industry alliances to help ISVs quickly and easily transform Progress-based applications into ASP-enabled applications. These new applications, available for rent and accessed over the Internet rather than purchased, allow small and mid-tier organizations to more quickly and economically gain access to application functionality previously unavailable to them. ASP-enabled applications reduce traditional IT infrastructure costs because they are developed and maintained by service providers rather than an internal IT staff.

New vendors are emerging to bridge the gap between small and mid-tier organizations and high-performance applications. Already growing fast, the ASP market is expected to curve exponentially. Industry analysts estimate the "application rental market" will generate between $2 and $6 billion in revenue by 2003. The first ASPs who enter this market will have an important grip on its future growth.

About Aurora Products Company

Aurora Products Company provides Web site development and hosting services, as well as an industry-leading e-commerce product solution for installation or rental in most vertical marketplaces, with a real-time link to their products for the retail, catalog and direct marketing industries. The Beachwood, Ohio-based company's e-commerce solution integrates into the entire enterprise solution offerings, allowing organizations to manage system processing requirements of business commerce and Internet-based commerce from the same application suite. As a systems integrator, Aurora Products also provides hardware, software, customization, implementation, training and help desk support services. For more information, visit www.auroraproducts.com.

About Progress Software

Progress Software Corporation (NASDAQ: PRGS) is a global supplier of software products and services for developing, deploying and managing business solutions