VAST Solutions Forms Strategic Alliance with Siebel Systems to Offer Wireless Enterprise Software Interaction with Siebel Field Service and Siebel Sales Enterprise

Business Wire, Oct 14, 1999

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 14, 1999--

With Volley(TM), Users Now Have Wireless Access

To their Applications and Critical Data

VAST Solutions announced today a strategic alliance with Siebel Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:SEBL) and the immediate availability of its wireless extensions to Siebel Field Service and Siebel Sales Enterprise. VAST's Volley Field Service (FS) and Volley Sales Force (SF) enable Siebel users to have remote wireless access to their Siebel applications and their organization's critical data using handheld wireless devices -- allowing them to increase their productivity and provide higher levels of customer service. Siebel Systems has named VAST Solutions as a Strategic Platform Partner, its highest designation for such alliances.

Available now for both new and existing customers of the Siebel Field Service and Siebel Sales Enterprise applications, Volley enables a customer's mobile workforce to access and receive alerts from Siebel applications using specially programmed wireless devices. These personnel can also query the system and transmit information. For example, Volley FS allows field service engineers to be notified about service requests, as well as open, close and update the requests.

Volley SF allows sales professionals to check order status and product specifications, and receive alerts about their customers' immediate needs. Volley SF also facilitates the wireless management of contacts, leads and opportunities. With remote access to these Siebel Front Office Applications, users can serve customers faster -- with more complete information and simplified record keeping. Wireless connectivity with the field also enables field engineers and their companies to manage their schedules more efficiently and in real-time. Both Volley extensions provide wireless e-mail for Siebel users, enabling the field force to improve responsiveness through direct communication with customers, colleagues, partners and the enterprise.

Another package, Volley IS (Information Services), connects mobile professionals to the Internet, providing them with essential business information such as package tracking, travel/flight status, driving directions, white and yellow pages information, and stock quotes.

Siebel Systems and VAST will co-market the Volley applications, with VAST representatives joining Siebel on sales calls and coordinating integration for their joint customers.

"More than ever, companies must excel at each customer touch point. It is absolutely critical for mobile professionals, out in the field serving customers, to have immediate access to the information they need to successfully meet their customers expectations -- and to be able to transmit data back to their company's systems," said Bruce Cleveland, vice president, Alliances, Siebel Systems. "Volley adds a great deal of value to our Siebel customers by enabling remote access to Siebel from wireless devices. VAST has done an excellent job in developing a wireless option for Siebel users."

"Siebel enjoys an industry wide reputation for its commitment to ensuring customer satisfaction," said Mark Knickrehm, president of VAST Solutions. "We are thrilled to be working with Siebel to extend this satisfaction to the users of wireless devices. Siebel customers who use our Enterprise Software Interaction (ESI) applications will now be able to wirelessly access Siebel data at anytime and anywhere."

Announced in June 1999, VAST Solutions is a subsidiary of Paging Network, Inc. (Nasdaq:PAGE), the leading provider of wireless messaging and information services with approximately 9.8 million subscribers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Canada. VAST is organized around three core businesses. VAST Wireless Solutions develops integrated wireless software solutions, which increase productivity and improve performance for major corporations. VAST On-Line plans to introduce a variety of customizable information services for pagers and other devices, having partnered with content providers such as Yahoo!, CNN, Bloomberg, ESPN, and others. Vast Gateway Services markets wireless-to-Internet portal and support services to wireless carriers, content providers, e-businesses and others. Detailed information for VAST Solutions and PageNet services are available on the Internet at www.vast.com.

Siebel is a trademark of Siebel Systems, Inc. and may be registered in certain jurisdictions. PageNet is a registered trademark of Paging Network, Inc. VAST is a trademark of Paging Network, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

The statements contained in this release which are not historical facts, such as those concerning future plans or objectives relating to the products or services to be offered, the timing associated with such offerings and the performance of such new products and services, are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially are competitive pressures, risks associated with the Front Office market, dependence on the Internet, risks associated with new versions and new products and risks associated with rapid technological change, the availability of compatible hardware and software applications and the acceptance of Siebel and VAST's products and services in the marketplace.