ASPCON Sponsors share expertise; provide networking opportunities for ASP community; Convention Opens May 23-25, 2000 at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida

Business Wire, May 16, 2000

Business & Technology Editors

ASPCON 2000

DARIEN, CT--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 16, 2000

Corporate sponsors of Penton Media's (NYSE: PME) ASPCON Spring 2000 (the Application Service Provider Convention), taking place next week in Orlando, will provide conferees with a true sense of the word "networking". Sponsors will hold demonstrations and educational sessions focused on the build-out of ASP networks and provide ASPs with opportunities to socialize and network with colleagues and proponents of the fledgling application services model.

Corporate sponsors of ASPCON include Jaws Technologies, Lucent Technologies, Sprint, Sun Microsystems and Unisphere Solutions. The shows is hosted by Boardwatch Magazine, Internet World Magazine and Webharbor.com.

Gayle Howard, Director of e-Business Applications, Sprint will educate attendees on the importance of acquiring strategic partnerships in order to produce a successful business on Thursday, May 25, from 1:00-2:00 PM.

On Thursday, May 25 at 2:15 PM, Unisphere Solutions will lead a session covering new transport mechanisms as well as new advanced technologies such as Virtual Private Networks and Quality of Service. The discussion will include new architecture choices that will meet the market demands for these new types of Internet based services.

A session on the factors contributing to the meteoric growth of Application Service Providers, including elements driving both vendor & customer interest in ASPs will run on Tuesday, May 23 from 1:30-2:30 P.M.. The discussion will be led by Doug Kaowert, Vice President, Sun Microsystems.

The sponsors of ASPCON will greet attendees to during a Welcome Reception in the lobby of the convention center on Monday, May 22. On Tuesday, May 23, Lucent Technologies hosts an ASP Cybercarriers luncheon, Mads Lillelund, Senior Director, New Media Global Solutions, Service Provider Networks Business will be speaking on the advent of new "E"-nfrastructures. Additionally, at 6:00 on Tuesday, JAWS Technologies Inc. will be hosting a product launch cocktail reception. On May 25, the last day of the event, a closing reception in the exhibit hall will finalize ASPCON Spring 2000 with the giveaway of an Audi TT convertible.

The exhibit hall for ASPCON Spring 2000 has been sold out for several months and exhibit sales for the ASPCON Fall 2000 are equally robust. Limited conference seating for the Spring event is still available; to register for ASPCON Spring 2000 visit www.aspcon.com or call (800)632-5537.The upcoming ASPCON Fall 2000 will take place at the Venetian Hotel and Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 16-18, 2000.

Penton Media, Inc. (NYSE: PME) is a leading diversified business media company that produces market-focused magazines, Web sites, trade shows, and conferences. Penton serves the Internet/broadband; natural products/food/retail; manufacturing; electronics; design/engineering; management; supply chain/aviation; government/compliance; mechanical systems/construction; and leisure/hospitality markets. For more information, visit www.penton.com/