BMC Software and ReleaseNow.com Announce B2B e-Commerce Alliance and Launch e-Business Center

Business Wire, May 23, 2000

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 23, 2000

eMarketZone Online Store to Deliver ISV Partner

Solutions to BMC Software Users Worldwide

ReleaseNow.com, a provider of outsourced e-commerce solutions, and BMC Software, Inc. (Nasdaq: BMCS), the leading provider of e-business systems management, today announced a business-to-business e-commerce alliance at BMC Software's Assurance 2000 global conference.

Under terms of the agreement, ReleaseNow.com has developed an e-Business Center(TM) which enables BMC Software users to purchase BMC Software Certified Partner products online. The e-Business Center, which is hosted and managed by ReleaseNow.com, is called eMarketZone (www.emktzone.com) and went live today.

One of the world's largest independent software vendors and a Forbes 500 company, BMC Software has numerous Certified Partners whose products and services complement their own offerings.

The companies also announced that ReleaseNow.com is pursuing status as a BMC Software OnSite(TM) member. BMC Software OnSite assures that e-business customers receive maximum value from their partners through a comprehensive combination of software, methodology and professional services.

The announcements were made at BMC Software's Assurance 2000 Conference, which takes place May 21-26 in Las Vegas. Assurance 2000 combines all BMC Software user groups: Technical Symposium, BBUG, Viewpoints and the Executive Partner Conference. Both companies can be found in the Complementary Solutions section of the conference. Demo CDs of the eMarketZone online store will be available at the booth.

"We are delighted to have a B2B e-commerce agreement with one of the world's top software companies. ReleaseNow.com's focus on the online marketing, sale and delivery of digital goods -- combined with BMC's objective to provide its customers with Web access to its partners' software on a 24x7 basis -- makes this a natural alliance for the two companies," said Michael Maulick, president and chief executive officer, ReleaseNow.com.

"We were impressed with ReleaseNow.com's work with other leading software companies and believe they have the expertise to create a positive online buying experience for our global customers who want to buy certified partner-developed products. We liked the fact that they came to us with innovative ideas to drive our e-commerce initiatives to the next level and we look forward to this alliance," said Bill Ridlehuber, director of Distribution Strategy and Business Partner Programs for BMC Software. "eMarketZone is just another example of how BMC Software is working with partners to deliver more comprehensive high availability solutions."

eMarketZone allows BMC Software users to purchase and download BMC Software Certified Partner software applications online in the form of trials, single licenses and/or volume licenses. Using ReleaseNow.com's e-commerce technology, eMarketZone accepts corporate purchase orders as well as credit cards, a capability which more and more buyers look for in a B2B environment.

eMarketZone also provides purchasers the ability to manage and track software licenses, an increasingly critical function in large organizations. Additionally, eMarketZone provides BMC Software users with up-to-date Certified Partner product information, advanced search capabilities and 24x365 customer support.

"Because ReleaseNow.com offers business-to-business e-commerce solutions on an outsourced basis, the eMarketZone Web site was up and running very quickly and at a minimal cost when compared to in-house development," said Jeff Walpole, ISV program manager, BMC Software. "When we evaluated this project, it became very clear that outsourcing was the right choice."

About the ReleaseNow.com e-Business Center

The ReleaseNow.com e-Business Center addresses critical business-to-business requirements, including support for purchase orders, volume licensing and custom pricing. It enables corporate purchasers to download software applications and software licenses in real-time, eliminating the need for physical shipments. The e-Business Center also provides key e-commerce functionality such as intuitive navigation, product catalogs, transaction processing, order tracking and customer service. It integrates with a vendor's Web site to provide a seamless e-commerce experience.

About BMC Software

One of the world's largest independent software vendors, BMC Software delivers the most comprehensive e-business systems management software with the fastest guaranteed implementation. This Service Assurance(TM) strategy enhances the availability, performance and recoverability of companies' business-critical applications. Companies can use this management methodology to demonstrate their ability to deliver optimal service to their customers and partners by joining BMC Software OnSite, a certification program which includes solution implementation and regular HealthChecks performed by BMC Software Professional Services.

BMC Software is a Forbes 500 company and a member of the S&P 500, with fiscal year 2000 revenues exceeding $1.7 billion. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas, with offices worldwide. For more information please visit BMC Software's Web site at www.bmc.com, or call 800/841-2031 or 713/918-8800.