Progress Software Named Finalist for First ASP Industry Consortium 'Aspire Awards'

Business Wire, Nov 9, 2000

Business/Technology Editors

BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 9, 2000

Progress ASPEN(TM) Program Recognized for Enabling ASPs and

Bringing Application Service Providers To Market

Progress Software Corporation (NASDAQ: PRGS), a leading supplier of technology for building E-Business solutions, today announced that its ASP-Enablement (ASPEN(TM)) services program has been selected as a finalist in the first ASP Industry Consortium "ASPire Awards" program. The Program highlights best practices in the application service provider (ASP) industry. The winner will be named in an awards ceremony at COMDEX/Fall 2000 in Las Vegas, Nev., on Nov. 14, 2000.

Progress Software was selected as one of five finalists in the ASPire Program's enablement category. The ASPire Awards honors practitioners in four categories: delivery; integration; management and operations; and enablement. Winners will be selected by an independent review board of respected ASP industry experts from outside the ASP Consortium.

"The response to the first year of the ASPire Awards program has been extraordinary, with almost 100 entrants," said Lisa Angelastro, vice president, product marketing with collaborative services firm IntraLinks, who is heading up the awards program for the Consortium's Best Practices Committee. "In being named one of five finalists in its category, Progress Software has already distinguished itself as among the very best in the ASP industry."

"We are very pleased to have been recognized for our ASPEN program," said Robert Palumbo, vice president of ASP Market Development for Progress Software. "To be successful in the ASP market, ISVs need to have proven technology, cost effective deployment services and a sound business plan. Progress Software believes that ASPEN is a unique solution for companies that are looking for effective solutions to quickly build, deploy and market ASP software solutions."

Progress Software's ASPEN Program offers business planning assistance, technology, services, partnerships and industry recognition to help ISVs quickly and easily transform Progress-based applications into ASP-enabled applications. ASPEN now boasts a worldwide membership of more than 150 partners, from 20 different countries around the world, representing the leading-edge of the ASP wave and the world's largest network of ASPs and related strategic partners. The program consists of more than 60,000 end-user seats including organizations such as General Mills and Beirsdorf that rely on Progress-based ASP applications for improved profitability and competitive advantage. For more information about the ASPEN Program please visit www.ASPconnections.com.

The first ASPire Award winners will be announced on Nov. 14, 2000, at a gala ceremony held as part of the ASP Industry Consortium's "AllAboutASP Connection Center" program, which will anchor the ASP Summit at COMDEX/Fall 2000 in Las Vegas.

About the ASP Industry Consortium

Founded in May of 1999, the Application Service Provider Industry Consortium is an international advocacy group of more than 500 companies formed to promote the application service provider industry by sponsoring research, promoting best practices, and articulating the measurable benefits of this evolving delivery model. Its goals include educating the marketplace, developing common definitions for the industry, as well as serving as a forum for discussion and sponsoring research. Among the technology sectors represented among the ASP Industry Consortium membership are Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), Network Service Providers (NSPs), Application Service Providers (ASPs), as well as emerging business models and other sectors supporting the industry.

Information on the ASP Industry Consortium--including a full list of member companies--is available at www.aspindustry.org or by contacting consortium headquarters at: ASP Industry Consortium, Inc., 401 Edgewater Place, Suite 500, Wakefield, Mass. 01880; Tel: 781-246-9321, or by sending email to info@aspindustry.org.

About Progress Software

Progress Software Corporation (NASDAQ: PRGS) is a global supplier of software products and services for developing, deploying and managing business applications moving to the Internet. We offer messaging servers, application servers, databases, and application development and management products. Our partners include more than 2,000 application service providers and independent software vendors who supply annually over $5 billion in Progress(R)-based applications and related services. Our products are used by over 10,000 organizations across 100 countries worldwide, including 60% of Fortune 100 companies. For more information, visit www.progress.com or call 1-781-280-4000.

Progress and ASPEN are trademarks or registered trademarks of Progress Software Corporation, in the U.S. and other countries. Any other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.