Portal Software and Siebel Systems Expand Relationship to Strategic Alliance Partnership; Portal's Infranet Platform Complements Siebel eBusiness Applications

Business Wire, August 27, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

CUPERTINO, Calif. & SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Aug. 27, 2001

Portal Software, Inc. (Nasdaq:PRSF) today announced that it has expanded the scope of its alliance relationship with Siebel Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:SEBL), the world's leading provider of eBusiness applications software, to the Strategic Partner level. Through the Siebel Validation Program, Portal Software will complete the integration between the Siebel eCommunications product and Infranet(R), Portal's customer management and billing (CMB) solution. Siebel eCommunications is a comprehensive suite of Siebel eBusiness Applications that help wireline, wireless, cable, and Internet service providers target and win the right customers, accelerate service delivery, and provide superior service across all touchpoints.

The two companies will collaboratively market the integrated, off-the-shelf solution -- offering communications service providers a unified view of their customers' accounts that can enhance the customer experience and improve customer retention.

Siebel Systems provides an integrated family of eBusiness applications software enabling multichannel sales, marketing, and customer service systems to be deployed over the web, call centers, field, reseller channels, retail, and dealer networks. Portal Software's Infranet platform delivers sophisticated transactional real-time rating and billing capabilities to service providers offering broadband, convergent wireless, cable, satellite, data, and voice services. Infranet's highly extensible framework and open APIs were designed to integrate seamlessly with all adjacent systems in the business and operational infrastructure.

"Our joint customers are already realizing the benefits of integrating Infranet with Siebel eBusiness Applications. Each system is tailored to meet the unique requirements of communications service providers so that as customers are faced with rapidly changing market demands, they are not prevented from taking prompt action due to operational constraints," said Scott Kelly, vice president of strategic alliances, Portal Software. "Customers are able to launch new services, creatively bundle offerings, and track customer activity through every stage of the life cycle. This ensures they are equipped not only to respond swiftly to customers' demands, but also to anticipate them and create compelling marketing promotions accordingly."

"In order to achieve measurable return on investment, communications and media providers must be able to leverage best-in-class technology to identify, understand, and better serve their customers," said Dr. Steve Garnett, vice president and general manager of Siebel Alliances. "The combination of Siebel eCommunications and Portal Infranet enables carriers to efficiently and profitably manage customer interactions. The resulting increases in customer satisfaction and employee productivity will allow our joint customers to differentiate from their competitors and deliver value from their technology investment."

Leading systems integrators have developed solution sets showcased in competency centers around the world that demonstrate the Portal Infranet and Siebel eCommunications integrated solution, including:

-- Accenture -- I-Hub

-- Andersen -- Siebel eCommunications/Portal/Vitria solution

-- BusinessEdge Solutions -- velOSSity

-- CAP Gemini Ernst & Young -- eVoX solution

-- Deloitte Consulting -- Advanced Mobile Solutions and Services

-- IBM -- Telecom Consulting and Integration for Service Providers

-- PricewaterhouseCoopers -- New World Networks

Working closely with system integration partners, Portal Software and Siebel Systems have successfully delivered integrated solutions to a diverse array of communications and media service providers such as GloboCabo, Telia Iberia, and WorldCom. Each of these customers selected the joint solution because of the industry-leading technology and unmatched ability to provide a complete infrastructure solution.

"For the past several years, Portal Software and Siebel Systems have jointly deployed world-class business solutions. Our enhanced strategic alliance will enable our two companies to offer customers an unequaled solution for customer care and billing," said Scott Kelly. "Portal has always placed tremendous value on developing strong alliances with industry-leading companies as part of our commitment to the success of our customers, and our relationship with Siebel Systems underscores that commitment."

Portal plans to submit its integrated solution to the Siebel Validation Program during the fourth quarter of 2001.

About Portal Software, Inc.

Portal Software develops customer management and billing software for communications and content service providers. Portal's real-time, convergent platform enables its customers to rapidly create, deploy, and bill for services with flexible business models. Portal's software is licensed by a majority of the world's largest communications providers to deliver voice, data, video, and content services across wireless, wireline, cable, and satellite networks. Customers include Vodafone, AOL Time Warner, Deutsche Telekom, NTT, WorldCom, China Telecom, Reuters, Telstra, Sprint, China Mobile, Telenor Mobil, and France Telecom.