ASP Consortium Announces Program, Sponsors for Global Conference; Andate, BMC Software, Cisco, HP, IBM Among Sponsors of Industry Summit

Business Wire, August 28, 2001

Business/Technology Editors

WAKEFIELD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 28, 2001

Building toward the preeminent application service provider conference of the year, the ASP Industry Consortium announced today that Andate GmbH; BMC Software; Cisco Systems, Inc.; Hewlett-Packard; and IBM have signed on as sponsors for the ASPIC Global Meeting 2001 in Barcelona, Spain, which runs from October 14-16, 2001.

The conference will feature a number of programs and panels to help assess the current ASP landscape - and plan for the future by examining critical success factors, insights from industry leaders and overall market strategies. Highlighting the two-day conference will be the presentation of the 2nd Annual ASPire Awards, in which companies exemplifying best practices in the ASP industry will be honored in a gala ceremony.

The conference's opening keynote will be presented by branding guru Ken Schmidt, a former executive with Harley Davidson Motor Corp., who presents a fascinating story of rebuilding a corporate culture and creating brand recognition and loyalty in the face of significant economic challenges.

Also featured will be a CEO panel comprising the executive leadership of some of the most successful ASPs in the market today, who will share their insights into both the challenges and opportunities facing the ASP industry.

Additional presentations and panel discussions will focus on topics such as "The Path to Profitability" and "Critical Industry Success Factors." And a two-day technology track will showcase the latest in ASP/xSP best practices, with a focus on business practices, technical practices, customer service and satisfaction, and emerging technologies.

Attendees will also hear first-hand from the winners of the 2nd Annual ASPire Awards, which will be chosen by an independent panel of industry experts from outside the ASP Industry Consortium and honored in a special surprise ceremony on October 15.

"The program we're building will be of huge benefit to anyone involved in any segment of the ASP industry," promised Paula Hunter, chief market strategist for Xevo Corporation and Chairman of the ASP Industry Consortium. "Whether the issue is branding, marketing, survival in times of economic uncertainty or best practices, there will be valuable information for anyone attending the ASPIC Global Meeting 2001."

The conference will be held at the beautiful Hotel Arts in Barcelona, Spain, along the Spanish Mediterranean. The ASP Industry Consortium Global Meeting 2001 is open to members and non-members alike. Member registration is $395 per person; non-member registration is $545 per person.

In addition, a variety of sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information on attending or sponsoring the ASPIC Global Meeting, visit the ASP Industry Consortium Web site at www.allaboutasp.org.

For sponsorship information, contact Shelley Gottlieb at (415) 929-0919 or by e-mail at sponsorships@aspindustry.org. For meeting information, contact Lisa Mercurio at (781) 876-6223 or by e-mail at Mercurio@aspindustry.org.

About the ASP Industry Consortium

The ASP Industry Consortium is the global advocacy group formed to promote the application service provider industry. Its goals include educating the marketplace, promoting best practices and developing common definitions for the industry, as well as serving as a forum for discussion and sponsoring research. Among the technology sectors represented among its membership are Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), Network Service Providers (NSPs), telecommunications companies, infrastructure providers, Application Service Providers (ASPs) and other sectors supporting the industry. Since its founding by 25 leading technology companies in May 1999, more than 600 member companies in 33 countries have joined the ASP Industry Consortium. Information on the ASP Industry Consortium - including a full list of member companies - is available at www.allaboutasp.org or by contacting the Consortium's headquarters at: ASP Industry Consortium, Inc., 401 Edgewater Place, Suite 500, Wakefield, Mass. 01880; Tel: 781-246-9321; Fax: 781-224-1239; e-mail: info@aspindustry.org.