Chapter 2 Joins MSP Association, Defining Standards for Management Service Provider Sector

Business Wire, Jan 2, 2001

Business Editors

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 2, 2001

Chapter 2, the ASP infrastructure company(tm), today announced that it has joined the MSP Association, an international consortium of companies that was formed to define, shape and promote the emerging management service provider sector.

The Massachusetts-based MSP Association, launched in June at PC Expo in New York, defines and promotes the management service provider industry by providing a forum for discussion of industry issues, creating market education programs, sponsoring industry research and defining standards and best practices.

Chapter 2 joins the MSP Association as an executive member and will participate on the best practices working committee. The company provides a business application hosting infrastructure, comprehensive managed services and end-user support for application service providers.

"We are pleased to become an active member of the MSP Association which has made great strides in a short time to establish a strong voice for the MSP industry," said Ritu Raj, Chapter 2 CEO and founder. "We feel their focus on research, education and establishing uniform standards define the critical elements as the market evolves."

MSP companies deliver information technology (IT) infrastructure management services over a network to multiple customers on a subscription basis. MSPs operate similarly to Application Service Providers (ASPs) in that they deliver services via a network that are billed to their clients. Unlike ASPs, which deliver business applications to end users, MSPs deliver system management services, such as resource monitoring and reporting, to IT departments and other customers who manage their own technology assets.

Recently, the association held its first Board of Directors meeting and elected officers: Chairman, Linda Shannon-Hills of HP OpenView; President, Michael Coffield of Nuclio; Vice President, Skip MacAskill of Silverback; and Secretary-Treasurer, Michael Gnoinski of ManageIT. Five working committees -- Education, Technology, Research, Membership and Best Practices -- have been formed to move forward the association's initiatives.

Companies interested in furthering awareness and growth of the MSP industry and in shaping its direction are invited to join the MSP Association. There are two levels of consortium participation available - Executive and Associate membership - with corresponding annual dues and privileges.

About the MSP Association

Founded in June 2000, the MSP Association is a consortium of companies that together will define and promote the emerging Management Service Provider sector. Founding members are 2ndWave, Inc.; Candle Corporation; Entuity, Inc.; HP Openview (NYSE: HWP); InteQ Corporation; iSharp; Luminate; Manage.Com; ManageIT; McAfee.com (NASDAQ: MCAF); NCMX, Inc.; Nuclio Corporation; SilverBack Technologies, Inc.; SiteLite, Inc.; siteROCK Corporation; Storability, Inc.; StorageNetworks, Inc.; TriActive, Inc.; and UP 7/24.

Information on the MSP Association is available on the web at www.mspassociation.org; from Association headquarters at 401 Edgewater Place, Suite 500, Wakefield, MA 01880; Tel: 781.876.8830; or by sending email to info@mspassociation.org.

About Chapter 2

Chapter 2 e-services, Inc. is the first company built specifically to provide an enterprise-class infrastructure, managed operations and support services to meet the unique requirements of ASPs. The management team behind the Chapter 2(tm) infrastructure provides more than 200 years of collective experience managing business applications and other software technologies. Their vision extends beyond 'power, pipe and ping' to offer a global platform with Fortune 50-caliber security, stability and scalability. Founded in October 1999, Chapter 2 is based in San Francisco and has secured financing from Convergence Partners, Sand Hill Capital and Hewlett-Packard Company. Call 415.956.8000; or visit online at http://www.chapter2.net.

Chapter 2 and the Chapter 2 logo are registered trademarks of Chapter 2 e-services, Inc. All other company or product names may be registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.