Best of Interop 2002 Las Vegas Call for Entries Announced by Key3media

Business Wire, Feb 25, 2002

Business Editors

NetWorld Interop 2002 Las Vegas

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 25, 2002

Networking Industry's Most Prestigious Awards Presented by

NetWorld Interop and CMP Media's Network Computing,

Information Week, Optimize and EE Times Magazines

Key3Media Group, Inc. (NYSE:KME) today announced that nominations are now being accepted for the Best of Interop Awards, held during NetWorld Interop 2002 Las Vegas, taking place at the Las Vegas Convention Center May 5-10, 2002. Best of Interop Awards, sponsored by CMP Media's Network Computing, Information Week, Optimize and EE Times, and Key3Media Events' NetWorld Interop, honor the leading products and technologies exhibited at this premier conference.

"The Best of Interop Awards recognize the latest technological advancements in specific category areas. The winners in each category represent the products that we believe have the most significant technical impact on their segment, and are helping to move the needle forward, said Fritz Nelson, Vice President, Publisher, Network Computing. "We have assembled a technically astute group of judges to ensure that only the very best products of the show receive these prestigious awards."

A panel of award-winning editors and experts from Network Computing, Information Week, and Optimize and EE Times, will judge the nominees during NetWorld Interop 2002 Las Vegas. The award program offers the editors a unique opportunity to review some of the world's most innovative technologies on a point-by-point basis. Winners will be announced in an award ceremony at NetWorld Interop 2002 Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 7 at 5:00 pm. in the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Eligible products must be announced on or after January 1, 2002 and must be available for public viewing at NetWorld Interop 2002 Las Vegas. In addition to naming a product Best of Show, the judging teams will choose a winner for each of the following categories:

- Best Carrier Network Infrastructure

- Best Enterprise Network Infrastructure

- Best Convergence Technologies

- Best Network Applications Software

- Best Network Management

- Best Network Servers & Peripherals

- Best Performance Enhancement

- Best Network Test & Measurement

- Best Security

- Best Service Providers

- Best Networked Storage

- Best Wireless Technologies

- Best Embedded Network Technology

- Best Startup

- Peoples Choice Winner

- Best of Show

"These are the most prestigious awards in the networking industry. By recognizing and honoring innovation, NetWorld Interop is the catalyst that helps fuel growth and future success," said Valerie Williamson, President of Interop Worldwide. "We are honored to work with CMP's leading publications recognizing that they reflect our same ideals for innovation and success."

Additional eligibility criteria for the Best Startup Product category will be that the vendor must have existed as an independent company for two years or less. An overall Grand Prize Winner will be selected, and conference attendees will once again determine the award for People's Choice, when they cast their votes on-site from among the finalists.

Nominations are due by April 15, 2002. Participation in the Best of Interop Awards is limited to vendors that are primary exhibitors at the Las Vegas event or those companies that have booths as part of partner pavilions. Complete information and entry forms are available online: www.bestofinterop.com

About Network Computing

Network Computing (http://www.networkcomputing.com) published by CMP Media LLC, Manhasset, N.Y., defines the core issues facing people who manage technology in business --analyzing the critical decision points in purchasing the products, technologies and services that achieve corporate initiatives. Twice a month 220,000 IT professionals turn to Network Computing to get the information they need to make the right purchase decisions.

About Information Week

InformationWeek helps the people who buy, build and manage technology drive business innovation powered by technology. In addition to the weekly magazine, InformationWeek provides a platform of information solutions including www.informationweek.com, InformationWeek Research, InformationWeek Events, which includes the InformationWeek Conferences for business and technology executives and InformationWeek Daily, an e-mail news service. In May 2001, InformationWeek was named one of the nation's Top 10 B2B Media Powerhouses by Advertising Age's B2B.

About EE Times

EE Times is the technology and business newsweekly serving the information needs of more than 160,000 electronics engineers and technical managers. EE Times.com and its specialized online communities average more than 700,000 unique visitors and 2.1 million page views each month. The EE Times Network is published by CMP Media LLC, headquartered based in Manhasset, NY.

About Optimize

Optimize is dedicated to providing 70,000 Business Technology Executives with business leadership and practical knowledge, bridging the gap between business strategy and IT execution. Its mission is to develop the business skills of an elite constituency of Business Technology Executives by providing new thinking about business strategies that can then be leveraged through practical IT application. Visit www.optimizemag.com