Exchanges at Penton Media's SERVICE NETWORKS Spring 2002 Highlight MSPs, ISP Associations, Billing

Business Wire, May 7, 2002

Business/High Tech Editors

SERVICE NETWORKS Spring 2002

GOLDEN, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 7, 2002

Evolving Service Provider Functions Inform Gathering of Associations

and Special Interest Groups May 21-23, in Baltimore

As service providers evolve from their Internet dial-up access roots to become providers of value-added services, Penton Media's (NYSE:PME, http://www.penton.com) SERVICE NETWORKS conference this month provides a common meeting ground for groups on the leading edge of this evolution.

SERVICE NETWORKS will host three "Exchanges" dedicated to bringing together leaders in the Managed Service Provider (MSP) industry, the associations representing ISPs in Washington, and users and providers of Internet data services billing technology:

-- The MSP Association Exchange, "Opportunities to Excel: Service

Management Quality Initiative," explores the explosive growth of

the Managed Service Provider industry, which aims to outsource

selected IT infrastructure to MSPs. The global market for MSPs

will be worth $14.8 billion in 2006 -- nearly six times 2001's

$2.5 billion MSP market, according to research organization Ovum.

The MSP Association focuses on security monitoring, as well as management of networks, servers, Web infrastructure, as well as disaster recovery services, storage, and application rental, according to MSP Association executive director Carolyn Ruech. "The idea of the Service Management Quality Initiative is to put a platform underneath the service providers based around standards that they can adopt for the quality of delivery when they're delivering the service over the Internet."

This Exchange, to be led by MSP Association member David Trotter, Vice President of Service Delivery, SevenSpace/Nuclio, will take place on Tuesday, May 21, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and will be open to all SERVICE NETWORKS attendees.

-- The ISP Summit, "Call to Arms: Who Speaks for the ISPs? Get in

Line, Lock and Load, Fight or Stand Back and Die" brings together

the leading associations and organizations representing Internet

Service Providers on a national level, to discuss ways to unite in

common cause to preserve a wide choice of ISPs in the face of

increasing deregulation of monopolies in local DSL and cable

broadband services.

"Is the sky falling? If you are an ISP, it may be," says David Robertson, vice president of the Texas Internet Service Providers Association. "Whether you agree, disagree, or just desire an update of the current climate for ISPs in a Telecom Storm, be at this exchange and you will come away at least enlightened and possibly empowered. As ISPs, we must be involved, or be happy with the decisions others make for us. Be there. Make a difference." This Exchange will also take place on Tuesday May 21 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and will be open to all SERVICE NETWORKS attendees.

-- The third Exchange, "Billing and Customer Care Open Forum," is

intended for those service providers and their customers who are

looking for a data networking billing package or want to learn the

latest trends in billing and customer care.

"As the Internet moves from being mostly free services that were supposed to be supported by advertising, to more sustainable business models, billing technology is essential," says Scott Mace, editorial director of Penton's Service Provider Events Group. "This exchange will include participating companies such as BillMax and Boardtown who are interested in showing how service providers can bill successfully to minimize expenses and reduce churn." This exchange will occur Wednesday, May 22, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and will be open to all SERVICE NETWORKS attendees.

The three-day SERVICE NETWORKS program also features more than 110 speakers in 66 sessions spread across three tracks, as well as keynotes from leading service providers as well as technology innovators.

The SERVICE NETWORKS event and Web site are produced by Penton Media's Service Provider Events Group. For more information about SERVICE NETWORKS Spring 2002 and the SERVICE NETWORKS community, visit www.servicenetworks.com.

Penton Media (NYSE:PME) is a leading, global business-to-business media company that produces market-focused magazines, trade shows and conferences and Web sites. Penton's integrated media portfolio serves the following industries: Internet/broadband; information technology; electronics; natural products; food/retail; manufacturing; design/engineering; supply chain; aviation; government/compliance; mechanical systems/construction; and leisure/hospitality. For more information, visit www.penton.com.