Peace Software Achieves Challenger Status for Energy Customer Information Systems

Business Wire, Oct 16, 2002

Business Editors/High-Tech & Energy Writers

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 16, 2002

Peace Software, the world's largest energy CIS (Customer Information System) developer, today announced that it has been ranked as a market challenger in META Group's recently released update of the METAspectrum(SM) for global energy customer information systems. META Group (Nasdaq:METG) is a leading research and consulting firm that focuses on information technology and business transformation strategies.

Peace Software was ranked in the "Challenger" segment of the METAspectrum analysis, and it was specifically recognized for its strength in technology, agility, execution and vision. No CIS vendor was positioned within the "Leader" segment.

"We are pleased with our favorable rating in the METAspectrum(SM) which recognizes our high performance and responsiveness," said Brian Peace, Peace Software CEO. "Peace Software has twice as many developers as any other CIS vendor. Our development size and exclusive energy focus gives us greater agility to meet client-specific needs at the same time as innovating new features and components to extend our product footprint."

The new updated METAspectrum(SM) evaluation provides an objective assessment of companies providing customer information systems (CISs) products for the energy industry. CISs are hubs for customer-facing and revenue-cycle-processing activity, with a functional footprint covering operational CRM and a segment of collaborative CRM. As a mission-critical enterprise application, a CIS is considered a core investment component of an energy company's IT portfolio.

"We developed Energy Customer Information System METAspectrum(SM) to enable IT professionals to quickly evaluate vendors based on their ability to deliver on the key presence and performance criteria that matter in energy domain," said Dr. Zarko Sumic, Vice President, META Group. "Because of its core investment nature and the fact that in some markets it needs to endure regulatory scrutiny, the CIS selection process usually targets a "no risk/low risk" solution based on a vendor's proven ability to execute."

About Peace Software

Peace Software is exclusively dedicated to developing open, component-based CIS solutions used by utilities and retailers for business innovation in regulated, transitioning and competitive global energy markets. The company's browser-based Energy(TM) suite has been selected to drive efficient operations and provide excellent customer care for 13 million mass market and commercial and industrial (C&I) customer relationships in 40 markets around the world. The innovative Energy suite can be phased into existing CIS environments and new version upgrades are available every 12-18 months. Founded in 1984, Peace Software has offices in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit http://www.peace.com.

About METAspectrum

METAspectrum(SM) evaluations from META Group (Nasdaq:METG) provide IT professionals with a view into critical market success factors and vendor positioning. METAspectrum, in combination with META Group's SPEX modules -- which provide detailed technical analysis of product features and capabilities -- delivers comprehensive evaluations of both technology markets and vendor product offerings. There are multiple market evaluations planned for release in 2002. METAspectrum evaluations are a standard component of a META Group retainer service subscription and are updated quarterly, biannually, or annually, depending on the characteristics of individual markets. To view completed market evaluations, or learn more about the METAspectrum methodology, visit http://www.metagroup.com/metaspectrum. For more information on META Group's SPEX offerings, visit http://www.checkspex.com.

METAspectrum(SM) market evaluations and results are the sole property of META Group, Inc. and are Copyright (c) 2002 META Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to use the results requires prior written approval from META Group, and should not be deemed an endorsement of any company or product.