SPSS Directions 2004 User Conference to Showcase Latest Trends and Best Practices in Predictive Analytics

Business Wire, Sept 29, 2004

CHICAGO -- Using predictive analytics to take the gamble out of decision-making will be the focus of the SPSS Inc. (NASDAQ:SPSS) user conference to be held October 24-27, 2004 in Las Vegas. The SPSS Directions 2004 User conference, which includes IBM(R) among its sponsors, will showcase the latest trends and best practices in predictive analytics, including statistics, data mining, market research and business intelligence technology.

The SPSS Directions User Conference, which is geared to a variety of audiences and skill levels, includes six educational tracks: analytical customer relationship management (CRM), business intelligence, survey and market research, analytics in government, tips and tricks and new product introductions. In each track, SPSS customers such as American Airlines(R), America Online, Inc., Centers for Disease Control, Churchill Downs, The Gallup Organization, United States Army Recruiting Command, Princess Cruises and Verizon Wireless will share best practices, challenges and successes in using predictive analytics.

Keynote speakers at this year's SPSS Directions User Conference include:

--Dennis Gonier, senior vice president, membership retention, America Online, Inc., who will discuss how America Online is focused on keeping its over 35 million members.

--Robert C. Blattberg, Ph.D., co-author of "Customer Equity: Building and Managing Relationships as Valuable Assets," and director for Retail Management at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, who will present "Predictive Analytics: The Enabler of Customer Equity."

--Richard DeVeaux, Ph.D., Williams College, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, who will discuss "Predictive Analytics: Making it Pay Off."

--Kevin Lewis and Andrew Tay, subjects of the best-selling book, "Bringing Down the House," who will discuss how they, as college students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, combine an analytic approach to blackjack with some creative tactics to beat the casinos at their own game.

--Jack Noonan, president and CEO, SPSS Inc., who will share his vision of the importance of real-time predictive analytics in today's enterprise. As part of his presentation, Noonan will demonstrate a fully integrated, end-to-end predictive analytics system.

In addition to the conference events, training courses taught by certified SPSS instructors will be offered as pre- and post-conference options. Attendees can choose a combination of several different methodology workshops or register for a full day of hands-on training. Among the training topics planned are text mining, data mining, query and reporting, market research and survey methodology.

For more information or to register for the SPSS Directions 2004 User Conference visit: http://www.spss.com/spssdirections/

About SPSS

SPSS Inc. (NASDAQ:SPSS) is the world's leading provider of predictive analytics technology and services. The company's predictive analytics technology connects data to effective action by drawing reliable conclusions about current conditions and future events. More than 250,000 commercial, academic, and public sector customers rely on SPSS technology to help increase revenue, reduce cost, improve processes, and detect and prevent fraud. Founded in 1968, SPSS is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. For additional information, please visit www.spss.com.

SPSS information is available on the World Wide Web through the SPSS Press Center at: www.spss.com/press