Freeborders and Graniterock Announce Technology Development Partnership in China; Freeborders to Provide Strategic Software Advisory and Custom Application Development for Construction and Supply Company

Business Wire, Nov 29, 2005

SAN FRANCISCO -- Freeborders, a leading provider of technology solutions and outsourcing from China, announced today that Graniterock, a privately held materials construction and supply company, has engaged the company to develop Web-based applications using Microsoft .Net technologies.

Freeborders is providing software advisory services to assist with the strategic architecture of new applications for Graniterock's customer service department. These services will include business analysis, requirements gathering, solution design, deployment and implementation. Freeborders will develop and test the applications at Freeborders' Shenzhen, China development center.

Graniterock's applications will serve as an interface between customers of Graniterock's construction materials, Customer Service Representatives, account managers and administrators. These applications will enable customers to report issues, provide feedback and ask questions of Graniterock representatives. Graniterock will also be able to use the application to view, print and search for invoices and orders as well as track customer usage.

"Our partnership with Freeborders helps us strengthen service to our customers at a fraction of the cost of building our CRM system or purchasing enterprise software," explained Steve Snodgrass, CIO, Graniterock. "We've been very happy with the quality of Freeborders' technology team, especially its Microsoft expertise."

"We're extremely enthusiastic about our partnership with Graniterock," said Freeborders co-CEO John Cestar. "It validates our strength in providing Microsoft solutions and the experience we gain working on their application is valuable for our team as well."

Freeborders is currently coding the Windows applications in vb.net using the Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF) process.

About Freeborders

Freeborders is the leading provider of technology solutions and outsourcing from China. Freeborders provides vertical expertise to North American and European companies in retail, financial services and software/hi-tech. Headquartered in San Francisco with offices in three continents, Freeborders has developed a track record of service delivery to the Fortune 1000 by combining world-class project management in both hemispheres with one of the largest technology centers in China. Freeborders believes China's massive and growing supply of IT talent and the country's emerging importance in the global supply chain make China a strategic imperative for any company seeking cost-effective world-class technology solutions.

About Graniterock

Graniterock is a privately held company that was founded on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1900. Graniterock has operations in Watsonville, Santa Cruz, Seaside, Salinas, Gilroy, Hollister, Aromas, Felton, San Jose, Cupertino, Redwood City and South San Francisco. The company supplies construction materials and its Pavex Construction Division is a significant regional heavy engineering contractor building roadways, airports and private commercial and residential projects.