FAST Extends Its Offerings for System Integrators and OEMs; Company Launches FAST X10 Partner Program to Further Support its Partners and Users of FAST Enterprise Search Solutions

Business Wire, Oct 4, 2005

OSLO, Norway and NEEDHAM, Mass. -- Fast Search & Transfer(TM) (FAST(TM)), the leading developer of enterprise search and real-time alerting technologies, today announced the company is launching the FAST X10 Partner Program - an enhanced partner program that will propel FAST to greater heights and ensure the FAST Enterprise Search Platform (FAST ESP(TM)) continues on its trajectory to become the industry's de facto enterprise search technology.

The launch of the FAST X10 Partner Program coincides with the one year anniversary of the launch of FAST InStream(TM), an OEM-specific enterprise search solution developed specifically to meet the complex application-based search requirements of independent software vendors (ISVs). Both launches represent a second generation of support for existing partners and a more formalized approach to supporting partners and their customers as FAST continues to scale. Since the launch of FAST InStream and OEM-specific technical and business support infrastructure, FAST has delivered on the company's goal of establishing FAST as the market leader in OEM enterprise search. Among the partners that have selected FAST InStream during the past year are EMC Centera, Siebel Systems, Computer Associates, EMC Documentum, Stellent, Coremedia, and Orchestria. As FAST becomes further entrenched in IT DNA it is rapidly establishing itself as the default OEM solution provider for enterprise search in both the established software market and high-growth segments such as library automation, expertise management and messaging/email management.

"Application-based enterprise search technology is critical to the ongoing success of Siebel's product strategy. In FAST, we have found the right partner for that technology," commented Skip Bacon, Vice President of Technology at Siebel Systems. "FAST's sophisticated platform and rapid innovation continue to impress our team; these critical aspects are particularly well illustrated by the broad platform support and Web Services integration capabilities that FAST offers."

Central to FAST's channel business and the FAST X10 Partner Program is the company's commitment to working with partners to build solutions based on FAST ESP as a foundation. FAST is leveraging mutual relationships between OEM and system integration partners to form a collaborative approach to solution building that is based on best of breed hardware, software and services offerings. This "channel triangulation" strategy enables system integrators and OEM partners to work together to develop value-added solutions and search derivative applications (SDAs) for their customers. The indirect channel has been widely acknowledged as vital to a software vendor's long-term success. Thus, FAST has transformed its channel organization from a tactical program to a strategic business differentiator.

FAST has over 60 alliance partners around the world, ranging from global system integrators such as Accenture, Capgemini, TietoEnator and Wipro, and large application infrastructure vendors to smaller consultants with specific application or market expertise.

"Search technologies are breaking out of the background and becoming key components of high value, custom business applications," said Hadley Reynolds, Research Director with Boston-based Delphi Group, a Perot Systems company. "As a result, IT service providers are increasingly adding or expanding search expertise to support their service portfolios. FAST's new program for system integrators is a response to this increasing demand for high-value search, and adds a new set of processes to support global and specialist system integrators in delivering high impact applications."

"The continued enhancement of our channel strategy and partner program is big part of the success that we've enjoyed in both our OEM and Alliances business," said John M. Lervik, chief executive officer, Fast Search & Transfer. "FAST InStream was launched specifically so that OEM partners could easily embed enterprise search within their solutions and deliver unprecedented value to customers. And now that our alliance strategy has achieved significant market strength, we'll be teaming with existing and new technology partners to foster the development of a new set of custom solutions that will continue to expand the definition of enterprise search. We plan to utilize our channel to deliver exponential innovation to customers and to provide unparalleled value to partners."

To support FAST X10 partners, FAST also offers dedicated engagement services, including a rapid integration team, Search Best Practices consulting, product training through FAST University and dedicated sales and marketing teams.

FAST has transformed enterprise search from a powerful, yet narrowly perceived function, into an enterprise-wide strategic and tactical capability of pivotal importance. FAST ESP, FAST InStream and FAST's portfolio of solutions and Search Derivative Applications (SDAs) supply a complete information retrieval solution ideal for a growing number of key vertical markets and applications including e-Commerce and Internet Portals, Financial Services, Government, Life Sciences, Media and Publishing, and Telecom. For FAST, the search never stops.