ASPIC, ITAA Collaborate On Joint Defintion Of ASP; First Step in Agreement to Work Cooperatively for Advancement of ASP Industry.

Business/Technology Editors

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 22, 2001

The two leading associations supporting the application service provider (ASP) industry have agreed to work cooperatively to advance the industry, the two groups announced today. The first effort undertaken by the ASP Industry Consortium and the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) is to jointly define the term "application service provider." The leadership of both organizations hope to clarify confusion in the marketplace by creating one definition to be used by all in the industry, ITAA and ASPIC officials said.

The two groups have agreed on the following definition:

"An Application Service Provider, or ASP, is any company that delivers and manages applications and computer services to subscribers/clients remotely via the Internet or a private network."

"This initial effort between ITAA and ASPIC conveys a consistent message about ASPs and the ASP value proposition, which is a key milestone in educating the marketplace," ITAA ASP Board Chairman and CEO of Corio George Kadifa said. The new ASP definition was formally announced today at the ITAA ASP Leadership Summit in Santa Clara, CA.

"There are a great many areas where our organizations can work together to advance the ASP industry," added Paula Hunter, chief market strategist for Xevo Corporation. and Chairman of the ASP Industry Consortium. "This initiative has been a tremendous benefit to both organizations, as well as to the entire ASP industry and to consumers. I would like to thank the members of both organizations who contributed to this effort, and especially Ric Merrifield of Brauning, who chairs the ASPIC Education Committee. We look forward to a relationship with ITAA that continues to produce positive results."

Other areas being explored for cooperation include research, public policy initiatives and joint educational opportunities, Kadifa and Hunter said.

About ITAA

The Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) provides global public policy, business networking, and national leadership to promote the continued rapid growth of the IT industry. ITAA consists of over 500 corporate members throughout the U.S., and a global network of 41 countries' IT associations. The Association plays the leading role in issues of IT industry concern including information security, taxes and finance policy, digital intellectual property protection, telecommunications competition, workforce and education, immigration, online privacy and consumer protection, government IT procurement, human resources and e-commerce policy. ITAA members range from the smallest IT start-ups to industry leaders in the Internet, software, IT services, ASP, digital content, systems integration, telecommunications, and enterprise solution fields. For more information visit www.itaa.org.

About the ASP Industry Consortium

The ASP Industry Consortium is the global advocacy group formed to promote the application service provider industry. Its goals include educating the marketplace, promoting best practices, developing common definitions for the industry, as well as serving as a forum for discussion and sponsoring research. Among the technology sectors represented among its membership are Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), Network Service Providers (NSPs), telecommunications companies, infrastructure providers, Application Service Providers (ASPs) and other sectors supporting the industry. Since its founding by 25 leading technology companies in May 1999, more than 600 member companies in 33 countries have joined the ASP Industry Consortium. Information on the ASP Industry Consortium - including a full list of member companies - is available at www.allaboutasp.org or by contacting the Consortium's headquarters at: ASP Industry Consortium, Inc., 401 Edgewater Place, Suite 500, Wakefield, Mass. 01880; Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]; e-mail [e-mail].