ASTEA INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES SELECTION AND DEPLOYMENT OF ITS FIELD SERVICE AUTOMATION SOFTWARE BY BAY NETWORKS Electronic Links to Federal Express and Other Key Partners Streamline Bay Networks' Global Operations.

CHALFONT, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 1996--Astea International (NASDAQ: ATEA), a leading supplier of client/server customer interaction software, today announced that Bay Networks has selected and deployed Astea's DISPATCH-1 field service software. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, Bay Networks is a worldwide leader in providing high-performance, scalable internetworking solutions. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed. Bay Networks is using DISPATCH-1, the industry's leading field service automation solution, to monitor and control the entire equipment repair and service process, and to maintain appropriate inventory levels. The company relies on DISPATCH-1 to log spare parts requests, track their delivery, collect and repair used products, and return repaired products to the company's distribution centers.

To facilitate its worldwide logistics activities, Bay Networks has integrated DISPATCH-1 with the company's other enterprise applications and its extensive Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) links to key business partners such as its delivery service providers, resellers, integrators and repair centers worldwide. For example, DISPATCH-1's interface with Federal Express allows Bay Networks to streamline and monitor product delivery, and control inventories. When customers call Bay Networks to request spare parts or initiate product repairs, DISPATCH-1 is used to log the order and electronically notify Federal Express with the pick-up or delivery instructions. DISPATCH-1's link to Federal Express also allows Bay Networks to provide customers with precise product delivery information, verify a customer's receipt of shipment and confirm that products have been picked up and shipped to its repair centers or distribution facilities worldwide.

According to Gale England, director of logistics at Bay Networks: "The success of our customers depends on our ability to provide them with not only 'best-in-class' internetworking solutions, but also the highest levels of responsive, efficient service. The distribution and logistics capabilities of DISPATCH-1 are playing an integral role in enabling us to rapidly replace, repair and deliver parts to our customers worldwide as well as to efficiently and cost-effectively maintain inventory at optimal levels. By integrating DISPATCH-1 with our interfaces to strategic partners such as Federal Express, Bay Networks is better able to coordinate and manage the complex logistics of our rapidly expanding global service operation."

Dianne Durkin, Astea's vice president of worldwide marketing, said, "It is rewarding to see that our innovative customer interaction software solutions are playing a critical role in supporting fast-growing, global firms such as Bay Networks. The implementation of DISPATCH-1 at Bay Networks in just five months demonstrates the effectiveness of our professional services organization and underscores the value of our field service solution."

DISPATCH-1 is the leading enterprise-wide system for call center management, contract administration, distribution/logistics, depot and financial management for field service organizations. Its sophisticated decision support and remote access modules enable customers, managers, service technicians and all other parties in the customer interaction cycle to access critical information and automate the service process.

Astea International develops, markets and supports client/server-based customer interaction software. Its products enable organizations of all sizes across a range of industries to automate and streamline their customer support, field service and sales operations, while increasing profits and customer loyalty. With more than 450 employees worldwide, Astea markets its products through a direct sales and services network throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. The company's customer base of approximately 2,000 companies and 40,000 end users includes such industry leaders as Allen-Bradley; Mercedes Benz; NCR; E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.; U-Haul; Moore Products; Chevron; Ricoh Corp.; and Savin Corp. Astea can be reached at [phone] or via e-mail at [e-mail] or via the World Wide Web @ www.astea.com.

CONTACT: For further information contact:

Dianne Durkin Randy Wambold

Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Public Relations 

Astea International Bay Networks

[phone] [phone]

[e-mail]