Applicast Extends Partnership With Siebel Systems to Bring Premier Front Office Software to Untapped Market.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 15, 1999--

Total-Solution ASP Offers Siebel Front Office Applications Outsourcing 

to Rapid Growth "Pre-Mid-Market" Companies

Applicast, Inc., the premier total-solution application service provider (ASP) for aggressive-growth companies, and Siebel Systems, Inc., (Nasdaq: SEBL), the world's leading supplier of Web-based front office software systems, today announced that Applicast has extended its partnership with Siebel Systems to bring the power of Siebel Systems' Web-based Front Office Applications to a relatively untapped market: early-stage, aggressive-growth companies in the "pre-mid-market."

Applicast, now a Premier Partner in the Siebel Alliance Program, combines Siebel Systems' world-class front office software with Applicast's comprehensive implementation and outsourcing services to deliver powerful front office solutions to the pre-mid-market. Through this alliance, Applicast will allow these organizations to better manage aggressive growth and change by standardizing on enterprise-class solutions early, without the time and cost typically associated with deploying top-tier business systems. Applicast has been working closely with Siebel Systems' mid-market sales team over the previous year to successfully bring front office software to businesses early in their lifecycle.

"Aggressive pre-mid market companies can now implement Siebel's Web-based Front Office software without the internal resources that are typically required," said Bruce Cleveland, vice president, Siebel Alliances, Siebel Systems. "Applicast provides the full-lifecycle service these companies need and Siebel Systems is committed to working with Applicast to make our joint customers successful."

Siebel Systems provides an integrated family of Web-enabled front office software for sales, marketing and customer service. Applicast delivers the advantages of Siebel Systems' software - increased sales, profitability and customer satisfaction - to pre-mid-market companies through the Applicast Business Applications Network(TM). With the Applicast Business Applications Network, Siebel customers get rapid implementation of their Siebel Front Office solution using Applicast's FastFit(TM) solutions. Applicast's full-lifecycle service includes data center hosting or remote application management allowing 7 X 24 X 365 user and systems support as well as proactive upgrades.

"Siebel and Applicast are a winning combination for pre-mid-market companies with business management needs that are growing dramatically," said Rita Terdiman, vice president and research director at Gartner Group. "Along with limited IT resources, young and successful companies often have limited business management software systems. Applicast should allow these companies to deploy the most complete front office applications in a timely and cost effective manner."

Sales Momentum Growing

The combined Siebel and Applicast teams have been able to successfully deploy Siebel's software platform and Applicast's services to a growing list of customers in industry segments such as networking technology, software, Internet services, and healthcare and biomedical.

"Our position is pretty simple," said John McGrory, Applicast's president and CEO. "Today's aggressive companies should not have to settle for less than the best. With our full-service application outsourcing, our customers can now take advantage of Siebel's front office solutions - along with the best infrastructure and the best support."

"We worked with a lower-tier system that was clearly not going to support our growth plans," said Gary Cauble, vice president of information services at Identix Incorporated, (AMEX:IDX), a joint Siebel/Applicast customer. "Siebel Front Office Applications meet all our current and anticipated requirements for both sales and service automation. For companies without extensive IT staff, the combination of Siebel Systems' front office software and Applicast's services provide the key to adopting top-of-the-line front office solutions."

Applicast's FastFit Solutions

As a key component to the Applicast Business Applications Network, Applicast has developed unique, targeted solutions for pre-mid-market customers called Applicast FastFit solutions. FastFit solutions combine sophisticated preconfigured templates with a rapid deployment methodology specifically designed for application outsourcing. FastFit for Siebel lets Applicast consultants quickly tailor the extensive functionality in Siebel software to match the customer's business processes and ensure that the deployment is supportable and scalable.

The Applicast Business Applications Network provides customers a total, best-of-breed, front- and back-office solution. In addition to full-lifecycle Siebel solutions, Applicast also offers back-office implementation and outsourcing using world-class SAP software, as well as data integration between applications leveraging the Siebel Enterprise Connector for SAP R/3, and custom reporting solutions. Together, Siebel's front-office and SAP's back-office solutions provide the critical systems for companies to effectively manage and promote high growth, and they represent the core of Applicast's application portfolio.

About Applicast

Based in Mountain View, Calif., Applicast, Inc. is the premier, total-solution ASP for aggressive-growth companies. Bringing customers the power of top-tier business software without the pain, the Applicast Business Applications Network offers full-service application outsourcing for mission-critical applications, such as SAP and Siebel, over secure private or Internet connections. Applicast's unique combination of a world-class application portfolio, targeted FastFit solutions and full-lifecycle service enables its clients to slash the time, costs and risks of deploying top-tier systems. To power its Business Applications Network, Applicast has developed relationships with SAP, Siebel Systems and GTE Data Services. Applicast, which was formerly called Plenan Systems, is a privately held, venture-backed organization. More information is available at www.applicast.com.

About Siebel Systems

Siebel Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:SEBL) is the world's leading supplier of Web-based front office software systems. Siebel Systems provides an integrated family of sales, marketing and customer service application software for field sales, customer service, telesales, telemarketing, field service, third-party resellers and Internet based eBusiness. Siebel Systems' products are designed to meet the needs of small, medium and large businesses. Siebel Systems' sales and service facilities are deployed locally in more than 20 countries and can be reached through the World Wide Web at www.siebel.com.

Applicast, FastFit and Applicast Business Applications Network are trademarks of Applicast, Inc.

Siebel is a trademark of Siebel Systems, Inc. and may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other product and company names mentioned are the property of their respective owners and are mentioned for identification purposes only.

Except for the historical information contained herein, this press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The success of the agreements and products described above and the future operating results of Siebel Systems, Inc. may differ from the results discussed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements due to factors that include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the Front Office market, dependence on the Internet, risks associated with new versions and new products and risks associated with rapid technological change. Further information on potential factors that could affect the financial results of Siebel Systems, Inc. are included in Siebel Systems, Inc.'s Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 1999 and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.