Appsmart Software and Microsoft to Present Second in a Series of Free Analytic Application Webcasts.

Business Wire/High Tech Writers

CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 2001

Leading Analyst Henry Morris of IDC Will Discuss

"Unleashing the Power of CRM Analytics"

and Detail IDC's Forecast for the Analytic Applications 

Marketplace in a February 6, 2001 Webcast

Appsmart Software, a leading provider of packaged analytic application solutions for Microsoft(R) SQL Server(TM), and Microsoft Corporation, announced today the second in a three-part Webcast series entitled, "Analytic Applications: Today, Tomorrow and Beyond" that features interactive sessions with three of the industry's leading authorities on the topic of analytic applications.

The second Webcast, featuring Dr. Henry Morris, vice president for IDC's Data Warehousing and Information Access program, will be held on February 6, 2001 at 12:00 EDT. Morris, who directs IDC's research on data warehousing, information access, and knowledge management software, will discuss the "Unleashing the Power of CRM Analytics" during the Webcast as well as detail IDC's forecast for the analytic applications marketplace. IDC forecasts the market space for analytic application solutions is expected to accelerate at a compound annual growth rate of 28%, from $2 billion in 1999 to more than $6 billion in 2004.

Dr. Morris coined the term "analytic applications" in 1997, anticipating the trend to packaged software designed to monitor and improve business performance. Though the first analytic applications to be packaged were financial, the fastest growing analytic applications sectors relate to CRM and production/operations optimization. The trend in these newer sectors is to verticalized applications -- with the promise of faster implementation and more rapid return on investment.

Questions to be answered by Morris during the Webast include:

-- Should you build or buy an analytic application?

-- Why will the verticalization of CRM packaged analytics be an important
trend?

-- What is IDC's forecast for the analytic applications marketplace?

"The need for new and established companies to measure, predict, and optimize business performance has fueled demand for analytic applications," Morris said. "Analytic applications automate the planning, forecasting, and predictive modeling activities for companies, giving them the edge they need over the competition. Appsmart Software's Appsmart 2.0 enables more rapid development and deployment of these strategic applications."

The Henry Morris session on February 6 will be followed by a Webcast on March 13, 2001 that will be hosted by Claudia Imhoff, president of Intelligent Solutions, Inc. To register for the Henry Morris Webcast, which will be broadcast on Tuesday, February 6 at 12:00 p.m. EDT, please visit http://webevents.broadcast.com/appsmart/webcast0201.

About Appsmart 2.0

Appsmart 2.0 is an end-to-end integrated development environment that enables developers to quickly build, customize and deploy robust packaged analytics on Microsoft SQL Server 2000. Appsmart 2.0 incorporates best-practice analytics and business processes into pre-built solutions that developers can re-use and extend. Patent-pending Advanced Packaging Technology (APT) streamlines deployment, and Appsmart's SmartCustomizer allows business analysts to tailor application functionality. By automating deployment of a complete infrastructure for packaged analytics, Appsmart lets developers focus on adding domain expertise instead of building application frameworks.

About Appsmart Software

Appsmart Software, formerly AppsCo Software, Inc., is a leading supplier of packaged analytic application and data warehouse development products for Microsoft SQL Server. Backed by venture capital firms 3i, Vertex Management Group, Scottish Equity Partnership, Grampian Enterprise Limited, Aberdeen Asset Management and Albany Venture Managers, Appsmart Software is a privately held company based in Surrey, United Kingdom with U.S. operations in Cupertino, Calif. More information on the company and its Appsmart solution is available on the Web at www.appsmart.com, or by calling 408/777-4422.

Appsmart and the Appsmart logos are registered trademarks of Appsmart Software. Other products mentioned in this document are registered, trademarked, or service marked by their respective owners.

Note to Editors: Copies of previous Appsmart press releases and corporate and product information are available on Appsmart's Web site at http://www.appsmart.com.