Birch Telecom Standardizes 400 Users on Salesnet's Online CRM; Salesnet Delivers Extreme Functionality Needed By Telecom Provider To Drive Increased Sales Effectiveness.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

BOSTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 19, 2004

Salesnet, the leading provider of online CRM software that drives sales effectiveness, today announced that Birch Telecom, a provider of telephone and Internet services throughout much of the U.S. Midwest and Southeast, will standardize its sales organization on Salesnet Extended with a 400-user deployment. Birch joins an impressive list of enterprise organizations, including Software AG, Sovereign Bank, Staples, and Tellabs, who have standardized thousands of users on Salesnet's award-winning solutions.

"Salesnet is unique - it is the only solution that can truly embed our multiple business processes - and that's what will make us more effective," said Lynne Sangimino, vice president of sales operations at Birch. "With Salesnet, we now have the enhanced capabilities we need to help us better manage and respond to customers and prospects. The comprehensive reporting and analysis features delivered by Salesnet gives us the real-time data we need to forecast more accurately. Salesnet also offers advanced integration capabilities that will enable us to merge its CRM application with our back-office systems as well."

Salesnet's capabilities are configured around a company's best sales methodologies and practices, thus enabling greater collaboration and control. Salesnet Extended uniquely delivers on the promise of CRM to make sales teams more effective. Companies that use Salesnet Extended have witnessed significant increases in cross-sell and up-sell opportunities, impressive month-over-month revenue returns, and unmatched sales effectiveness and profitability.

"We're very impressed by Salesnet's customer-centric approach and application of industry best practices," Sangimino added. "We also appreciate their flexible and easy configuration, and the speed of implementation."

"Adding Birch to our enterprise customer roster further validates the fact that Salesnet is leading the charge to deliver affordable, effective, and in-demand CRM to global organizations," said Mike Doyle, chairman and CEO of Salesnet. "We whole heartedly commit to help our customers deliver the tangible results they need to succeed. Our customers are our partners, and we're focused on their profitability."

About Birch Telecom

Targeting small and mid-sized businesses, Birch Telecom serves more than 500,000 lines in 50-plus major metropolitan markets across 12 states. Birch owns and operates an integrated voice and data network, and offers a broad portfolio of local, long-distance and Internet services. For more information about Birch, please call toll-free [phone] or visit www.birch.com.

About Salesnet

Salesnet, the leading provider of online CRM software that drives sales effectiveness, is focused on delivering solutions that empower companies to sell more effectively. Salesnet's hosted CRM solutions are proven alternatives to expensive and complex packaged CRM software. Organizations such as Software AG, Sovereign Bank (NYSE: SOV), Staples (NASDAQ: SPLS), and Tellabs (NASDAQ: TLAB) use Salesnet to increase revenues, improve sales and marketing effectiveness, and successfully manage customer relationships. Salesnet offers complete flexibility, customizability, and a rapid deployment. In addition, Salesnet also offers "Integration-as-a-Service" to tightly connect its online CRM solution with other business applications offered by Siebel (NASDAQ: SEBL), SAP (NYSE: SAP), PeopleSoft (NASDAQ: PSFT), Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL), and Microsoft CRM (NASDAQ: MSFT).

For more information, visit Salesnet's Web site at www.salesnet.com/sp/e.asp?id=144 and sign up for a free test drive today.