CISCO REMAINS IN THE TOP POSITION IN TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS RESEARCH's 1Q00 NBQ RANKING.

Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO) remains in the top spot in TBR's (www.tbri.com) Network Business Quarterly competitive benchmark ranking based on its new contract win with SBC Communications.

TBR's Director of Network Business Quarterly Bill Lesieur stated, "However, it is not yet clear if Cisco will successfully penetrate the high-growth optical networking markets in fierce competition against Nortel (NYSE: NT, TSE: NTL), Lucent (Nasdaq: LU) and Alcatel (NYSE: ALA), although Cisco can now build its optical business based on pull-through demand from its end-to-end solutions that incorporate optical products from its acquisitions."

Although 3Com (Nasdaq: COMS) is struggling to restructure itself and reposition into growth markets, it maintained its No. 2 position based on its strong balance sheet supported by the cash resources generated from the spin-off of Palm. Similarly, Cabletron (NYSE: CS) ranked No. 3 based on incidental improvements to its balance sheet from its restructuring plan and outsourcing of manufacturing. These rankings are short-term anomalies that have resulted from the drastic changes these companies are making to their business models and competitive positions to survive.

TRB published its first company report on Ericsson (Nasdaq: ERICY) in 1Q00. Ericsson, along with its joint venture Symbian, is positioning to leverage the current market hype surrounding the mobile Internet and the related advancements toward third-generation wireless networks. TBR continues to provide full coverage of Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT), including its foray into the mobile Internet market based on Windows CE, Mobile Explorer, MSN Everywhere and its telecom-related investments.

RBR provides company-based coverage of the leading high-tech vendors from a combined business, financial and technical perspective. Financial results and business models serve as the basis of TBR's analysis of vendors' progress each quarter in meeting their strategic and functional objectives. In each quarterly report, TBR also tracks changes to the vendors' strengths and weaknesses, along with risk factors impacting market opportunities and competitive threats. TBR's Network Business Quarterly service provides coverage of the major players in the networking, communications and Internet infrastructure markets.

NBQ Benchmark Index for First Quarter 2000

   1Q00         4Q99     4Q99     1Q00
   Rank         Score   Ranking   Score

#1 Cisco        6.95      #1      6.68
#2 3Com         5.93      #2      5.88
#3 Cabletron    4.78      #5      5.63
#4 HP           5.53      #3      5.57
#5 Intel        5.36      #4      5.11
#6 Lucent       4.11      #8      4.25
#7 Marconi      4.49      #7      4.06
#8 Nortel       4.09      #9      3.86

Source:  TBR