Cap Gemini Ernst & Young and Granite Systems Agree To Deliver OSS Solutions; Cap Gemini Ernst & Young TMN Group to Gain Network and Service Resource Management Offering.

Business/Technology Editors

MANCHESTER, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 19, 2000

Granite Systems, a communications software provider of network and service resource management solutions, today announced its agreement with Cap Gemini Ernst & Young Telecom Media Networks Group (TMN Group). The alliance will allow the Cap Gemini Ernst & Young TMN Group to offer Granite Systems' Xpercom(TM) platform for network and service resource management as part of its operations support system (OSS) implementation services for communications providers.

Cap Gemini Ernst & Young TMN Group offers a multitude of consulting and implementation services to the telecommunications industry, including billing and customer administration, customer relationship management, new service launch, next generation networks launch and operations optimization. The addition of Xpercom's functionality will enable Cap Gemini Ernst & Young TMN Group to provide its customers with a network and service resource management solution that serves as a single network image to guide provisioning, maintenance and engineering. The alliance between Granite Systems and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young TMN Group is the result of an implementation on behalf of a major wireless provider.

"Our customers demand the best products and services in our implementations," said Heinz Bisutti, business unit vice president of Cap Gemini Ernst & Young TMN Group. "One of our current implementations requires the ability to provide total network and service resource management. We chose Xpercom because it is one of the best products on the market for our needs and will allow us to continue to exceed our customers' expectations."

Granite Systems' Xpercom platform is a next generation network and service resource management solution for telecommunications service providers worldwide. Xpercom's object model enables carriers to manage a wide variety of resource technologies, from wireline to wireless, circuit to packet and advanced optical networks from a single common platform. Xpercom gives network managers the tools to:

--Manage current inventories of network resources and capacity, down to a port and channel level.

--Define network configurations for complex equipment and circuit layout records.

--Order and schedule future resources to meet expected demands.

--Provide a database of record to other OSSs.

Xpercom's overview of network assets enables service providers to optimize their assets' utility.

"We are pleased to be able to work with such a renowned and skilled implementation organization," stated John E. P. Borden, Jr., president and CEO of Granite Systems. "This alliance will enable both of our companies to offer mission critical solutions to our customers. We look forward to working with Cap Gemini Ernst & Young TMN Group on future implementations."

About Cap Gemini Ernst & Young

Cap Gemini Ernst & Young is one of the largest management and IT consulting firms in the world. The company offers management and IT consulting services, systems integration, and technology development, design and outsourcing capabilities on a global scale to help traditional businesses and "dot companies" continue to implement growth strategies and leverage technology in the new economy. The organization employs more than 58,000 people worldwide and reports global revenues of about 7.7 billion Euro (1999 pro forma). As part of Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, Telecom Media & Networks Group provides strategic consultancy and hands-on technological expertise to organizations operating in the converging areas of technology. In the last six years, the practice has launched over 200 telecom organizations, represented 16 percent of the 1999 Cap Gemini Ernst & Young pro forma revenue. It employs over 6,000 management and IT consultants operating from 24 locations throughout the US, Asia and Europe. In order to maintain its position as the global entrepreneur of the networked economy, TMN Group operates eight research, development and innovation labs throughout the world. These labs -- based in Atherton CA, Boston, Dallas, London (two), Munich, Paris and Singapore -- enable TMN Group to maintain strict quality control standards by, testing system reliability before installation. More information about individual service lines, offices and research is available at www.cgey.com

About Granite Systems

Granite Systems provides network and service resource management software for carriers with wireless, wireline, optical and packet technology networks. Utilizing Granite Systems' Xpercom(TM) product suite, carriers can manage inventories of network resources and capacity, define network configurations, order and schedule resources and provide a database of record to other operational support systems (OSSs). An Inc. 500 company in 2000, Granite Systems enables clients including AT&T Wireless, ConnectSouth, KPN Belgium and Verizon to eliminate resource redundancy, improve network reliability and speed service deployment. Founded in 1993, Granite Systems is headquartered in Manchester, NH with offices in Denver, CO, Miami, FL and Fleet, Hampshire, U.K. Additional information about Granite Systems and its Xpercom product suite may be found at www.granite.com or by contacting [phone].

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