Cisco Remains in the Top Position in Technology Business Research, Inc. 3Q99 NBQ Ranking.

     Business Editors

    HAMPTON, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2000--

    Industry Leaders Forward Integrate into Customer Relationship
                   Management (CRM) Software Market

    Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO) remains in the top spot in TBR's
(www.tbri.com) Network Business Quarterly (NBQ) competitive benchmark
ranking. Cisco's financial results continue to validate the use of a
horizontal model and information technology-driven operation that has
provided the company with the strongest business model of all its
competitors.
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              NBQ Benchmark Index for Third Quarter 1999

               3Q99 Rank              2Q99 Rank      2Q99         3Q99
#1     Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO)             #1           6.77         6.77
#2     3Com (Nasdaq: COMS)              #2           5.62         5.58
#3     HP (NYSE: HWP)                   #3           5.27         5.38
#4     Intel (Nasdaq: INTC)             #4           5.10         5.35
#5     Lucent (Nasdaq: LU)              #5           4.63         4.84
#6     Nortel (NYSE: NT, TSE: NTL)      #9           4.17         4.72
#7     Marconi (OTC ADR: MCONY)         #8           4.23         4.39
#8     IBM (NYSE: IBM)                  #6           4.59         4.29
#9     Cabletron (NYSE: CS)             #7           4.40         4.21

       Source: TBR
    Representing a major turning point, Cisco, Lucent (Nasdaq: LU),
and Nortel (NYSE: NT, TSE: NTL) now have their convergence platforms
and market positions ready to battle for leadership positions in the
combined data and voice markets. To further differentiate platform
offerings and to increase margins, these leaders are also forward
integrating into application software, including CRM software that is
integrated with next-generation Internet call center solutions.
    3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS) and Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HWP)
maintained their second and third place positions based on their
business model strengths and manufacturing efficiencies. Although
Nortel moved up to sixth position this quarter, its business model
will continue to be weak in the short-term as the company grapples
with meeting demand growth while it shifts away from vertical
integration. Intel, in fourth position, continues to have the
strongest business model of all the companies.
    TBR has renamed the Fore Systems report to Marconi plc (LSE: MNI;
ADR: MCONY) to reflect the on-going transformation of General Electric
Company plc into a leading telecommunication equipment provider under
the Marconi name. TBR believes Marconi has the potential to displace
one of the top three leaders because of the depth of its product
portfolio, geographic diversity, and marketing momentum.
    This quarter, TBR started coverage of Alcatel (NYSE: ALA), a
latecomer to the U.S. market, who is accelerating its market presence
through acquisitions, as well as through its worldwide services
capabilities. At the corporate-level, Alcatel has transformed from a
widely diversified conglomerate of dispersed businesses based on
geographic units to a global multinational telecom player, all within
a relatively short period of three years. The initial TBR coverage of
Alcatel is provided as a non-scored industry impact report.
    "Alcatel's biggest chance in the United States is, if one of the
big three falter in their execution, it opens an opportunity for
Alcatel to move into their key markets," according to TBR's Director
of Network Business Quarterly, Bill Lesieur. "Alcatel's biggest
challenge is to quickly create customer awareness and brand identity
across its U.S. target markets of service providers, enterprise, and
consumer markets.

    About TBR:

    TBR's highly quantitative, proprietary benchmarking methodology
ranks the leading global networking vendors on a comparative basis
every quarter, based on effective implementation of product strategy,
marketing strategy, manufacturing strategy, and business model. TBR
specializes in industry benchmarking and analysis of the major players
in the global networking and communications markets through its
Network Business Quarterly (NBQ) service.

    Complete details are available to accredited journalists. For
more information, please visit TBR's website at www.tbri.com, or
contact:

    Complete details are available to accredited journalists. For
more information, please visit TBR's website at www.tbri.com, or
contact:
*T
CONTACTS:

Bill Lesieur, Director NBQ
Technology Business Research, Inc.
PH: 603-929-1166;  FAX: [phone]
email: [e-mail]

Jon Lindy, Vice President
Technology Business Research, Inc.
PH: 603-929-1166;  FAX: [phone]
email:  [e-mail]
*T

    --30--dp/bos*

     CONTACT: Technology Business Research, Inc.
              Bill Lesieur, 603-929-1166
              [e-mail]
              or
              Jon Lindy, 603-929-1166
              [e-mail]

     KEYWORD: NEW HAMPSHIRE MASSACHUSETTS
     INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS INTERNET
E-COMMERCE SOFTWARE HARDWARE