Cramer Systems Joins Micromuse Developers Alliance Program.

Business & High-Tech Editors

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 22, 2001

Leading Network Resource Management Software Provider Becomes

Netcool(R) Solution(TM) Partner

Micromuse Inc. (Nasdaq: MUSE), the leading provider of realtime fault management and service assurance software, today announced that Cramer Systems, a leading provider of network resource management software for the telecommunications industry that it has joined the Micromuse Developers Alliance(TM) program as a Netcool(R) Solution(TM) partner. Micromuse will integrate Cramer's Dimension application with Micromuse's Netcool suite to deliver combined service provisioning and assurance for telecommunications service providers.

Cramer's Dimension product automates the provisioning of services based on a unified inventory platform across complex multi-vendor, multi-technology networks. The integration with the Micromuse Netcool/Impact(TM) application will enable the combination of realtime event data from the Netcool/OMNIbus(TM) application with provisioning and service information from Dimension that will provide the flexibility for customers to use this feature according to their own requirements.

For example, a simple fault event for a network element, port or card from the Netcool/OMNIbus application will be `enriched' with customer and/or service data from the Dimension database, via the Netcool/Impact application, to show how customers, if any, are affected by that fault. This will enable prioritization of service-critical faults for resolution, and in addition, the Netcool suite can pass this information to the customer services center (via the trouble ticketing interface) to enable pro-active customer care.

"Many telecommunications service providers are currently challenged with expanding their networks to support customer growth, while also rolling out new service offerings," said John Salter, European Managing Director, Cramer Systems. "We are pleased to be part of the Micromuse Developers Alliance(TM) program and expect that integration of Dimension with the Netcool(R) software will help service providers speed up delivering services to market while also allowing them to simplify network management processes."

"As an emerging player in the OSS market, we are delighted that Cramer Systems has joined the Micromuse Developers Alliance program," said Rosemary Hill, Global Director, Micromuse Developers Alliance program. "Cramer's focus on network inventory and provisioning, coupled with the Netcool suite, will help service providers streamline service delivery and help make the management of those services easier."

The Micromuse Developers Alliance program provides Micromuse and its alliance members with the resources to cooperatively pursue business, technical and marketing opportunities. Micromuse enlists best-in-class solutions providers offering applications complementary to the Netcool suite to join the Micromuse Developers Alliance program to develop and provide off-the-shelf integrated solutions for mutual customers.

About Dimension

Dimension, from Cramer Systems, is a unique inventory-based provisioning solution, offering radically improved service delivery times and quality for operators of multi-service, multi-technology and multi-vendor networks. Dimension centralizes the management of information about network resources, removing the need for separate physical, logical and service inventories, or multiple provisioning `stovepipes.' Operators, from major carriers to new entrants, have chosen Dimension to support the provisioning of everything from IP-VPN to leased lines, often after extensive assessment of the worldwide OSS market.

About the Netcool Suite

Micromuse's Netcool(R) software suite collects management data from more than 300 management environments and network devices, including voice, data and Internet. Fault data is rapidly processed and filtered by the Netcool ObjectServer(TM) an in-memory database. The Netcool suite helps operators to build views of service availability in realtime, helping them manage networks more efficiently. Because it is scalable and deploys rapidly, the Netcool suite helps service providers to expand their networks as their markets grow.

About Cramer Systems

Cramer Systems is Europe's leading supplier of network resource management software for the telecoms industry. NRM is the key to automating service delivery for large telcos. By automating and speeding up this process, Cramer's Dimension product set helps telecoms operators to earn revenue quicker, improve profitability and reliability, and gain competitive advantage. The provisioning market is expected to grow to $3.9bn by 2003 (source: Dataquest). Based in Bath, England, the past year has seen Cramer quadruple in size. Dimension customers cover mobile (including 3G), convergent and fixed operators, including Belgacom, Cegetel, diAx, Telfort, Infostrada, Wind, and Telewest. Information about Cramer Systems can be found at www.cramersystems.com.

About Micromuse

Micromuse Inc. (Nasdaq: MUSE) is the leading provider of realtime fault management and service assurance software. Micromuse recently received the TeleStrategies OSS Excellence Award for Best New Product for the Netcool(R)/Visionary(TM) application. In addition, Micromuse has been recognized in the Forbes 500, Business Week's Info Tech 100, Bloomberg's Top 100 Stocks, Barron's 500, Deloitte & Touche's Technology Fast 500 and the San Francisco Chronicle 500. Micromuse customers include AT&T, BT, Cable & Wireless, Cellular One, Charles Schwab, Deutsche Telekom, Digex, EarthLink, Global Crossing, GTE, ITC DeltaCom, MCI Worldcom, NextLink, One2One, PSINet, XO Communications and a number of financial investment concerns. Headquarters are located at 139 Townsend Street, San Francisco, Calif. 94107; [phone]. The Web site is at www.micromuse.com.

Netcool and Micromuse are registered trademarks of Micromuse Ltd. All other trademarks and registered trademarks in this document are the properties of their respective owners. Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward- looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations, but are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties.

The factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include the following: fluctuations in customer demand, the Company's ability to manage its growth (including the ability to hire sufficient sales and technical personnel), the risks associated with the expansion of the Company's distribution channels, the risk of new product introductions and customer acceptance of new products; the rapid technological change which characterizes the Company's markets, the risks associated with competition, the risks associated with international sales as the Company expands its markets, and the ability of the Company to compete successfully in the future, as well as other risks identified in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission Filings, including but not limited to those appearing under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and on Form 10-K on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on the Company's Web site.