Effective IT Asset Management Reveals Illegal Behavior, Security Flaws & Hidden Cost-Savings Opportunities in IT Infrastructure.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 15, 2002

New Express Software Manager 6.0

is a Cornerstone of Every IT Initiative

In a move that enables enterprises to better manage their IT assets, Express Metrix(TM) today announced the new release of its award-winning IT asset management software suite, Express Software Manager(TM) 6.0.

Express Software Manager 6.0 provides the information IT needs to make efficient purchasing decisions, better allocate resources, and ensure legal compliance to license agreements.

The new release comes at a critical time when organizations -- struggling with shrinking IT budgets and diminishing staff head count -- try to decrease costs while protecting completion of strategic IT initiatives. As a consequence, many have become vulnerable to unnecessary costs, license abuse, poor user productivity and security holes in their infrastructure. By enhancing data management and adding a powerful new reporting engine, Express Software Manager 6.0 provides organizations the tools they need to identify cost-saving opportunities, eliminate non-productive or illegal behavior, and validate the closure of security holes.

"Now, more than ever, IT asset management plays a vital role in helping IT organizations address critical issues -- optimizing the deployment of IT assets and staff, addressing software licensing and piracy, and enabling the completion of strategic initiatives and software migrations," said Express Metrix Co-Founder and CEO Kris Barker. "Express Software Manager 6.0 provides core functionality to address these problems and directly reflects the improvements and upgrades requested by our customers."

Analysts at Gartner Group reported that IT support professionals invested $4.9 billion in 2000 to keep track of their IT investments. The current economic environment has led to a renewed focus on the cost-savings opportunities from IT asset management solutions.

Express Software Manager provides powerful decision support and usage assessment information for sophisticated buyers. Through a suite of asset management tools that integrates inventory and software usage metering, Express Software Manager enables organizations to effectively manage their software and hardware assets by giving an in-depth analysis of desktop PCs and the applications residing on them. With this information, IT is able to work smarter by making accurate purchasing decisions, better allocating resources, planning and executing software migrations, and creating and enforcing desktop standards. With a new data store, reporting engine, and improved documentation in version 6.0, customers will now have broader and more efficient access to critical decision-support information.

Improved Data Management with New Data Store

The new Express Software Manager 6.0 is designed to run on Microsoft SQL Server. It will enrich the user experience by reducing administrative intervention, decreasing data processing time, and enhancing reliability and stability. In addition to native SQL Server support, Express Software Manager 6.0 provides an export function to Oracle databases, the other leading database system. As an added value, Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE), Microsoft's runtime version of SQL Server, will be supplied with the new version of the product.

New Reporting Engine for Express Reports

Express Software Manager 6.0 also features a new reporting engine based on the Crystal Reports framework. Crystal Reports is a powerful, industry-standard reporting tool used by IT departments of all sizes. It offers users the ability to write their own reports as well as add productivity tools, such as charts, mapping, and other built-in functionality useful for identifying important issues and trends. Additionally, the Express Reports Console, formerly restricted to the administrator's workstation, can now be installed separately and run on other workstations, making the decision-support power of Express reports easily available to more stakeholders. The new reporting engine will provide additional output formats, including Microsoft Excel, HTML, XML, Adobe Acrobat (PDF) and Rich Text Format (RTF).

Pricing and Availability

Express Software Manager 6.0 is now available through Express Metrix and its international distribution network. Single-copy pricing for Express Software Manager 6.0 is $36, including a 20 percent maintenance fee for future product upgrades and ongoing access to the company's superior technical support. Existing Express Software Manager customers who have current maintenance agreements will receive the upgrade to 6.0 at no charge.

About Express Metrix

Express Metrix leadership in software license metering and asset management software has been proven during more than 10 years of experience and through its installed base of 1,100 active customers. The company's products are available directly and through a worldwide network of authorized resellers and partners. Express Metrix offers asset management tools that provide streamlined solutions that companies need to conduct in-depth analysis of desktop PCs and application usage. The Express product line includes Express Software Manager, Express Inventory, and Express Meter(R). More information on Express Metrix can be found on the company's Web site at www.expressmetrix.com.

Express Metrix, Express Software Manager, Express Inventory, and Express Meter are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Express Metrix, LLC. All other trademarks, trade names or company names referenced herein are used for identification only and are the property of their respective owners.