Gartner Group to sponsor Internet & Electronic Commerce Conference & Exposition expected to draw 15,000 technology decision-makers.

FAIRFIELD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 4, 1996--Gartner Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: GART) and Expocon Management Associates today announced the third semi-annual Internet & Electronic Commerce Conference & Exposition (iEC) which will be held at New York's Jacob Javits Convention Center on March 18-20, 1997.

The event will feature keynote speeches by top-ranking leaders in the technology industry, as well as the latest Internet-related technology products and innovations. The conference and exposition is expected to draw 15,000 technology decision-makers ranging from CEOs to marketing directors.

iEC is the premier business-to-business event that focuses exclusively on how to compete on the Internet and how to integrate Internet, intranet and electronic commerce-based business strategies. Keynote speakers will discuss these issues and their vision of the future, as well as the strategies their companies are pursuing to accelerate global acceptance of electronic commerce.

Early confirmations for this year's keynote speakers include: Raymond Smith, chairman and CEO of Bell Atlantic; Paul Wahl, CEO of SAP America; and Irving Wladawsky-Berger, general manager of the Internet Division at IBM Corporation. Topics include: "The Internet Infrastructure;" "Electronic Commerce Over the Internet;" "New Media Marketing & Selling on the Net;" "Intranet Solutions:" and "Extended Enterprise Applications." (EDITOR'S NOTE: Additional information on the list of speakers will be provided in the coming weeks.)

"Top business and technical executives are being challenged to use this new business channel effectively," explains Dave Taylor, VP of Business Operations research with Gartner Group, Inc., sponsors of the conference program. "This conference will tackle the tough issues of how to invest in and manage Internet business strategies. Both success and failure happen bigger and faster on the Internet than in the traditional business environment."

"Just as New York is the hub of world commerce, iEC attendees are the core of the electronic commerce marketplace," explains John Golicz, vice president of the Information Technology Group for Expocon Management Associates, producers of the event. "Like all of the Gartner Group/Expocon events, iEC is a new model of a technology event focused on serving business decision-makers and delivering actionable advise to integrate into their strategic plans."

Last year's debut conference drew 13,000 technology leaders and executives, and featured keynote speakers such as Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft Corporation, and Scott McNealy, chairman of Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Complimentary vendor briefings will also be offered by leading companies that are also corporate sponsors such as Compaq, IBM, Lotus, AT&T, Digital Equipment Corporation, eComm Link, General Systems, Cisco Systems, General Electric, InterWorld Technology Ventures, KPMG Peat Marwick, Open Markets, Silicon Graphics, Sun Microsystems, U.S. Robotics and UUNet Technologies. Over 175 vendors will occupy 150,000 square feet of exhibit space. Exhibiting categories include: network access providers; software developers; hardware manufacturers; marketing and advertising consultants; commerce services; content providers; and security companies.

Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with industry experts and purchase the latest new products that the industry has to offer. A highlight of the conference will be a special awards program to recognize excellence in business solutions using the Internet, based on execution, effectiveness and creativity. The iEC Awards will be presented at a banquet on Tuesday, March 18th. This is the only industry award recognizing business achievement on the Internet in the following five categories: 1) Internet infrastructure; 2)Electronic Commerce over the Internet; 3) New Media Marketing and Selling on the Net; 4) Intranet Solutions; and 5) Extended Enterprise Applications.

Gartner Group, Inc. is the world's leading provider of information technology advisory and market research services. Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Stamford, CT; Gartner Group serves nearly 7,500 client organizations worldwide. Additional information is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.gartner.com

Expocon Management Associates, Inc., headquartered in Fairfield, CT is a major producer of both domestic and international trade and consumer expositions and conferences as well as publisher of related industry directories. Expocon events cover a variety of industries including printing, electronics, publishing, entertainment, medical/health, computer, merchandising, licensing and advertising. In addition to iEC, Expocon produces other leading IT events, including On Demand, Connections '97, On Demand Symposium, IT Services Conference and Converging Technologies.

For more information, or to be added to the mailing list, contact Jay Gorga at 203-256-4700, ext. 108; e-mail: [e-mail] or visit the World Wide Web at http://www.expocon.com/IEC

CONTACT: Expocon Management Associates, Inc.

Jay Gorga

203/256-4700 ext. 108

[e-mail]

or

PAN Communications

Amy Riemer

508/474-0055

[e-mail]