Gartner Vision Events Announces Government Solution Summit 2003.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

BEDFORD, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 25, 2003

Event Will Be First to Focus on Building Channel Partnerships in the

$56 Billion Federal IT Marketplace

Vision Events, a Gartner, Inc. (NYSE:IT) (NYSE:ITB) company, today announced the first and only event focused on building partnerships between technology vendors and solution providers doing business in the federal IT channel.

Government Solution Summit, to be held December 3-5, 2003 at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Florida, will capitalize on a $56 billion federal IT market. According to Gartner, during the past two years, total IT spending by federal government agencies has grown up to 15 percent annually, far exceeding traditional growth rates of 2 percent to 4 percent. More than 75 percent of government IT spending is contracted through solution providers.

"As one of the largest and fastest-growing IT markets, the federal government represents a vertical sweet spot for technology vendors," said Rishi Sood, principal analyst for Gartner.

The inaugural Government Solution Summit will feature technology vendors with solutions for the federal marketplace, such as security, wireless, supply chain management, enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise architecture, storage, document management and e-government.

Evaluating these technologies and engaging vendors in substantive partnership discussions will be an invitation-only audience of senior-level IT solution providers. These will include resellers, systems integrators and total solution providers focused on the federal government.

"IT vendors and solution providers looking to optimize their market opportunities must initiate focused channel programs," said Michael Haines, principal analyst at Gartner. "The channel partnerships with the most growth potential are in the federal market."

Washington Technology, the only national IT magazine written specifically for federal solution providers, will be the official Media Partner of the event. Washington Technology editors will be on-site at the event, leading panel discussions on key industry topics and interacting with event participants during networking events. Additionally, a special custom publication focusing on the event will appear in Washington Technology in the November issue.

"Partnerships are an essential part of success in the government community -- and events like Government Solution Summit are the place where these partnerships are born and nurtured," said Tom Trezza, publisher of Washington Technology.

Government Solution Summit is the only government event in the IT industry that follows the successful Gartner Vision Events business model. Vendors and solution providers will get in-depth, face-to-face business interaction through private boardroom appointments and one-on-one meetings, peer exchanges, industry insight sessions featuring Gartner and other analysts, and a host of networking opportunities.

For more information or to register, please visit http://www.governmentsolution.com. Vendors should contact Sally Hewett at 603-471-4208, or e-mail [e-mail].

About Washington Technology

Washington Technology is the only national newspaper for government IT systems integrators and resellers. It delivers essential business news to 40,100 business executives (June 2001 BPA International Statement) whose companies provide high-level technical services to the government. Published bimonthly since 1986, each issue features the latest contracting wins, government initiatives and projects, case studies, analyses and fresh technology news.

About Vision Events

Vision Events is a leading producer of highly focused, business-intensive events that emphasize one-on-one meetings and private boardroom appointments between vendors and their key customers and prospects. Each event, both domestic and international, is designed to enable leading and emerging technology vendors to establish new alliances and build new business with high-level decision makers who participate by invitation only. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.visionevents.com or call toll free 866-877-7185.

About Gartner

Gartner, Inc. is a research and advisory firm that helps more than 10,000 clients leverage technology to achieve business success. Gartner's businesses are Research, Consulting, Measurement, Events and Executive Programs. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., and has more than 3,800 associates, including approximately 1,000 research analysts and consultants, in more than 75 locations worldwide. Revenue for calendar year 2002 totaled $888 million. For more information, visit www.gartner.com.