Micromuse's Netcool Software Supports Service-Level Management At Energis.

Business/Technology Editors

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 24, 2000

Large Library of Netcool Software Probes Enables

Energis to Deploy Quickly and Fulfill Business Requirements

Micromuse Inc. (Nasdaq:MUSE), the leading provider of fault and service-level management software, today announced that Energis plc, a UK national service provider, has rolled out Netcool(R) software to consolidate event information, support dynamic impact analysis of service outages, and more effectively manage service levels.

"The business drivers for this project require the ability to roll the solution out rapidly as well as incorporate changes as we acquire new networks and services," said David Butterworth, project manager at Energis. "Netcool was able to provide these capabilities for us and enable us to meet a very aggressive deployment schedule, in part because the product supports a large library of off-the-shelf software. Our environment includes GPT EMOS and Nortel INM for SDH management, Hewlett-Packard HP OpenView, Compaq TeMip and Newbridge MainStreet - all of which can be consolidated by Netcool. Netcool/Impact(tm) enables us to utilize our other data sources to dynamically see the effect of alarms on services and this, I believe, will give us a superior service over other providers."

"Energis has consistently been identified as one of the most reliable telecommunications network in the UK in independently audited reports on the service performance of UK telecoms operators [CPI Results]," said Mark Watson, vice president, EMEA sales at Micromuse. "The key to this type of success is continual investment in new technology to maintain and deliver the highest quality service to customers in the most efficient way. The Netcool suite is providing this functionality to Energis and the customer service benefits are compelling."

Netcool/OMNIbus supports more than 150 off-the-shelf interfaces that collect management data from a wide variety of systems and protocols. The data is rapidly processed and filtered by the Netcool ObjectServer(tm), an in-memory database. The Netcool application allows operators to build views of services in real time, helping them manage networks more efficiently. Because it is scalable and deploys rapidly, the Netcool business model allows service providers to expand their networks as their markets grow.

About Energis plc

Energis is a FTSE 100 business telecoms and internet company. It offers businesses a full portfolio of national and international voice, data and e-commerce services. Everything that Energis does is focused on customers and their needs. This is evidenced through winning the TMA Chairman's award for quality and being voted the most reliable network (OFTEL endorsed CPI stats). Major national clients include the BBC, The Boots Company, Renault and Whitbread. On Monday 2nd August 1999, Energis acquired Unisource Carrier Services (UCS) a pan European carriers' carrier giving it a European presence and network. UCS has an advanced ATM telecommunications network, licences in 12 countries, national interconnect agreements in seven countries and 13 points of presence in 11 major western European countries and in the USA.

In March 1999 Energis formed a joint venture with Viridian Group plc to launch a telecoms company in Northern Ireland. Last year Energis also secured a strong presence in the internet market with the acquisition of Planet Online, giving it the skills and facilities to service the corporate internet market. Planet Online is the carrier of the UK's biggest internet service provider, Dixons' Freeserve. www.energis.co.uk

About Micromuse

Micromuse Inc. (Nasdaq:MUSE) is the leading provider of fault and service-level management software. Micromuse recently earned the highly acclaimed "Best of Show" award in the network management category at NetWorld + Interop '99 Atlanta. Micromuse customers include AirTouch, America Online, AT&T, BT, Cable & Wireless, Cellular One, Charles Schwab, Deutsche Telekom, GTE, ICG Communications, ITC^DeltaCom, JC Penney, MCI Worldcom, MindSpring Enterprises, NextLink, 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 is a registered trademark of Micromuse. 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.