Melinda Mattei, USWeb/CKS, (650) 558-0890,
[email protected]
USWeb/CKS E-Services Division Outlines Portfolio of Outsourced Application Solutions
E-Services Portfolio enhances best-of-breed packaged applications with customized development to deliver strategic, cost-effective Internet business solutions
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - February 22, 1999 - USWeb/CKS E-Services, a division of USWeb/CKS (Nasdaq: USWB), today outlined its portfolio of outsourced application management solutions. As an emerging leader in the Application Service Provider (ASP) market, USWeb/CKS E-Services will offer outsourced application solutions in four categories: E-Commerce, Communications and Knowledge Management (available immediately), Customer Relationship Management, and Back Office. Designed to maximize return on IT investments, the subscription-based USWeb/CKS E-Services Portfolio will combine best-of-breed packaged applications with customized application development to help IT organizations quickly and cost-effectively implement strategic Internet-based business solutions.
"USWeb/CKS has developed and implemented over 3000 customized Internet-based business solutions," said Bob Wise, chief operating officer of the USWeb/CKS E-Services division. "With the E-Services division, we will combine customized development USWeb/CKS created for these engagements with leading packaged applications to provide what we expect to be the industry's most comprehensive, yet cost-effective outsourced Internet business applications. These applications can be integrated with a company's existing business systems to provide a seamlessly managed, end-to-end solution for our customers. With our unique approach to Internet outsourcing and a customer list that includes leading organizations such as Harley Davidson, NBC and the World Economic Forum, we believe that USWeb/CKS E-Services is well positioned to take the lead in the ASP market."
The USWeb/CKS E-Services division is offering comprehensive outsourced management of Internet-based, entry- and enterprise-level applications for mid-market and Fortune 1000 companies. The subscription-based services within the USWeb/CKS E-Services Portfolio are intended to give corporate business professionals and resource-constrained IT organizations cost-effective, accelerated access to the latest technologies to enhance existing business systems while enabling them to focus on core competencies.
"National Airlines is uniquely positioned to capitalize on Internet technologies to differentiate our services, build strong customer relationships, and enhance our internal business processes," said Tim Stanley, vice president - information systems, National Airlines. "With the help of USWeb/CKS, we've built an impressive and cost-effective IT infrastructure from scratch - and have done so very quickly. By utilizing a variety of outsourced application solutions by USWeb/CKS E-Services, National Airlines is able to focus on our core business objectives, while maximizing our resource utilization, scalability and market responsiveness in this critical start-up phase of the company. A few of the services selected by National Airlines include the new Microsoft Exchange Services from USWeb/CKS E-Services for our companywide electronic communications, and the Internet Platform Services to host our Internet, Intranet, Extranet and Datawarehousing applications, as well as some of our key financial, maintenance and operational systems."
National Airlines is a new Las Vegas-based scheduled airline, which expects to begin operations in early 1999. The airline initially plans to offer nonstop flights from its hub in Las Vegas to the gateway cities of Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco - and plans to expand to most of the major gateway cities in the U.S. over the next few years.
"USWeb/CKS is dedicated to helping customers remain competitive within the rapidly changing digital economy," said Toby Corey, president and COO, USWeb/CKS. "As companies begin to understand the business benefits of outsourced application services, we expect our E-Services division to play a major role over the coming year in helping clients fundamentally rethink the way they do business."
USWeb/CKS E-Services Offerings: Full-Service Application Outsourcing
The USWeb/CKS E-Services solutions feature Internet strategy consulting, expert implementation, back-end integration, 24x7 operations management, a reliable and secure network infrastructure, and customer support by USWeb/CKS professionals. Each of the service offerings within the E-Services Portfolio will be built on top of the E-Services Internet Platform Services infrastructure, which provides the reliable, scalable, and secure infrastructure for E-Services solutions, so businesses can avoid the expense and the headaches associated with building, hosting and managing their own infrastructure.
� Communications & Knowledge Management services, also announced today, offer clients a variety of innovative communications tools that let businesses build strong, profitable relationships with employees, partners and customers. These tools include Communications Central, Presentations Central, and Microsoft Exchange Services.
� E-Commerce services offer clients a variety of packaged solutions that meet many of the e-business needs of a broad range of customers and vertical markets. Initial offerings will include business-to-consumer direct marketing, supply chain management and corporate purchasing services.
� Customer Relationship Management services offer customers a variety of innovative front office tools that let businesses efficiently and cost-effectively build and manage their sales, marketing and customer service units. Services will include third party applications that enable sales force automation, marketing management and call center management.
� Back Office services offer customers a variety of enterprise resource planning tools. These tools will include third party applications that provide an integrated suite of back office components for manufacturing, finance, human resources and distribution management.
Availability and Pricing
The Communications and Knowledge Management services offerings, including Communications Central, Presentations Central and Microsoft Exchange Services, are available immediately. The E-Commerce and Customer Relationship Management offerings are expected to be available in Q2 1999. Back Office offerings are expected to be available later this year.
Pricing is set on a per-month subscription basis. For more information, contact the USWeb/CKS E-Services division at 408-987-3200 or [email protected].
About USWeb/CKS
USWeb/CKS (Nasdaq: USWB) is a professional services firm that works with clients to define strategies and implement innovative ways to build their businesses through the combination of expertise in strategy, Internet technology and marketing communications. USWeb/CKS helps clients differentiate their products and services, strengthen customer relationships, leverage human capital, and improve business efficiency in the new electronic economy. With more than 2,000 professionals, USWeb/CKS has helped hundreds of businesses advance their marketing communications programs as well as their traditional IT and Internet systems. The Company provides a broad selection of services from brand development and advertising to business process automation and e-commerce solutions. The Company headquarters are in Santa Clara, California.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" (as defined under securities law) regarding the E-Services Portfolio and related service offerings of the E-Services division of USWeb/CKS. USWeb/CKS's actual results, including its ability to establish a comprehensive offering of services, grow the E-services business, effectively assist customers, or reach any expected revenue or earnings objectives, may differ materially and adversely from those discussed in this press release. Factors that may cause such a difference include, without limitation, risks associated with establishing a new set of service offerings, such as building and maintaining a base of employees with the required expertise, selling the new service offerings to customers, competition, managing growth, technological changes, and other factors. There can be no assurance that the E-Services division will be able to realize its objectives. For additional information about factors that could affect the business of USWeb/CKS, see the documents filed by USWeb and CKS Group with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.