Express Metrix Press Release

For more information, contact: Debra Brandt Express Metrix 206.691.7915 dbrandt@expressmetrix.com Delisa Davis RH Strategic 202.585.0210 ddavis@rhstrategic.com

For Immediate Release

EXPRESS METRIX EARNS REPEAT NOMINATION FOR MICROSOFT "TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION PARTNER OF THE YEAR"

Partnership highlights include joint release of influential report on software asset management, and speaking engagement at Worldwide Partner Conference

Seattle, WA - Express Metrix^®, the leader in PC inventory and software usage metering products, added to its reputation as a recognized resource and world-class provider of IT and software asset management (IT/SAM) solutions by announcing today that it has again been named one of just five worldwide finalists for Microsoft's "Technology Innovation Partner of the Year" award in the Licensing Solutions category. Express Metrix won the prestigious award last year and is—for the second year in a row—the only U.S. company to be recognized as a finalist.

News of Express Metrix's repeat Partner of the Year nomination builds upon its already-growing industry influence; Express Metrix tools and services repeatedly have earned recognition from Microsoft. During the 2005 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, Express Metrix was awarded the "Microsoft Partner of the Year Award" in the Licensing Solutions Category for Software Asset Management (SAM) Technology Innovation. In addition, in August of last year Express Metrix was officially recognized as a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner in the ISV/Software Solutions Competency. The award placed Express Metrix among the top level of Microsoft partners, having built its best-of-breed product (Express Software Manager Professional^®) using the latest Microsoft technologies, and having passed stringent third-party product testing.

"Express Metrix has demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of the important role software asset management plays in managing an organization's IT portfolio," Juan Fernando Rivera, Microsoft's Director of Software Asset Management said at the time of the award. "Express Metrix's tool is a solution that enterprises can count on to effectively manage their software assets."

"Our customers continue to improve their IT balance sheets by relying on Express Metrix solutions," noted Express Metrix CEO, Kris Barker. "They're collectively saving millions of dollars by implementing technology that enables them to take advantage of the best licensing programs, streamline IT processes, and avoid costs and penalties associated with non-compliance." According to Barker, recent additions to the company's list of satisfied customers include divisions of Citibank, Chevron Texaco, Lockheed Martin, the US Army, Bell Canada, the University of Washington and the City of Los Angeles.

In related news, Express Metrix CEO Kris Barker has teamed with Microsoft's Rivera to co-author an important white paper which explores in detail how a growing number of businesses, government agencies, and other organizations today are fully realizing the value and cost savings inherent in systematically—and strategically—managing their IT and software investments.

According to the Express Metrix-Microsoft paper, core benefits for organizations that implement ongoing, rigorous IT/SAM programs include increased IT efficiencies, reduced software licensing costs, and the ability to mitigate many business and legal risks associated with the ownership and use of technology. The paper offers detailed case studies featuring several businesses that are achieving these benefits through the implementation of effective IT/SAM tools and processes. The full report is due to be released in July, and an abstract can now be accessed by visiting www.expressmetrix.com/pdf/ITSAM_paper.pdf.

Further validating its reputation as a trusted authority on IT/SAM, Express Metrix also announced today that it has been selected as a key speaker at Microsoft's upcoming Worldwide Partner Conference 2006, scheduled for July 11-13 in Boston. During the conference, Express Metrix will join IT/SAM consulting partner Soft-Aid to present the opening software asset management topic of the conference: "The Fundamentals of SAM: Processes, Technology, and Opportunity." The annual worldwide conference, a premiere networking event that focuses on the latest Microsoft solutions, vision, and strategy, has sold out; over 7,000 Microsoft partners are expected to attend.

Microsoft has launched a major software management initiative aimed at educating its software customers about the importance of IT/SAM. The program, which pairs IT/SAM tool vendors with consulting partners that specialize in IT/SAM services, provides an end-to-end solution to customers that need assistance with managing their IT and software investments, optimizing their software expenditures, and maintaining license compliance.

"Given the momentum we've achieved through our partnership efforts with Microsoft, we're that much more eager to tackle IT/SAM projects and opportunities in the remainder of 2006," Barker noted. "Our team at Express Metrix, in tandem with Microsoft, is continually working to educate the market about the dramatic impact and positive benefits that IT/SAM is having for so many public- and private-sector organizations today. Microsoft shares our commitment to IT/SAM best practices, and our ongoing partnership provides a springboard to enhance and accelerate that education process. The more we're able to leverage each other's expertise to 'spread the word' about the value of IT/SAM, the greater the number of organizations that will ultimately benefit from it."

About Express Metrix

Over 1.8 million users worldwide rely on the world-class IT and software asset management (IT/SAM) solutions offered by Express Metrix, making the Seattle-based company a recognized leader in PC inventory and IT/SAM solutions. In 2005, Express Metrix earned elite status as a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner in the ISV/Software Solutions Competency. That same year, Express Metrix was awarded the SAM Partner of the Year Award by Microsoft, winning the noteworthy Licensing Solutions Competency Category for SAM Technology Innovation. "Express Metrix has demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of the important role software asset management plays in managing an organization's IT portfolio," according to Juan Fernando Rivera, Director of Software Asset Management at Microsoft. "Express Metrix's tool is a solution that enterprises can count on to effectively manage their software assets."

Express Metrix offers a suite of IT/SAM tools that companies need to conduct in-depth analysis and management of desktop PCs and applications. The Express Metrix product line includes Express Software Manager Professional^®, Express Software Manager Standard^®, Express Inventory^® and Express Meter^®. For further information about Express Metrix's products, services, and satisfied customers, visit www.expressmetrix.com

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Express Metrix, Express Software Manager Professional, Express Software Manager Standard, 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.