Drew Douglas or Elizabeth MillunchickCorporate Technology Communications(312) 832-9300ddouglas@ctcomm.comemillunchick@ctcomm.com
Private NetMarket Technology Connects Customers, Channel Partners in Asia and Latin America as Part of Compaq’s Enhanced Web-based eServices
MINNEAPOLIS, November 13, 2000—TechRepublic, the leading online destination developed exclusively for IT professionals by IT professionals, announced today that its ITRadar division is working with Compaq Global Services to launch a private-label version of its ITRadar online marketplace. Identified as Compaq Solutions Exchange and made available through the recently enhanced Compaq Services Network, the Private NetMarket enables Compaq’s authorized partners, integrators, and resellers to connect directly with prospective customers in selected Asian and Latin American markets.

“TechRepublic is excited to connect ITRadar, our dynamic business-to-business IT services marketplace, with a company the caliber of Compaq,” said Max Smith, president and chief operating officer at TechRepublic. “This relationship demonstrates the value of ITRadar’s unique and innovative technology as we leverage our offering to enable leading technology companies like Compaq to reach their customers and channel partners.”

“In choosing TechRepublic’s ITRadar to power the Compaq Solutions Exchange, Compaq went through an extensive selection process to select technology that would best serve our goals of driving more opportunities to our partners worldwide,” said Don Aubert, eBusiness Development Manager at Compaq Global Services. “Compaq’s desire is to bring our solution to market as quickly as possible, maintaining the level of quality and service that our customers and partners have come to expect from Compaq. In weighing build vs. buy scenarios, we evaluated more than 25 companies offering a variety of business-to-business (B2B) services marketplaces. We determined that ITRadar’s technology and team provided us with the optimal platform for this program.”

The Compaq Services Network allows members to access a broad portfolio of online Compaq service offerings, spare parts ordering, training, technical support, sales leads, and sales and marketing support. New features announced today include Web-based tools for B2B exchanges, enhanced reporting features, industry intelligence, and systems that improve response time and efficiency and help Compaq channel partners stay competitive.

“ITRadar is thrilled to have Compaq join us as a Private NetMarket customer,” said Don Peterson, TechRepublic vice president and general manager of ITRadar. “We created this offering to accelerate time-to-market for premier technology vendors such as Compaq who are looking to rapidly deploy an exchange that drives sales of their products and services by connecting their customers and channel partners.”

In August 2000, TechRepublic acquired ITRadar, the leading IT marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of information technology services. The acquisition provides TechRepublic’s more than 1 million registered members easy access to ITRadar’s network of 4,000 IT services providers offering IT implementation, consulting, and staffing solutions in more than 50 local markets across the United States and Canada.

About TechRepublic and ITRadar
TechRepublic is the leading onlinedestination developedexclusively for IT professionals by IT professionals. TechRepublic was acquired by Gartner Group, Inc. (NYSE: IT and ITB) in March 2000. With the Gartner relationship, TechRepublic provides its members with the world’s largest and most comprehensive source of IT community, content, and research available anywhere. TechRepublic’s services include IT industry news, analysis, columns, articles, downloads, career management tips, forums, a job directory, a peer directory, a vendor directory, auctions, e-commerce offerings, event listings, and electronic newsletters.

ITRadar, a division of TechRepublic, creates B2B marketplaces for identifying, evaluating, and engaging IT service providers. The company has relationships with more than 4,000 IT service providers in 50-plus major metro areas in the United States and Canada. ITRadar offers both cobranded and private-label versions of its NetMarket-to-business partners. Visit ITRadar at http://www.itradar.com/ or on TechRepublic athttp://tr.itradar.com/.

Find out more about Private NetMarkets.