COMPAQ, ORACLE AND ACXIOM TO DELIVER CRM SOLUTION

Compaq Computer Corporation announced it is working with Oracle Corporation and Acxiom Corporation to provide a business-to-consumer marketing automation solution that helps companies meet the challenges of customer retention in today's competitive, ever-changing global marketplace. The Compaq, Acxiom, and Oracle Customer Loyalty solution incorporates Compaq AlphaServers running Tru64 UNIX, ProLiant industry-standard servers and StorageWorks products, Oracle database products and services, and Acxiom's AbiliTec Customer Data Integration (CDI) technology.

Companies, both big and small, have access to a significant amount of customer data via hundreds or even thousands of data sources, often resulting in multiple profiles and contact records for any given customer. Consolidating this information into a single view of a given customer can be difficult, time-consuming and prone to errors. As a result, companies do not have an accurate, comprehensive view of their customer when planning marketing programs or interacting with customers via call centers or the Internet.

The Oracle Customer Loyalty solution leverages Acxiom's AbiliTec technology to unify all information about a company's customers into a single repository. Analytic software accesses the data for real-time segmentation and analysis of buyer behavior patterns and profitability, while other techniques improve and personalize company-customer interactions. The solution can be up and running in as little as 90 days, enabling users to gain market advantage quickly. By using the customer as the design point, Customer Loyalty enables retention, reward and prospecting programs to achieve a level of one-to-one personalization that was previously unavailable.

"By consolidating disparate data into a single, coherent view of the customer, the Oracle Customer Loyalty solution enables companies to increase customer retention and satisfaction, with direct bottom line impact," said John Nicholson, vice president, Customer Relationship Management/Business Intelligence, Compaq Computer Corporation. "The combination of Oracle's technology and services, Compaq's leadership and expertise in Internet infrastructure solutions, and Acxiom's emerging AbiliTec standard for Customer Data Integration promises to build long-term, high-value relationships."

"Customer facing applications begin with integrating all customer information, and Oracle Customer Loyalty offers a complete and compelling solution that will aid companies in the thorough understanding of customers," said Craig Brennan, senior vice president for Global CRM Solutions, Oracle Corporation. "By joining with powerful partners like Compaq for high performance server and storage solutions, Oracle will help companies achieve a consolidated view of the customer for effective marketing and customer retention."

"Acxiom's AbiliTec (CDI) technology will enable users of Customer Loyalty to develop a single 360-degree view of their most valuable customers. From this holistic view, companies can develop highly personalized campaigns to retain and reward their most profitable customers," said Alex Dietz, Data Products leader for Acxiom Corporation. "Aggregating customer data and then accessing it in real-time requires a highly scalable and available infrastructure. Everyday, Acxiom and our customers rely on the proven performance and availability of Compaq's AlphaServer and ProLiant server families to manage critical customer information."

Oracle Customer Loyalty is available from Oracle Corporation. For more details on how Compaq is partnering with Oracle and Acxiom, visit the program Web site at www.compaq.com/partners/oracle/cl_program.html.

Company Background

Compaq Computer Corporation, a Fortune Global 100 company, is one of the largest suppliers of computing systems in the world. Compaq designs, develops, manufactures, and markets hardware, software, solutions, and services, including industry-leading enterprise computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, and communications products, commercial desktop and portable products, and consumer PCs.

Compaq products and services are sold in more than 200 countries directly to businesses, through a network of authorized Compaq marketing partners, and directly to businesses and consumers through Compaq's e-commerce Web site at www.compaq.com . Compaq markets its products and services primarily to customers from the business, home, government, and education sectors. Customer support and information about Compaq and its products and services are available at www.compaq.com.

Contact Mark Ostermann of Compaq Computer Corporation, 408-285-0494, mark.ostermann@compaq.com.