Sphera Adds Automated Web Site Publishing Tool for Small Businesses Web Application From Soholaunch Integrated As ValueApp [8th July 2003]

NEWTON, Mass., Jul 8, 2003 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Sphera Corporation, the leading global provider of Web hosting automation and management software, today announced it is extending the value and flexibility of its HostingBusiness Suite(TM) platform with a new Web site creation tool. Sphera is integrating technology from Soholaunch, Inc., enabling hosting providers to offer small- to-medium businesses the ability to quickly get up and running and generating revenue. The inclusion of Soholaunch's Web Site Publishing Tool among the more than 50 ValueApps(R) provided in the HostingBusiness Suite solution gives hosting providers a major competitive advantage by making it easy for their end-user customers to create a powerful Web presence.

"By including Web site development technology within its HostingBusiness Suite, Sphera offers a unique differentiator for itself and its customers, as well as a major benefit to small businesses, many of which are already online but few of which have yet -- either because of time or money constraints, or for lack of easy-to-use technology -- taken full advantage of the Web's opportunities," says analyst Shirley Siluk Gregory of The ebi Group.

The Soholaunch application enables fast and simple Web site development and content management without extensive programming. The time required to develop highly professional and feature-rich Web sites can be reduced from weeks to days or even hours. The new Sphera ValueApp also leverages Soholaunch technology to help hosting providers extend e-commerce capabilities to their business customers.

"Sphera shares our focus on advancing a hosting provider's success by providing flexible, standards-based solutions," says Brad Lightner, chief operating officer at Soholaunch, Inc. (www.Soholaunch.com). "Web site development is key for the small to medium businesses as this target market is constantly looking to create or enhance its online presence and commerce capabilities."

Rivka Shenberg, vice president product management for Sphera adds, "This new, integrated ValueApp offers the most efficient path to including Web site development capabilities in service packages. We view the Soholaunch product as a very powerful and friendly publishing application that lets users self- develop a professional Web site faster and with minimal drain on internal resources." Shenberg continued, "In keeping with our companies' mutual commitment to flexible, open technology, deploying Soholaunch through Sphera's standards-based architecture is far simpler than having to use an ASP model where the tools would reside on an external server and require hefty file transfers."

About Sphera

Sphera Corporation is a global leader in Web hosting automation and management software. Sphera provides value to hosting providers and resellers through service differentiation, increased operational efficiencies, enhanced customer satisfaction and increased profitability. Sphera's HostingBusiness Suite(TM), which includes HostingDirector(R) and ResellerDirector(TM), delivers immediate ROI by generating new revenue opportunities, slashing costs and winning customer loyalty. Headquartered in Newton, MA, with EMEA offices in London, Sphera is backed by well-established global venture capital firms including JVP, TLcom Capital Partners, Gemini Israel Funds, Vision Capital, Bank of America and Reuters Greenhouse Fund. For more information, visit www.sphera.com, or call 1-866-SPHERA-1.

Sphera, HostingBusiness Suite, HostingDirector and ResellerDirector are trademarks of Sphera.

Media Contacts:
Robin Hodus
Sphera Corporation
617-614-1822
rhodus@sphera.com

Sandra Fathi
Affect Strategies for Sphera
201-862-0776
sandra@affectstrategies.com

SOURCE Sphera Corporation