Keystone Expanding Microsoft Development

News Release

For Immediate Release

Keystone Expanding Microsoft Development Capabilities

Keystone Solutions is to make NZ the centre for its Microsoft software development

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Thursday, March 15, 2001 - Keystone Solutions, the London-based legal and professional services software developer, announced today that it is expanding its Microsoft development capabilities in New Zealand by making this country the software development centre for the company's Net Results product.

Keystone Solutions acquired Net Results, a business intelligence and financial modelling software product a year ago through its purchase of the US-based company, BISPoint Technologies. All development for Net Results is currently based in San Francisco and Buffalo, New York.

"Our decision to make New Zealand the development centre is based on the fact that this country has the knowledge and development skills to match any other country in the world. I sometimes think New Zealanders don't realise just how advanced we are in technology development," said William Davis, Keystone Solutions' Research and Development Manager.

Net Results sits across multiple systems such as Human Resources, Payroll and Practice Management, which Keystone Solutions says often operate in isolation of each other in most law firms and professional organisations. Net Results' 'Integrator' component enables data to be extracted from these different areas and reports created on Microsoft® SQL(tm) Server.

"This is the first product we have owned that is 100% Microsoft - both the platform and the development tools. What really excites us about this is Microsoft's .Net capabilities and how this will help us deliver Net Results over the Internet," said Davis.

"We are planning to adopt those .Net components that are relevant to our business. BizTalk looks exciting and we are expecting Visual Studio.Net to make our life a lot easier."

Keystone Solutions' decision to base its Microsoft developers in New Zealand is expected to create at least eight additional Microsoft developer jobs over the next 6 months at their New Zealand operation.

-ENDS-

About Keystone

Keystone Solutions, develops and distributes business applications software for large multinational service companies specifically in the accounting and legal sectors. Keystone employs more than 150 personnel - specialists in software design, development and related business consulting - working from offices in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia and New Zealand.

About Microsoft Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device.

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Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

For more information, press only: Kaye Sycamore, Director, Business Development and Marketing, Keystone Solutions, Email: kaye.sycamore@keystone-solutions.com , Ph: 09 357 0410/021 670 414 or Glenn Selwyn, Regional Marketing Manager, Ph: 09 357 0410/817 2162 (ah).

Carol Leishman, Communications Manager, Microsoft New Zealand, Email: carolle@microsoft.com , Ph: 09-357 5820 or 021 636 607

Mike Howie, Account Director, AUGUST.ONE COMMUNICATIONS, Email: Mike.Howie@augustone.co.nz , Ph: Microsoft Press Office line: 09-357 5844 or 021 800 155

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft New Zealand Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/nz/ on Microsoft's corporate information pages.

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