FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BZ Media To Launch
 Software Test & Performance Conference

Oyster Bay, N.Y., June 16, 2004 - BZ Media LLC today announced the first annual Software Test & Performance Conference, scheduled for December 7-9, 2004, at the Hyatt Regency on the Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland.

The Software Test & Performance Conference (www.stpcon.com) is an independent event for software test and quality assurance managers, software development managers, and other decision-makers in the software development organizations and departments. The conference will cover testing and performance issues from the overall strategic view of the entire application life cycle, which will appeal to a higher level and more powerful audience than traditional training programs for testing team members.

Alan Zeichick, executive vice-president of BZ Media and chairman of the Software Test & Performance Conference, said, "In many industries, mission-critical software is at the heart of a company’s competitive advantage over rivals. However, software risks have never been higher, with the unprecedented complexity of modern distributed applications. Software that doesn't meet requirements, produces invalid results, or which fails under load, can place an enterprise in financial and even legal peril in today's business climate."

Donna Esposito, director of events for BZ Media, said, "The market for test and performance tools is set to boom! The Software Test & Performance Conference will bring together more than 450 dedicated software and test professionals and managers with more than 50 in-depth, technical classes and tutorials."

The three-day Software Test & Performance Conference will include an exhibition hall, in addition to the technical classes. More than 30 leading exhibitors are expected to show their software testing and performance management solutions.

Esposito said, "The show floor provides an excellent opportunity for leading vendors in the testing and performance-management industry to demonstrate their products, services and solutions in a relaxed and intimate atmosphere. The Software Test & Performance Conference brings this critical community together."

Prospective instructors may view the Call for Speakers at www.stpcon.com/speakers.htm. The deadline for class proposals is July 23, 2004. Vendors can contact Donna Esposito at +1 415-785-3419 or desposito@bzmedia.com to discuss sponsorship opportunities and booth availability.

The Software Test & Performance Conference is produced by BZ Media, publisher of SD Times, the twice-monthly newspaper of record for the software development industry, and Software Test & Performance Magazine.