Latest Business Intelligence News
Angel.com Continues to Respond to Paul English’s IVR Cheat Sheet by Launching IVR University
Industry Leader Responds to IVR Cheat Sheet with Offer to Companies to Improve IVR Systems Through Training and Certification
McLean, Va. (December 05, 2005) –
Angel.com, a leading provider of on-demand call center and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) solutions and a division of MicroStrategy® Incorporated (NASDAQ: MSTR), today announced that it will launch IVR University, an online training and development resource focused on teaching best practices in IVR design and implementation to business and technical users. IVR University will launch in early 2006, and will be chaired by Steven R. Brown, Vice President of Client Services at Angel.com.
The mission of IVR University is to promote the best practices of IVR design and implementation, to ensure a useful and efficient caller experience, and to help businesses optimize their phone-based customer service. IVR University will offer a number of certification tracks, including Voice User Interface (VUI) Design, IVR Application Development and CRM/Database Integration. Courses will be offered via live, instructor-led classroom workshops across the United States, as well as live webinars and pre-recorded modules. In order to ensure consistency in IVR development nationwide, IVR University will serve customers of varied sizes, ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.
“We expect IVR University to quickly become a key training and proving ground for those that manage IVR systems at both small and large organizations,” said Michael Zirngibl, President and CEO of Angel.com. “Besides drawing on the collective expertise of the Angel.com staff, we plan to bring in top industry analysts, Voice User Interface designers, IVR executives and consumer focus groups to guide the course content and participate in the most active community of industry stakeholders. The international media and consumer attention that Paul English’s IVR Cheat Sheet has generated has sent a clear signal that many IVRs do not meet consumer standards. Angel.com’s IVR University will take the lead in aiding the development of business-friendly and customer-friendly IVR solutions moving forward.”
More information on IVR University can be found at www.angel.com/ivruniversity/index.jsp.
Angel.com’s IVR Cheat Sheet for Businesses, released last week, can be found at http://www.angel.com/ivrcheatsheet/index.jsp.
About Angel.com
Angel.com is a leading provider of on-demand call center and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) solutions, which enable organizations of all sizes to quickly deploy powerful telephony applications. More than 1,500 customers turn to Angel.com’s patented Voice Site technology to power customer service and marketing phone numbers using intelligent speech recognition that can automate most phone-based interactions. With an innovative Internet-based solution that requires no investment in hardware, software, or human resources, Angel.com balances the need for high quality communications with affordable pay-as-you-go pricing.
About MicroStrategy
Founded in 1989, MicroStrategy is a global leader in business intelligence (BI) technology. MicroStrategy provides integrated reporting, analysis, and monitoring software that helps leading organizations worldwide make better business decisions every day. Companies choose MicroStrategy for its advanced technical capabilities, sophisticated analytics, and superior data and user scalability. More information about MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR) is available at www.microstrategy.com.
MicroStrategy, Angel.com are either trademarks or registered trademarks of MicroStrategy Incorporated in the United States and certain other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Mike Sweeney
Angel.com
(703) 770-1352
sweeney@angel.com
Source: MicroStrategy
MicroStrategy to Host Ninth Annual User Conference, January 23-26, 2006
Industry Leaders to Share Business Intelligence Insights and Best Practices with over 1,000 Attendees at MicroStrategy World 2006
McLean, Va., (December 01, 2005) –
MicroStrategy® Incorporated (NASDAQ: MSTR), a leading worldwide provider of business intelligence software, today announced that it will host its ninth annual user conference, MicroStrategy World 2006, January 23-26 at the InterContinental Hotel in Miami, Florida. Over 1,000 conference attendees are expected at the event, which will feature more than 100 educational sessions, customer speakers from leading global organizations, and an exhibit hall showcasing MicroStrategy partners.
MicroStrategy World 2006 attendees will have the opportunity to hear from industry leaders including MicroStrategy CEO, Michael Saylor; BI industry analyst and author, Nigel Pendse; and Publisher of CIO Magazine, Gary Beach, as they share their insights on the future direction of information technology and business intelligence. MicroStrategy technology leaders will provide a preview of MicroStrategy’s upcoming releases for 2006 and beyond, as well as demonstrations of the latest product features. Participants can choose from business and technical tracks with tutorials, discussions, and case studies geared to every level of BI experience, from novices to advanced power users.
Industry-leading companies at the forefront of BI will present their success strategies and experiences using BI to improve operational efficiencies, reduce costs, and enhance corporate performance. Some of the companies scheduled to present at MicroStrategy World 2006 include American Express, The Bank of New York, Cardinal Health, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Comcast, Corporate Express, Discovery Education, The First American Corporation, Herbalife International, Intel, Lowe’s Companies, Metlife, Northwest Evaluation Association, Oakwood Homes, PetSmart, PPL Corporation, Premier Incorporated, Rite-Hite Corporation, U.S. Postal Service, Verispan, and Victoria’s Secret Direct.
“MicroStrategy World events get bigger and better each year,” said Sanju Bansal, MicroStrategy COO. “Our attendees can expect another exciting conference in 2006, with compelling speakers, informative content, and a dynamic exchange of BI ideas and solutions. With more than 100 business and technical sessions to choose from, participants can customize their experience at MicroStrategy World to fit their level of expertise.”
Registration information and a preliminary agenda for MicroStrategy World 2006 are available at http://www.microstrategy.com/Events/MicroStrategyWorld2006.
About MicroStrategy
Founded in 1989, MicroStrategy is a global leader in business intelligence (BI) technology. MicroStrategy provides integrated reporting, analysis, and monitoring software that helps leading organizations worldwide make better business decisions every day. Companies choose MicroStrategy for its advanced technical capabilities, sophisticated analytics, and superior data and user scalability. More information about MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR) is available at www.microstrategy.com.
MicroStrategy, MicroStrategy Business Intelligence Platform are either trademarks or registered trademarks of MicroStrategy Incorporated in the United States and certain other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Wende Cover
MicroStrategy, Incorporated
1-703-770-1646
wcover@microstrategy.com
Source: MicroStrategy
Angel.com Responds to Paul English with IVR Cheat Sheet for Businesses
Cheat Sheet Identifies Ten Best Practices to Help Companies Serve Customers Via IVR
McLean, Va. (November 30, 2005) –
Angel.com, a leading provider of on-demand call center and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) solutions and a division of MicroStrategy® Incorporated (NASDAQ: MSTR), today released its IVR Cheat Sheet for Businesses, a listing of quick tips businesses can use to make their IVR systems more user-friendly and efficient. The Cheat Sheet was developed in response to Paul English’s recent listing of major U.S. companies who, according to English, design their IVR systems poorly and make it difficult for callers to speak with a live agent.
“I applaud Mr. English’s efforts because he obviously is acting with the consumer’s best interests in mind, but it is equally important to note that IVR, if used correctly, can often help callers resolve issues faster and more accurately than a live agent,” said Michael Zirngibl, President and CEO of Angel.com. “Our new IVR Cheat Sheet for Businesses provides tips for developing IVR systems which will create positive caller experiences and improve business productivity.”
Below is a summary of the tips contained in the Cheat Sheet:
1. Let callers know what to expect from the system immediately. This is a simple rule that applies to any customer experience – present a pleasant greeting and explain succinctly what the system can and will do for the caller.
2. Do not hide the option for callers to speak with a live agent. No matter how useful your IVR system is for customers, there will always be a segment of customers who prefer to speak to a live agent to resolve their issue.
3. Whenever possible, give the caller an approximate time for the completion of the request. If transferring to a live agent, let the caller know the expected hold time and provide options to go back into the IVR system.
4. Do not make callers repeat information collected in the IVR to the live agent they are transferred to. If you want callers to believe that the IVR can help them resolve a problem, respect the time they put into the IVR and don’t ask for the same answers twice.
5. Provide callers with an option to navigate the system using touch-tone (keypad) or speech recognition. Let callers choose the most effective option based on their general preferences, location or understanding of the system.
6. Personalize the IVR for each caller by integrating with your customer databases and CRM systems. If callers know that the system recognizes their identity, they will be far more likely to stay in the IVR.
7. Identify and communicate a few universal commands that are recognized at any time during the call. Examples include “beginning” to go back to the start of the dialogue and “help” to get detailed information on the current request for input.
8. Keep the interface simple – use closed, short prompts, limit the number of menu choices and request simple, one-word responses. Callers will only use the IVR system if they perceive that it is easy to use and useful in resolving their issue or information request.
9. Always let the caller know what is happening. Keep in mind that the IVR dialogue should be similar to a conversation between two human beings. The system should explain pauses with messages such as “Thanks for the information, let me look up your account” or “I am trying to find the most appropriate person to handle your request.”
10. Provide courteous, smooth error-handling. Generic error messages that are not tailored to the caller’s specific situation will drive callers away from the IVR. The system should always take the blame for errors.
The full version of the IVR Cheat Sheet for Businesses is available at www.angel.com/ivrcheatsheet.
About Angel.com
Angel.com is a leading provider of on-demand call center and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) solutions, which enable organizations of all sizes to quickly deploy powerful telephony applications. More than 1,500 customers turn to Angel.com’s patented Voice Site technology to power customer service and marketing phone numbers using intelligent speech recognition that can automate most phone-based interactions. With an innovative Internet-based solution that requires no investment in hardware, software, or human resources, Angel.com balances the need for high quality communications with affordable pay-as-you-go pricing.
About MicroStrategy
Founded in 1989, MicroStrategy is a global leader in business intelligence (BI) technology. MicroStrategy provides integrated reporting, analysis, and monitoring software that helps leading organizations worldwide make better business decisions every day. Companies choose MicroStrategy for its advanced technical capabilities, sophisticated analytics, and superior data and user scalability. More information about MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR) is available at www.microstrategy.com.
MicroStrategy, Angel.com are either trademarks or registered trademarks of MicroStrategy Incorporated in the United States and certain other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Mike Sweeney
Angel.com
(703) 770-1352
sweeney@angel.com
Source: MicroStrategy
MicroStrategy Wins Reinstatement of Key Claim in Litigation Against Business Objects
Federal Appellate Court Upholds Non-Solicitation Provision in MicroStrategy’s Employment Agreements
McLean, Va., (November 17, 2005) –
MicroStrategy® Incorporated (NASDAQ: MSTR), a leading worldwide provider of business intelligence software, today announced that it has won a key issue on appeal in the ongoing litigation against Business Objects for misappropriation of MicroStrategy’s trade secrets and other related misconduct. As a result of the ruling today by the United Stated Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, MicroStrategy’s claim against Business Objects for tortious interference with contractual relations has been reinstated.
In its opinion issued earlier today, the Federal Circuit upheld the validity of the non-solicitation provision in MicroStrategy’s employment agreement. Holding that the employment agreement is “straight-forward” and “not ambiguous on its face,” the Court interpreted the agreement to prohibit Business Objects employees who formerly worked at MicroStrategy “from taking any action that drives MicroStrategy customers away altogether or prompts MicroStrategy customers to buy less (but still some) from the company.” The Federal Circuit reversed the ruling of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, which had found the non-solicitation clause invalid, and remanded the case to the district court for further proceedings.
The litigation against Business Objects arose from the misappropriation of MicroStrategy’s trade secrets, as well as its hiring of former MicroStrategy employees who improperly used MicroStrategy’s confidential information to solicit customers for Business Objects. More than a year ago, the district court found Business Objects guilty of misappropriation of MicroStrategy’s trade secrets, calling Business Objects’ conduct “unethical” and “improper.” An injunction has been in effect against Business Objects ever since. Conceding its misconduct, Business Objects did not appeal from the judgment that it misappropriated MicroStrategy’s trade secrets or the injunction entered against it.
With the Federal Circuit’s ruling today, MicroStrategy now can pursue its claim that Business Objects tortiously caused former MicroStrategy employees to breach the non-solicitation provision of their employment agreements, notwithstanding the Federal Circuit’s rulings in favor of Business Objects on certain patent infringement claims and other issues involved in the lawsuit. In addition, MicroStrategy has filed a separate lawsuit against Business Objects for infringement of three of MicroStrategy’s patents. This additional lawsuit, pending in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, is expected to proceed to trial in May 2006. MicroStrategy is seeking treble damages and an injunction against Business Objects for its willful infringement of MicroStrategy’s exclusive patent rights.
About MicroStrategy Incorporated
Founded in 1989, MicroStrategy is a global leader in business intelligence (BI) technology. MicroStrategy provides integrated reporting, analysis, and monitoring software that helps leading organizations worldwide make better business decisions every day. Companies choose MicroStrategy for its advanced technical capabilities, sophisticated analytics, and superior data and user scalability. More information about MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR) is available at www.microstrategy.com.
This press release may include statements that may constitute “forward-looking statements,” including its plans for pursuing future legal claims against Business Objects statements containing the words “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “expect” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results of MicroStrategy Incorporated and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could contribute to such differences include: changes the Company’s evaluation of the likelihood of success on various claims, the legal costs necessary to pursue such claims and the potential magnitude of any recovery of damages relating to such claims; general economic conditions; and other risks detailed in the Company’s registration statements and periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release.
MicroStrategy, MicroStrategy Business Intelligence Platform are either trademarks or registered trademarks of MicroStrategy Incorporated in the United States and certain other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Wende Cover
MicroStrategy, Incorporated
1-703-770-1646
wcover@microstrategy.com
Source: MicroStrategy
MicroStrategy Provides Business Intelligence Resources to Students Around the World
Alliance with Teradata University Network Gives Students Real-world Business Intelligence Experience
McLean, Va., (November 17, 2005) –
MicroStrategy® Incorporated (NASDAQ: MSTR), a leading worldwide provider of business intelligence software, today announced an agreement to enter its third year of participation in the Teradata University Network, providing user-friendly business intelligence technology resources to over 500 universities in 53 countries. Teradata, a division of NCR Corporation, created the Teradata University Network, an online learning portal designed to further the education of data warehousing, business intelligence, and database administration.
Through the Teradata University Network, thousands of students and instructors receive hands-on experience using MicroStrategy’s business intelligence software, free of charge. With user-friendly reporting features and analytical flexibility, MicroStrategy enables students with diverse levels of technical experience to work with business reports and perform analyses on data from any Web browser.
“In the past, it was difficult to give students hands-on experience with a leading business intelligence tool,” said Hugh Watson, Senior Director of Teradata University Network and Professor of MIS, University of Georgia. “You had to work out an agreement with the vendor, install the software, learn to use it, and develop materials around it. Virtually all of this work is done with MicroStrategy on the Teradata University Network. I’ve used MicroStrategy in my graduate Decisions Support course and it was easy to include in the course and students loved it.”
“Having MicroStrategy’s products available via the Web at no cost is a dream come true,” said Barbara Wixom, Associate Director of Teradata University Network and Professor of Commerce, University of Virginia. “We can now teach our students about business intelligence in a tangible, concrete way using industry-leading software.”
“MicroStrategy has long believed that an investment in knowledge pays the highest dividend, and we’re proud to be playing a major role in the Teradata University Network, which will enhance education and training in business intelligence worldwide,” said MicroStrategy’s COO Sanju Bansal. “We continue to work closely with Teradata on this exciting and important initiative to help ensure its long-term success.”
For more information on the Teradata University Network, visit www.teradatauniversitynetwork.com.
About MicroStrategy
Founded in 1989, MicroStrategy is a global leader in business intelligence (BI) technology. MicroStrategy provides integrated reporting, analysis, and monitoring software that helps leading organizations worldwide make better business decisions every day. Companies choose MicroStrategy for its advanced technical capabilities, sophisticated analytics, and superior data and user scalability. More information about MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR) is available at www.microstrategy.com.
MicroStrategy, MicroStrategy Business Intelligence Platform are either trademarks or registered trademarks of MicroStrategy Incorporated in the United States and certain other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Wende Cover
MicroStrategy, Incorporated
1-703-770-1646
wcover@microstrategy.com
Source: MicroStrategy
Wipro Limited
MicroStrategy® Incorporated (NASDAQ: MSTR), a leading worldwide provider of business intelligence software, today announced a global reseller agreement with Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT), a $1.35 billion global information technology (IT) services company
McLean, Va., (November 15, 2005) –
MicroStrategy® Incorporated (NASDAQ: MSTR), a leading worldwide provider of business intelligence software, today announced a global reseller agreement with Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT), a $1.35 billion global information technology (IT) services company. With more than 42,000 employees worldwide, Wipro is a leading provider of integrated business, technology, and process solutions on a global delivery platform.
Under the new agreement, Wipro will resell MicroStrategy’s technology to its enterprise-scale customers covering a broad spectrum of industries. Wipro plans to dedicate a team of individuals who will become experts on MicroStrategy software and develop solutions around the MicroStrategy platform. In addition, MicroStrategy will be showcased in Wipro’s “Solution Center,” located at Wipro’s headquarters in Bangalore, India.
“Our global customers are continually looking for more efficient ways to utilize their vast amounts of business data to enhance corporate performance,” said Vivek Bhasin, Vice President, eBusiness and DataWarehouse, Wipro. “MicroStrategy’s integrated business intelligence platform is well-suited for Wipro’s enterprise-scale customers, with its scalability and flexibility to support global corporations with thousands of users and terabytes of data.”
“We are delighted to add Wipro to our portfolio of alliances,” said Tom Villani, MicroStrategy’s Vice President of Global Alliances. “By partnering with Wipro, we are able to leverage the breadth of their global presence and extensive experience in IT to help extend our customer reach, both domestically and internationally. Wipro customers cover a myriad of industries and we look forward to working with the Wipro associates to identify new business opportunities.”
About Wipro Limited
Wipro Limited is the first PCMM Level 5 and SEI CMM Level certified IT Services Company globally. Wipro provides comprehensive IT solutions and services, including systems integration, Information Systems outsourcing, package implementation, software application development and maintenance, and research and development services to corporations globally. In the Indian market, Wipro is a leader in providing IT solutions and services for the corporate segment in India offering system integration, network integration, software solutions and IT services. Wipro also has profitable presence in niche market segments of consumer products and lighting. In the Asia Pacific and Middle East markets, Wipro provides IT solutions and services for global corporations. Wipro’s ADSs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and its equity shares are listed in India on the Stock exchange – Mumbai, and the National Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit our website at www.wipro.com, www.wiprocorporate.com , and www.wipro.co.in
About MicroStrategy
Founded in 1989, MicroStrategy is a global leader in business intelligence (BI) technology. MicroStrategy provides integrated reporting, analysis, and monitoring software that helps leading organizations worldwide make better business decisions every day. Companies choose MicroStrategy for its advanced technical capabilities, sophisticated analytics, and superior data and user scalability. More information about MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR) is available at www.microstrategy.com.
This press release may include statements that may constitute “forward-looking statements,” including its estimates of future business prospects or financial results and statements containing the words “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “expect” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks that could cause MicroStrategy’s actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could contribute to such differences include: the ability of MicroStrategy to implement and achieve widespread customer acceptance of its software on a timely basis; delays in MicroStrategy’s ability to develop or ship new products; market acceptance of new products; competitive factors; currency fluctuations; and other risks detailed in MicroStrategy’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release.
MicroStrategy, MicroStrategy Business Intelligence Platform are either trademarks or registered trademarks of MicroStrategy Incorporated in the United States and certain other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Wende Cover
MicroStrategy, Incorporated
1-703-770-1646
wcover@microstrategy.com
Source: MicroStrategy
SunRocket Taps Angel.com to Deliver Personalized Interactive Voice Response System for Call Center
Leading Internet Phone Service Provider Uses Angel.com to Automate Common Requests and Route Calls to Live Agents
McLean, Va. (November 10, 2005) –
Angel.com, a leading provider of on-demand call center and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) solutions and a division of MicroStrategy® Incorporated (NASDAQ: MSTR), announced today that SunRocket, a leading Internet phone service provider, has selected Angel.com to build and host its voice-automated sales and member services phone application. The solution, which uses personalized IVR to identify caller characteristics and provide fully-automated answers to common requests, is being used to handle service inquiries from all SunRocket customers.
Through real-time interaction with SunRocket’s customer database, the IVR customizes the call flow for each caller, creating individualized caller experiences for new callers, existing customers, and customers who have recently signed up for service as follows:
o For prospective customers calling in for the first time, the system checks for service availability in the caller’s area based on the caller ID. Once the system verifies that service is available, it will further qualify the caller by asking whether or not they have broadband access. If the caller is in a SunRocket service area and has broadband access, this high-priority sales call is directed to the SunRocket sales team.
o Existing customers are identified by their caller ID and receive a personalized greeting based on data retrieved from SunRocket’s CRM database.
o Customers who have recently signed up for SunRocket phone service immediately receive the status of the transfer of their home phone number, including the date the transfer is expected to be completed.
“By connecting real-time with our customer database, the Angel.com solution allows us to offer a sophisticated, personalized call flow to each SunRocket customer or prospect,” said Toni Boyd, Chief Service Officer of SunRocket. “Providing this type of high-touch customer service is one of the reasons that SunRocket has emerged as a leading provider of Internet phone service.”
“This is a great example of the future of IVR – speech recognition and call center technology provided in an on-demand model, combined with real-time access to a customer’s CRM system and databases,” said Mike Zirngibl, President of Angel.com. “I commend SunRocket for embracing the concept of personalized IVR to provide a higher level of customer service.”
About SunRocket
Headquartered in Vienna, Virginia, SunRocket, the “no gotcha” phone company, is bringing Internet phone service to mainstream America with the nation’s first full-year, flat-rate home phone package. SunRocket is the only company to offer complete Internet phone service at an all-inclusive, bottom-line annual price of $199, with no hidden charges, termination penalties or “gotchas.” SunRocket makes it easy for households with high-speed Internet access to take advantage of the incredible value and enhanced capabilities of state-of-the-art Internet telephony. For more information about this privately held corporation, see the company’s web site at www.SunRocket.com.
About Angel.com
Angel.com is a leading provider of on-demand call center and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) solutions, which enable organizations of all sizes to quickly deploy powerful telephony applications. More than 1,500 customers turn to Angel.com’s patented Voice Site technology to power customer service and marketing phone numbers using intelligent speech recognition that can automate most phone-based interactions. With an innovative Internet-based solution that requires no investment in hardware, software, or human resources, Angel.com balances the need for high quality communications with affordable pay-as-you-go pricing.
About MicroStrategy
Founded in 1989, MicroStrategy is a global leader in business intelligence (BI) technology. MicroStrategy provides integrated reporting, analysis, and monitoring software that helps leading organizations worldwide make better business decisions every day. Companies choose MicroStrategy for its advanced technical capabilities, sophisticated analytics, and superior data and user scalability. More information about MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR) is available at www.microstrategy.com.
MicroStrategy, Angel.com are either trademarks or registered trademarks of MicroStrategy Incorporated in the United States and certain other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Mike Sweeney
Angel.com
(703) 770-1352
sweeney@angel.com
Source: MicroStrategy
MicroStrategy Announces Third Quarter 2005 Financial Results
Third Quarter Operating Income Up 21% Year-Over-Year
MCLEAN, Va., (October 27, 2005) –
MicroStrategy(R) Incorporated (Nasdaq: MSTR), a leading worldwide provider of business intelligence software, today announced financial results for the three-month period ended September 30, 2005 (the third quarter of its 2005 fiscal year).
Third quarter 2005 revenue was $65.8 million versus $60.6 million in the third quarter of 2004, a 9% increase. License revenue for the third quarter of 2005 was $22.6 million versus $25.8 million for the third quarter of 2004, a 12% decrease. In the third quarter of 2004, $8.1 million of the $25.8 million in license revenue, or 31% of third quarter 2004 license revenue, was attributable to two license transactions each in excess of $3 million. The Company had no license transactions in excess of $3 million in the third quarter of 2005. Third quarter 2005 income from operations was $22.9 million, or 35% of revenue, versus $18.8 million, or 31% of revenue, in the third quarter of 2004, a 21% increase. Net income for the third quarter of 2005 was $13.3 million, or $0.91 per share on a diluted basis.
For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2005, revenue was $191.2 million versus $159.6 million for the same period in 2004, a 20% increase. License revenue for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2005 was $68.7 million versus $62.9 million for the same period in 2004, a 9% increase. Income from operations for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2005, was $64.3 million, or 34% of revenue, versus $41.2 million, or 26% of revenue, for the same period in 2004. Net income for the first nine months of 2005 was $45.9 million, or $2.91 per share on a diluted basis. Cash flow from operations for the first nine months of 2005 increased 33%, to $72.5 million versus $54.6 million for the same period in 2004.
During the third quarter of 2005, MicroStrategy repatriated $30.0 million from its foreign subsidiaries under the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. The incremental tax expense during the third quarter of 2005 related to the repatriation was $3.1 million, or $0.21 per share on a diluted basis. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2005, the provision for income taxes was $22.0 million resulting in an effective tax rate of 32%. As previously announced, the tax benefit of $103.0 million during the third quarter of 2004 included a non-cash income tax benefit of $103.6 million as a result of the release of the Company’s U.S. and Canadian deferred tax asset valuation allowances.
“MicroStrategy continued to achieve strong operating leverage across all lines of business as our operating margin rose to 35% during the third quarter of 2005,” said Arthur S. Locke, III, MicroStrategy’s Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer. “Net cash generated from operations for the first nine months of 2005 increased 33% to $72.5 million, compared to $54.6 million for the first nine months of 2004. We are pleased with our financial and operating metrics this quarter. Our results reflect our continued success in meeting the needs of leading organizations worldwide for our highly sophisticated business intelligence technology.”
New Customers and New Deals with Existing Customers in Q3 2005 included:
ACMI; Alticor; AmerisourceBergen Corporation; Bankers Systems, Inc.; Brickstream; Canadian Institute for Health Information; Caremark Rx; CarrAmerica Realty Corporation; Chela Education Financing; Chuck Latham Associates, Inc.; Cingular Wireless; Cryptologic, Inc.; CSK Auto Corporation; DCG, Inc.; Fieldstone Mortgage; First Franklin Financial Corporation; Golden Touch Imports; Henry Schein, Inc.; IDX Systems Corporation; ImpactRX; Ingenix; Katz Group Canada Ltd.; N.E.W. Corp.; Porsche Cars North America; Prescription Solutions; Reitmans Canada Limited; Sanofi Pasteur; Shoppers Drug Mart; Stein Mart; The First American Corporation; TRX Data Services Inc.; Unified Western Grocers; Verispan, LLC; VHA, Inc.
Examples of Customer Deals from Q3 2005:
ACMI Corporation
ACMI Corporation, one of the largest and oldest producers of medical endoscopes, video systems and minimally invasive surgical instruments, first selected MicroStrategy in 2001 to anchor its field sales and marketing analysis capabilities. Since that time, ACMI has extended its use of the MicroStrategy platform to accommodate internal sales analysts and users in Customer Service, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, and Manufacturing business functions. As a result of its recent merger with Gyrus Group, ACMI further expanded its relationship with MicroStrategy to serve additional users and provide executive-level dashboards, while continuing to drive operational efficiencies across the newly merged corporation.
CarrAmerica Realty Corporation
CarrAmerica owns, develops, and operates office properties in 12 markets throughout the United States and is one of America’s leading office workplace companies. CarrAmerica has deployed MicroStrategy for asset and portfolio management and financial analysis. Senior management and other key personnel at CarrAmerica use MicroStrategy to gain greater insights into financial performance and to query underlying data for answers to pressing business questions. MicroStrategy was selected by CarrAmerica because of its flexibility, sophisticated analytical capabilities, and feature-rich functionality.
The First American Corporation
The First American Corporation, the nation’s largest data provider and a Fortune(R) 500 company, is expanding its deployment of MicroStrategy across the enterprise to support internal and external business intelligence applications. First American plans to use MicroStrategy to provide reporting and analytic applications that will help integrate information from its 75 separate business units and subsidiaries. The MicroStrategy platform was selected as an enterprise standard for business intelligence because of its ability to handle large data-sets, large user populations, stringent security requirements, and complex analytics.
Unified Western Grocers
Los Angeles-based Unified Western Grocers, Inc. is a retailer-owned wholesale grocery distributor that supplies independent retailers throughout the Western United States. Unified and its subsidiaries generated approximately $3 billion in sales during fiscal 2004. Unified Western Grocers selected MicroStrategy as its enterprise standard for business intelligence and plans to leverage the MicroStrategy platform for reporting and analysis for sales, finance, marketing, corporate brands, business planning and analysis, and inventory management. With MicroStrategy, Unified Western Grocers will be able to make better informed decisions that can improve sales performance, inventory management, and overall profitability.
MicroStrategy 8 Enhancements for Performance, Flexibility, and Scalability:
During the third quarter of 2005, MicroStrategy launched the general availability release of MicroStrategy 8 on 64-bit Linux, providing customers with the versatility to implement performance enhancing business intelligence applications. The Company also announced that it had expanded its integration with SAP NetWeaver(TM) in the latest release of MicroStrategy 8, enabling business users to further leverage their existing SAP investments to seamlessly report on, analyze, and monitor data contained in SAP Business Information Warehouse (BW). MicroStrategy 8’s availability on the next generation of x86-compatible 64-bit server processors was announced in September, allowing MicroStrategy customers to take advantage of the dramatic price and performance value represented by this new breed of servers. The recent MicroStrategy 8 enhancements provide powerful new capabilities that support the sophisticated BI requirements of MicroStrategy’s customers.
MicroStrategy Regional and Annual User Conferences:
The MicroStrategy Fall Symposium, held October 10-12, 2005 in Las Vegas, offered a collaborative forum for participants to share business intelligence success strategies and hear from MicroStrategy customers such as Comcast, Monster Government Solutions, Verispan, Lowe’s Companies, Marketing Direct, and Northwest Evaluation Association. Participants attended informative technical presentations and product direction sessions, where they provided feedback on several MicroStrategy products. In addition, attendees had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with MicroStrategy Technology Advisory Service (TAS) principals to discuss their most challenging BI questions.
In conjunction with the Fall Symposium, MicroStrategy hosted an invitation-only Executive Forum. IT executives from leading companies shared best practices in enterprise BI, heard from visionary speakers including BI analyst Cindi Howson, and networked with peers.
In response to its expanded user base in Europe, MicroStrategy held its second European User Conference, EuroWorld 2005. Several hundred European customers, prospects, and partners attended the event, which was held October 18-20, 2005 in Bonn, Germany. EuroWorld 2005 featured keynote presentations, 35 technical sessions covering a wide range of topics, and customer presentations from leading European companies, including American Express, Turkish Airlines, Danone, Telefonica, Lloydspharmacy, University of Bamberg, Deutsche Borse, and METRO Group.
MicroStrategy is now planning its annual North American User Conference, MicroStrategy World 2006, which will be held January 23-26, 2006 in Miami, Florida.
About MicroStrategy Incorporated
Founded in 1989, MicroStrategy is a global leader in business intelligence (BI) technology. MicroStrategy provides integrated reporting, analysis, and monitoring software that helps leading organizations worldwide make better business decisions every day. Companies choose MicroStrategy for its advanced technical capabilities, sophisticated analytics, and superior data and user scalability. More information about MicroStrategy (Nasdaq: MSTR) is available at http://www.microstrategy.com.
MicroStrategy, MicroStrategy 8 and MicroStrategy Business Intelligence Platform are either trademarks or registered trademarks of MicroStrategy Incorporated in the United States and certain other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
This press release may include statements that may constitute “forward- looking statements,” including estimates of future business prospects or financial results and statements containing the words “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “expect” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results of MicroStrategy Incorporated and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could contribute to such differences include: the ability of the Company to implement and achieve widespread customer acceptance of its MicroStrategy 8, MicroStrategy 7i, MicroStrategy Universal Edition, and MicroStrategy Report Services software on a timely basis; the Company’s ability to recognize deferred revenue through delivery of products or satisfactory performance of services; continued acceptance of the Company’s products in the marketplace; the timing of significant orders; delays in the Company’s ability to develop or ship new products; market acceptance of new products; competitive factors; general economic conditions; currency fluctuations; and other risks detailed in the Company’s registration statements and periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release.
Contact:
MicroStrategy Incorporated
Investor Relations
ir@microstrategy.com
(703) 848-8600
MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
2005 2004 2005 2004
(unaudited) (unaudited)
Revenues
Product licenses $22,608 $25,761 $68,674 $62,895
Product support and other services 43,202 34,865 122,559 96,721
Total revenues 65,810 60,626 191,233 159,616
Cost of revenues
Product licenses 867 1,051 3,062 2,765
Product support and other services 8,412 7,451 24,007 21,631
Total cost of revenues 9,279 8,502 27,069 24,396
Gross profit 56,531 52,124 164,164 135,220
Operating expenses
Sales and marketing 16,652 17,227 50,419 49,171
Research and development 7,820 7,347 23,099 20,593
General and administrative 9,179 8,706 26,304 24,162
Amortization of intangible assets 18 18 54 53
Total operating expenses 33,669 33,298 99,876 93,979
Income from operations 22,862 18,826 64,288 41,241
Financing and other income
Interest income 487 378 2,080 667
Interest expense (12) (19) (44) (44)
Gain (loss) on investments 4 – (127) (85)
Other income (expense), net 248 (162) 1,663 403
Total financing and other income 727 197 3,572 941
Income before income taxes 23,589 19,023 67,860 42,182
Provision (benefit) for income
taxes 10,336 (102,966) 21,967 (101,613)
Net income $13,253 $121,989 $45,893 $143,795
Basic earnings per share $0.96 $7.60 $3.05 $8.97
Diluted earnings per share $0.91 $7.22 $2.91 $8.41
Basic weighted average shares
outstanding 13,868 16,053 15,071 16,039
Diluted weighted average shares
outstanding 14,537 16,903 15,748 17,094
MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except per share data)
September 30, December 31,
2005 2004
(unaudited) (audited)
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $39,614 $68,314
Restricted cash and investments 4,933 1,210
Short-term investments 35,868 37,816
Accounts receivable, net 28,854 40,917
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 5,716 6,337
Deferred tax assets, net 24,187 20,583
Total current assets 139,172 175,177
Property and equipment, net 12,957 16,096
Capitalized software development costs, net 4,229 5,479
Long-term investments – 26,365
Deposits and other assets 2,434 3,021
Deferred tax assets, net 95,000 110,818
Total assets $253,792 $336,956
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $15,498 $18,906
Accrued compensation and employee benefits 20,406 25,292
Accrued restructuring costs 1,248 1,762
Deferred revenue and advance payments 44,772 43,674
Total current liabilities 81,924 89,634
Deferred revenue and advance payments 1,674 1,681
Other long-term liabilities 2,069 3,157
Accrued restructuring costs 960 1,906
Total liabilities 86,627 96,378
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock undesignated;
$0.001 par value; 4,971 shares
authorized; no shares issued or
outstanding – –
Class A common stock; $0.001 par
value; 330,000 shares authorized;
13,235 shares issued and 10,657 shares
outstanding, and 12,841 shares
issued and 12,773 shares
outstanding, respectively 13 13
Class B common stock; $0.001 par
value; 165,000 shares authorized;
3,258 and 3,394 shares issued and
outstanding, respectively 3 3
Additional paid-in capital 426,469 417,287
Treasury stock, at cost; 2,578
and 68 shares, respectively (129,893) (2,331)
Accumulated other comprehensive income 2,280 3,206
Accumulated deficit (131,707) (177,600)
Total stockholders’ equity 167,165 240,578
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $253,792 $336,956
MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
Nine months ended
September 30,
2005 2004
(unaudited) (unaudited)
Operating activities:
Net income $45,893 $143,795
Adjustments to reconcile net income
to net cash provided by operating
activities:
Depreciation and amortization 6,405 6,210
Bad debt expense 425 60
Loss on investments 127 85
Discount amortization on investments (490) –
Deferred taxes 14,539 (103,180)
Other, net 18 65
Changes in operating assets and
liabilities:
Accounts receivable 10,665 648
Prepaid expenses and other
current assets 213 (2,727)
Deposits and other assets 449 (1,301)
Accounts payable and accrued
expenses, compensation
and employee benefits (6,529) 1,875
Accrued restructuring costs (1,530) (1,969)
Deferred revenue and advance
payments 3,361 10,356
Other long-term liabilities (1,088) 712
Net cash provided by
operating activities 72,458 54,629
Investing activities:
Proceeds from maturities and sales
of investments 116,110 –
Purchases of investments (87,143) (26,353)
Purchases of property and equipment, net (1,284) (4,436)
Capitalized software development costs (926) (1,414)
Increase in restricted cash and
investments (3,779) (4)
Net cash provided by (used
in) investing activities 22,978 (32,207)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from sale of class A
common stock under exercise of employee
stock options and employee stock
purchase plan 7,158 2,976
Purchases of treasury stock (127,562) (2,331)
Net cash (used in) provided
by financing activities (120,404) 645
Effect of foreign exchange
rate changes on cash and
cash equivalents (3,732) (181)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and
cash equivalents from continuing
operations (28,700) 22,886
Net cash received from discontinued
operations – 25
Net (decrease) increase in cash and
cash equivalents (28,700) 22,911
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning
of period 68,314 51,882
Cash and cash equivalents, end of
period $39,614 $74,793
SOURCE MicroStrategy Incorporated
CONTACT: MicroStrategy Incorporated, Investor Relations,
+1-703-848-8600, or ir@microstrategy.com
Source: MicroStrategy
PMSI-Tmesys Selects MicroStrategy for Web Portal Reporting and Analysis
MicroStrategy® Incorporated (NASDAQ: MSTR), a leading worldwide provider of business intelligence software, today announced that PMSI-Tmesys®, one of the nationâ??s leading workersâ?? compensation services providers, has selected MicroStrategy to support its web portal that provides timely, self-s
McLean, Va., (October 25, 2005) –
MicroStrategy® Incorporated (NASDAQ: MSTR), a leading worldwide provider of business intelligence software, today announced that PMSI-Tmesys®, one of the nation’s leading workers’ compensation services providers, has selected MicroStrategy to support its web portal that provides timely, self-service reporting capabilities for its clients. PMSI-Tmesys expects that more than 5,000 workers’ compensation claims professional clients will use the web portal in the first year.
With the portal, PMSI-Tmesys clients can generate user-friendly reports on medications prescribed to a particular claimant, top-prescribed drugs, top dispensing pharmacies, and payer-specific savings, among other criteria. Using MicroStrategy, the users have the flexibility to drill down into the data, analyze it, export it, customize it, and present it in a number of different ways. In addition, different types of reports are available to different job functions as set by PMSI-Tmesys’ clients. Previously, PMSI-Tmesys clients received monthly reports via e-mail, with little control over the frequency and appearance of the reports.
“We selected MicroStrategy because of its exceptional scalability, core reporting, and analytic functionality,” said Glenn Kopriva, PMSI-Tmesys Director of Systems and Business Analysis. “MicroStrategy positions us to provide better quality and more timely information to our clients, giving them critical insights to make analytically-based decisions.”
“MicroStrategy software, with its user-friendly reporting features, data scalability, and its ability to be Web-deployed to thousands of users securely, is well-suited for the PMSI-Tmesys client portal,” said MicroStrategy’s COO Sanju Bansal. “Many of the world’s leading companies rely on MicroStrategy to better serve their customers, increase profitability, and enhance business performance.”
About PMSI-Tmesys
Formed in 1976 and based in Tampa, Fla., PMSI-Tmesys is the one of the nation’s leading providers of cost-containment solutions for pharmacy and specialty services in the workers’ compensation and catastrophic injury markets. Both PMSI and Tmesys revolutionized the workers’ compensation industry from their inception, introducing the first programs of their kind. PMSI was the first workers’ compensation provider to offer a single-source concept for pharmacy, medical equipment and specialty services. Tmesys, the company’s retail pharmacy benefits manager, pioneered the first cardless, online PPO built specifically for workers’ compensation and its complexities. Today, PMSI-Tmesys process over 4 million pharmacy and specialty services transactions annually for injured workers. For more information, visit www.pmsionline.com or call 813-275-7674.
About MicroStrategy
Founded in 1989, MicroStrategy is a global leader in business intelligence (BI) technology. MicroStrategy provides integrated reporting, analysis, and monitoring software that helps leading organizations worldwide make better business decisions every day. Companies choose MicroStrategy for its advanced technical capabilities, sophisticated analytics, and superior data and user scalability. More information about MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR) is available at www.microstrategy.com.
MicroStrategy, MicroStrategy Business Intelligence Platform are either trademarks or registered trademarks of MicroStrategy Incorporated in the United States and certain other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Wende Cover
MicroStrategy, Incorporated
1-703-770-1646
wcover@microstrategy.com
Source: MicroStrategy
Angel.com and MScript Launch Voice-Enabled CRM and Transcription Solutions
Voice-Driven CRM Solutions Already Integrated with Salesforce.com, Siebel CRM OnDemand and Netsuite
McLean, Va. (October 20, 2005) –
Angel.com, a leading provider of on-demand call center and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) solutions and a division of MicroStrategy® Incorporated (NASDAQ: MSTR), announced today that it has entered into a strategic alliance with MScript to offer three voice-enabled CRM and transcription solutions. Angel.com and MScript customers will now be able to utilize Angel.com’s on-demand phone solutions to collect data from callers, transcribe pieces of information from the call, and communicate key pieces of data into existing CRM or ERP applications.
Starting today, Angel.com and MScript will offer the following solutions:
SalesScript
SalesScript is MScript’s phone interface into a company’s powerful CRM application, which allows individuals to use voice to enter real-time data into existing CRM applications. Customers can integrate SalesScript with existing CRM applications such as Salesforce.com, Siebel and Netsuite, as well as any ERP application. SalesScript can minimize inaccurate and disparate data, increase employee productivity and increase the quantity of data entered by allowing access to the system at any time and from any location.
MCare
MCare is a voice-enabled name and address capture solution offered by Angel.com, MScript and 411XML. Customers use MCare to capture lead data for high volume applications, such as direct response campaigns, class action lawsuits or surveys. The solution can be deployed immediately and offers a low-cost alternative to using live agents to capture data.
IN-Voice
Based on Angel.com and MScript’s Microsoft .NET platform, IN-Voice is a billing and time-tracking solution for the mobile workforce. Callers simply phone in hours worked or completed tasks and the voice files can be converted to text and delivered to the appropriate audience. IN-Voice can be integrated with any corporate time and billing system using web services and XML.
“As phone-based solutions become more integrated with CRM strategies, it is crucial that we find strategic partners who can complement Angel.com with integrations that enhance our product suite,” said Mike Zirngibl, President of Angel.com. “We are excited to offer customers fully-integrated transcription and CRM options via MScript.”
“We’ve seen a lot of demand for voice-enabled CRM and transcription products over the last few years,” said Mark Golino, President of MScript. “Angel.com and MScript are going to make it easy for customers to access on-demand phone solutions that can be integrated with existing web services.”
About MScript
Founded in 2000, MScript is a leader in document creation and management with the ability to accept and integrate data from IVR phone systems, faxes, email, Web-based forms, scanned images, mobile devices and more. In addition to the ability to convert handwritten and voice files to text, MScript’s suite of tools can also pull or push data from customer corporate databases, CRM, ERP and supply chain applications into the company’s online forms using web services and XML. More information about MScript is available at www.mscript.com.
About Angel.com
Angel.com is a leading provider of on-demand call center and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) solutions, which enable organizations of all sizes to quickly deploy powerful telephony applications. More than 1,500 customers turn to Angel.com’s patented Voice Site technology to power customer service and marketing phone numbers using intelligent speech recognition that can automate most phone-based interactions. With an innovative Internet-based solution that requires no investment in hardware, software, or human resources, Angel.com balances the need for high quality communications with affordable pay-as-you-go pricing.
About MicroStrategy
Founded in 1989, MicroStrategy is a global leader in business intelligence (BI) technology. MicroStrategy provides integrated reporting, analysis, and monitoring software that helps leading organizations worldwide make better business decisions every day. Companies choose MicroStrategy for its advanced technical capabilities, sophisticated analytics, and superior data and user scalability. More information about MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR) is available at www.microstrategy.com.
MicroStrategy, Angel.com are either trademarks or registered trademarks of MicroStrategy Incorporated in the United States and certain other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Mike Sweeney
Angel.com
(703) 770-1352
sweeney@angel.com
Source: MicroStrategy