Jennifer Larson, Director of Marketing
Durand Communications, Inc.
Voice: 805-961-8700 ext. 221   Fax: 805-961-18701
E-mail: jennifer@durand.com

(SANTA BARBARA, CA)-Durand Communications, Inc., a leading developer of Internet and intranet technology and services, today announced a contract with CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association) to use CommunityWare® (http://www.communityware.com) for the deployment of intranet and extranet communications between CompTIA and its 7,500 member organizations. CommunityWare will serve as the communications platform to connect CompTIA's member organizations, task force committees and internally organized bodies through online conferencing, groupware and other interactive Web-based services. "CommunityWare is the perfect solution to help us expand member participation and value proposition," said John Venator, CompTIA CEO. "With CompTIA's 7,500 member organizations representing the voice of the microcomputer and information industries, CommunityWare's groupware services will allow us to more effectively and efficiently communicate and service our task force committees, employees and members-at-large."

CommunityWare benefits CompTIA in several ways. CommunityWare's workgroup environment provides a low-cost way for CompTIA task forces, sections and committees to communicate with members by hosting more convenient meetings via CommunityWare's online conferencing system, live chat and message features on the Web. By saving time and money on travel, telephone, fax usage and photocopying costs, CompTIA initiatives can encompass broader participation from its membership. Information from conference sessions, task forces and committees can immediately be archived and made available on the Internet to a greater audience in a low-cost more effective manner than currently possible. "This partnership is a natural fit between our two organizations," said Casey Hughes, Durand's executive vice president and chief operating officer. "Both Durand and CompTIA give organizations the ability to leverage resources and information across numerous enterprises, resulting in great cost savings, the elimination of potential redundancies and the deployment of rapid change."

CompTIA's first public community will launch September 19th at CompTIA's annual Breakaway XChange conference in San Diego. Users can join this community by going to http://www.durand.com/joincomptia.htm.

CommunityWare is the first interactive Web site that hosts free public communities, and private communities at a nominal monthly fee. These communities can be created and easily managed by the community host (or creator). All communities offer interactive, two-way communications services (chat, instant messaging, who's live lists), groupware services (conferencing, email, whiteboards and newsletters), electronic commerce capabilities through Wave Systems' (NASDAQ: WAVX) WinPublisher application, homepage and Web site authoring, and management services and capabilities. No special software or proprietary browser is required. More than 2,000 communities have been created and are now hosted on CommunityWare.

CompTIA was founded in 1983 as the representative voice for the microcomputer and information industries and currently serves a membership of more than 7,500 members covering virtually every segment of the industry channels. Through 27 internally organized bodies (e.g. boards, committees, sections, task forces), each supported through membership participation, CompTIA sets standards and industry policy in such diverse areas as electronic commerce, technical certification, warranty and co-op claims reimbursement, information/networking technology and document imaging. CompTIA actively participates in all federal public policy debates ensuring the industry voice is considered in all subsequent legislation.