CMP Technology Acquires Customer Contact Center Standard, Broadening its Global Reach by Entering Chinese Call Center Market

Leading U.S. Provider of Call Center Media, Events, Training and Consulting Services, Strengthens Global Footprint

PRNewswire-FirstCall
MANHASSET, N.Y.
Jan 4, 2007

MANHASSET, N.Y., Jan. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CMP Technology, a targeted media and marketing solutions company serving the builders, sellers and buyers of technology worldwide, announced today that its International Customer Management Institute (ICMI) has acquired Beijing-based Customer Contact Center Standard (CCCS), establishing CMP as the leading provider of call center certification, media, events, training and consulting services worldwide. Following on the acquisition of ICMI in 2005, CCCS extends CMP's call center management business into the exploding Chinese market. CCCS provides service quality certification for Chinese call centers, as well as call center training and consulting for corporate clients. CCCS also provides industry information to call center professionals in China and organizes the China Contact Center Conference & Awards.

Call centers are growing at an estimated rate of 15 percent annually as government and commercial institutions increase their responsiveness and efficiency in the burgeoning Chinese economy. In addition, the World Expo 2008 in Shanghai and the 2008 Olympics in Beijing are fueling growth of the service sector and customer contact services. According to ICMI, approximately $485 billion is spent annually to operate customer contact centers worldwide; employing an estimated 18 million agents and 1.5 million managers.

"CCCS has been instrumental in the growth and development of the call center industry in China. The acquisition gives us tremendous reach into the Chinese call center marketplace and extends our portfolio of services into one of the fastest growing call center markets in the world," said Paul Miller, President of CMP's Technology Innovators Group. "We can now provide our clients -- both end users and suppliers -- with a full range of world-class services events, training, certification programs, media services and consulting -- to enable them to dramatically enhance this key segment of their operations."

"The acquisition of CCCS was based on an ongoing and already successful working relationship that dates back even before the CMP acquisition of ICMI. We look forward to applying our comprehensive and deep knowledge of all aspects of call center operations -- built up over more than 20 years in the business -- to help fast track best practices into Chinese market," added Brad Cleveland, President, ICMI. Cleveland has an outstanding reputation in China, having keynoted the April 2005 CCCS annual conference and provided industry training to local executives. Linda Harden, Director of Operations for ICMI, will oversee day to day operations of the CCCS group from the US side to insure a tight integration with the overall goals and services objectives of ICMI.

About CMP Technology (http://www.cmp.com/)

CMP Technology is a marketing solutions company serving the technology industry. Through its market-leading portfolio of trusted information brands, CMP has earned the confidence of more technology professionals than any other media company. As a result, CMP is the premier provider of access, insight and actionable programs designed to connect sellers and buyers in ways that yield superior return on investment. CMP Technology is a subsidiary of United Business Media (http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com/), a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $3 billion.

About Customer Contact Center Standard (http://www.cccs.com.cn/)

Customer Contact Center Standard was founded as UBest in 2003 as a consulting, training and certification firm. In 2005, the company became CCCS and represented China CRM Committee (an industry society for Chinese call center operators) to provide China's call center operation and call center professional qualification standards. Mr. Guo Chengdong, founder and head of CCCS, is a call center and customer service expert in the Chinese market. Its main products include CCCS Certification, call center training, consulting services and an annual conference.

Contact:
   Alix Raine
   SVP Communications
   CMP Technology
   516-562-7827
   araine@cmp.com

SOURCE: CMP Technology

CONTACT: Alix Raine, SVP Communications, CMP Technology,
+1-516-562-7827, araine@cmp.com

Web site: http://www.cmp.com/
http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com/
http://www.cccs.com.cn/

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