Web-device software leader Spyglass Inc. (Nasdaq: SPYG) today announced the creation of Spyglass Professional Services, a new division offering Internet consulting services and custom engineering for companies interested in rapidly deploying high- quality Internet-related products and services. In the Worldwide Internet Market, 1995-2000 Report, research firm Input predicts professional services for the Internet and intranet will grow to $54 billion by the year 2000.

According to Doug Colbeth, Spyglass president and CEO, the new division was established to meet the overwhelming demand for services in the Internet device market. "It is clear from recent licensing arrangements that consulting and custom engineering are essential when it comes to doing business with companies wanting to Web-enable products and services," he said. "Our breadth of expertise and proven track record put us in a unique position to help our customers create market-leading, Web-enabled solutions. It made sense to establish a separate business unit that has the charge of developing revenue from this part of the market."

Spyglass Professional Services has already been instrumental in helping IBM ship its Network Station network computer, Xerox develop a new line of Web-enabled copiers and Thomson Consumer Electronics develop its RCA Network Computer.

Colbeth also announced that Tim Seamans, 38, a 16-year veteran in corporate information systems, has been appointed the division's general manager. Seamans was formerly with Pitney Bowes Management Services, Stamford, Conn., where he most recently served as vice president of product and technology. Prior to that, he was a regional manager of large account management for J.D. Edwards & Co., a business application software company. He joined Spyglass in 1996 as vice president of information systems and chief information officer.

"Tim is uniquely qualified to manage Professional Services," Colbeth said. "He ran a multi-million-dollar business unit at Pitney Bowes and has considerable consulting experience with J.D. Edwards & Co. He is well schooled in the Internet business and understands the needs of device, embedded systems and infrastructure customers. Professional Services is already helping customers deliver solutions that incorporate leading-edge technologies from Spyglass, Microsoft, Oracle, Sun/Java Soft and others," he added.

According to Seamans, Professional Services engagements are billed on a project basis. If the project includes the licensing of Spyglass and/or third-party technology, those are priced separately. Spyglass has developed a comprehensive methodology used in all its Professional Services projects. Engagements typically cover a full project life cycle, including the following phases:

* Project Coordination and Management

* Project Analysis and Review

* Requirements Definition

* Design, Specification and Test Planning

* Development, Quality Assurance and Delivery

According to Seamans, Spyglass Professional Services has built up its capabilities and skill sets in areas key to Web-enabling devices and services:

* Core Competencies -- Programming Languages (C, C++, and Java); HTML, HTTP, client/server application development; application programming interfaces (ISAPI, NSAPI, Java Servlet, CGI, WinCGI, Spyglass ADI); embedded operating systems (VxWorks, pSOS, Windows/CE, OS-9, QNX, LynxOS, among others).

* Web Expertise -- Customers can stay focused on their core business while Spyglass concentrates on the Web's constantly-evolving landscape.

* Industry Segment Expertise -- Offers expertise in a number of consumer, commercial, and industrial device markets and infrastructure markets -- television, office equipment, NCs, industrial, real-time/embedded, Internet service providers, telecommunications, among others.

"We offer customers unique value -- support for a variety of platforms; shortened time-to-market; savings in development costs; the time to focus on their core business," said Seamans. "We also have extensive Web and embedded systems expertise, particularly with the real-time operating systems, offer the broadest and most complete technology available, and have a track record with top companies, such as IBM, Thomson Consumer Electronics and Xerox. We're also very excited about our prospects for the future."

About Spyglass Inc.

Spyglass (Nasdaq: SPYG) is the leading provider of software and services to make non-PC devices work with the Web. A number of device makers have licensed technology and consulting services from Spyglass, including Microsoft for it's Internet Explorer Browser, WebTV for it's proprietary browser, Xerox Corp. for use in a new line of copiers; IBM Corp. for deployment in the computer maker's line of network computers; and Thomson Consumer Electronics for use in a new generation of RCA television set-top boxes. Spyglass' vision is that the Web will become the universal information and communications medium, seamlessly accessed by hundreds of millions of people -- anytime, anywhere. Spyglass headquarters are located at 1240 E. Diehl Road, Naperville, Ill., 60563; telephone: 630-245-6500; fax, 630-245-6693; press email inquiries: rpitzer@spyglass.com .

Source: Spyglass Inc.