MCDTA Mcdata

Heavy Reading Uncovers Some San Surprises in Its Latest Market Perception Survey SAN buyers see Veritas Software and Cisco as the top brands in storage networking NEW YORK, Nov. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Heavy Reading (http://www.heavyreading.com/), the market research division of Light Reading Inc., today published a comprehensive, worldwide market perception study covering the storage area network (SAN) industry. Veritas Software Corp. and Cisco Systems Inc. earned the highest scores for market leadership from 380 SAN buyers and users worldwide. Heavy Reading's Fall 2003 Storage Networking Market Perception Study is a 63-page report based on an exclusive, invitation-only survey of purchasers and users of SAN products. The 380 survey participants included managers and employees from value-added resellers of SAN products, systems integrators, multinational corporations, and telecom service providers. Respondents gave their perception of 135 vendors (61 public, 74 private) in 10 product categories, identifying which companies they recognize and consider market leaders in price, performance, quality and reliability, and service and support. Key findings include: -- Among SAN software providers, Veritas Software holds a leading mindshare position with customers. -- Despite its late entry into the SAN space, Cisco is established as a sector leader in the eyes of customers. -- Among established storage vendors, McData Corp. (NASDAQ:MCDTA) and EMC Corp. (NYSE:EMC) are doing the best job of building mindshare in the SAN segment. -- Many potential buyers of SAN products are coming from outside long-established storage channels. -- Many big computing and networking suppliers trying to cross over into the SAN market are not yet perceived as strong vendors. The Heavy Reading survey was created to measure how well each vendor in the SAN market has been able to build mindshare with prospective buyers. The storage networking survey is part of a larger portfolio of Heavy Reading market perception reports, including reports on the telecom equipment and operations support system (OSS) markets. The Heavy Reading Fall 2003 Storage Networking Market Perception Study is priced at $2,950. Sales contact: Dave Williams Sales Director, Heavy Reading 415-293-8470 Press/analyst contact: Dennis Mendyk Managing Editor, Heavy Reading 201-587-2154 About Heavy Reading Heavy Reading is an independent market research organization offering quantitative analysis of telecom technology to service providers, vendors, and investors. Its mandate is to provide the comprehensive competitive analysis needed today for the deployment of profitable networks based on next- generation hardware and software. DATASOURCE: Heavy Reading CONTACT: Sales - Dave Williams, Sales Director, +1-415-293-8470, , or Press/analyst - Dennis Mendyk, Managing Editor, +1-201-587-2154, , both of Heavy Reading Web site: http://www.lightreading.com/ http://www.heavyreading.com/

Copyright