(EMAILWIRE.COM, June 10, 2002 ) Firepond (Nasdaq: FIRE), a leading provider of software systems that optimize the process of converting leads into orders, has announced the general availability of its new application server independent SalesPerformerTM Suite 2002. Key features in the new release developed specifically for the global discrete manufacturing industry include extensive enhancements that will dramatically improve manufacturers' lead-to-order processes, shorten their sales cycles, and improve overall order accuracy rates for complex products across any sales channel.

Through new integration capabilities to ERP and e-procurement systems like SAP and Ariba, Firepond's SalesPerformer Suite 2002 is not only complementary to existing investments, but also adds further value to them. These enhancements give companies more flexibility in the way they run their sales activities and interact with customers and prospects.

"Manufacturers selling big-ticket capital goods all face the same costly challenge - getting the order and getting it right," said Cem Tanyel, Firepond's Chief Operating Officer. "Firepond's new SalesPerformer Suite 2002, however, is designed to help manufacturers of complex goods dramatically reduce their cost of sales by optimizing their 'lead-to-order' business process. In addition, this new release enables manufacturers to extend the value of their existing software infrastructure by linking directly, and easily, into back-office ERP systems from SAP and e-commerce platforms from Ariba."

Principal new features in SalesPerformer Suite 2002

Integration with SAP

The new integration with SAP's ERP system ensures accurate and timely order management, an essential part of the lead-to-order process. Consistency is assured between front- and back-office systems without the burden of customized interfaces.

Transfer customer information bi-directionally between SalesPerformer and SAP
Import variant configurator data from SAP into SalesPerformer Configurator for front office configuration use
Import pricing information from SAP to SalesPerformer
Check product availability, create orders in SAP, query for order status
Real-time or batch synchronization
Application server independence
Firepond's entire lead-to-order suite is now application-server independent to significantly lower the cost of acquisition and total cost of ownership.

Easier and faster implementation with standards-based architecture (J2EE, JSP, servlets)
All SalesPerformer modules run on J2EE compliant application servers
Takes advantage of a complete, robust, scalable, secure and high-performance application environment (in runtime and buildtime), with tools and services frameworks provided
Configuration Development Kit
The intelligence engine of the SalesPerformer Suite - SalesPerformer Configurator - has been fine-tuned for use independently of the SalesPerformer touchpoint applications. Industry-standard development tools can also be used to access the intelligence engine from existing sales applications. This enables customers to leverage their investment in existing sales channel solutions while adding intelligence to reduce the cost-of-sale and increase deal size. Benefits include:

A new, more efficient and flexible way to interact with SalesPerformer Configurator for J2EE applications
The configuration access layer, not bound to any presentation technology, provides simplified programming interface and gives great flexibility to Configurator deployment (local, EJB stateful, EJB stateless).
Extendable, additional behavior can be added to the Configurator via plug-ins (like an XML document representing a product tree).
Tag libraries encapsulate common tasks and hide complexity, resulting in greater separation between presentation and business logic, which significantly improves code readability and maintenance.
Additionally, SalesPerformer Configurator is now available with an optional connector to Ariba's e-procurement system. Customers can use their familiar Ariba marketplace to access product catalogues and configure the goods required using SalesPerformer Configurator via a "punch-out" which remains transparent for the user.
"Our vision is to create a seamless buying experience for our customers by unifying front-office customer and partner service with back-office transaction and supply chain activities," said Pierre d'Imbleval, CIO of Steelcase International. "We are using Firepond's lead-to-order system with the SAP and Ariba connectors, and early success with some of our largest customers means we can envision turning leads into orders at least three times faster than prior to implementation."

About Firepond, Inc.

Firepond is a leading provider of intelligent front-office software systems that help companies more profitably turn leads into orders - whether they sell through a direct sales force, an indirect channel network or via the web. The company's SalesPerformer system guides sales people, channel partners and customers through the entire "lead-to-order" business process - delivering lead management, needs analysis, product and pricing configuration, proposal and quote generation and order capture.

Companies that manufacture complex goods or maintain complex distribution networks can realize a high return on their investment in Firepond's SalesPerformer by dramatically reducing the cost of sales through improved order accuracy and shortened sales cycles. For manufacturers, Firepond's "lead-to-order" systems reduce reliance on expensive engineering resources during the sales process to configure a product that best meets customer requirements. For insurers, Firepond's "prospect-to-customer" systems accelerate sales cycles, improve broker loyalty and simplify the renewals process. By leveraging a single intelligence engine to drive the entire process across multiple sales channels, Firepond further reduces total cost of ownership.

Firepond's global blue-chip customer base includes ABB, Compaq, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, Freightliner, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey, John Deere, Renault VI, SBLI Mutual Life, Sikorsky Aircraft Company and Steelcase International. More information about the company can be found at www.firepond.com.

Portions of this release contain forward-looking statements regarding future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. We wish to caution you that there are some factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results indicated by such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: economic and other factors affecting the demand for e-business sales and service solutions; difficulties with the implementation and integration of Firepond products; market acceptance of Firepond's SalesPerformer and eServicePerformer Suites and their components in chosen vertical industries; potential changes to announced financial results based upon information generated in the company's internal investigation announced on May 31, 2002; uncertainty, costs, and potential damages associated with material litigation; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; quarterly fluctuations in operating results attributable to the timing and amount of orders for our products and services; our ability to keep pace with changing product requirements; difficulties and financial burdens associated with acquisitions; and other risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our form 10-K filed in January, copies of which may be obtained through the SEC's website at. www.sec.gov.

Firepond and Firepond product names are trademarks of Firepond, Inc. All other product or company names are the properties of their respective owners.

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Produced for Firepond

Contacts: Eric Snow
Firepond, Inc. (U.S.)
(781) 487-8441
eric.snow@firepond.com

Liz Fletcher
Firepond, Inc. (international)
33 1 46 91 86 27
liz.fletcher@firepond.com

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