FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Melanie Sullivan
COAST Software
msullivan@coast.com
Tel: (613) 567-3201 x241
Fax: (613) 567-0690

COAST Software Announces COAST WebMaster 6.0
World's most widely installed Web quality testing solution announces support for .NET to test Web services

OTTAWA, Ontario, Canada, May 1, 2002 - COAST Software Inc., the world leader in automated Web quality testing solutions, today launched COAST WebMaster 6.0, the latest release of its award-winning software. The new release delivers significant enhancements in testing and reporting flexibility along with support for Microsoft .NET/XML Web services testing.

Web sites are deluged with changes that directly affect their usability, reliability and consistency. Left unmanaged, Web site changes can cost organizations revenue, erode its brand, and even create legal liabilities. COAST WebMaster 6.0 catches unmanaged changes early, before they have critical destabilizing effects on the site.

COAST WebMaster 6.0 supports the location and testing of XML Web services on a Web site. The tool allows users to discover, view and exercise Web services automatically as part of the normal scanning process. XML Web services are an integral component of the Microsoft.NET platform, and the ability to test them offers organizations the capabilities they need to construct and deploy quality Web applications.

"Our Web site is critical to our business," said Len Mateo, Web Properties Manager at VeriSign Inc., the leading provider of digital trust services. "We use COAST WebMaster to manage and maintain the quality of our Web site and to report on any usability errors that may be driving our customers away. The new features in COAST Webmaster 6.0, including support for .NET Web services, demonstrate that COAST has its eye on the future of Web development."

Organizations are under pressure to provide positive ROI from their Web sites. They need efficient and cost-effective methods to manage the explosion of online content and applications. COAST WebMaster 6.0 automates the Web quality testing process and dramatically reduces development and deployment costs.

In addition to support for .NET/XML Web services testing, COAST WebMaster 6.0 features several enhancements to its award-winning technology including support for cookies, JavaScript navigation, JavaServer Pages, session IDs and Macromedia Flash. The new Advanced PageRules feature with regular expressions quickly and easily isolates key problems, such as missing templates, logos or marks, and external links to objectionable content. COAST WebMaster 6.0 s new integration with Rational ClearQuest for defect management rounds out the significant new features.

Every Web transaction counts in today s market, said Paul Saunders, President and CEO of COAST. We've worked hard on this latest version of COAST WebMaster to ensure it addresses the complex testing and reporting needs of today's Web sites. Our support for .NET Web services testing is a critical component of COAST's long-term strategic plan.

Availability

COAST WebMaster 6.0 is available now from COAST Software and its network of worldwide distribution partners. COAST is inviting all companies to put their sites to the test with a free 15-day trial of WebMaster 6.0, available for download at www.coast.com.

About COAST Software

Specializing in Web quality testing, COAST arms e-businesses and technical managers with hosted e-services and software solutions that test, report, analyze and monitor the quality of their Web business. COAST Web quality testing solutions are distributed through a strategic reseller channel that includes Web hosting service providers (HSPs), internet service providers (ISPs) and systems integrators.

Established in 1996, the company is a pioneer in the development of Web site-testing solutions with over 100,000 licensed users worldwide. COAST has business relationships with numerous industry leaders, including Microsoft, Rational Software and IBM. From fully customized hosted e-services, to packaged testing and reporting, COAST solutions scale to meet the quality management needs and budgets of today's e-businesses.

For more information, please visit us at www.coast.com or www.e-tamed.co.uk in the UK.

2002 COAST Software. All rights reserved. COAST, COAST WebMaster and the COAST wordmark are trademarks of COAST Software Inc. All other product, and company names and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.