M4 Data and Benchmark Tape Systems Announce Strategic Partnership

Systems Corporation (www.BenchmarkTape.com) announced today thatM4 Data, Europe's largest independent data storage solutionprovider, will incorporate Benchmark's family of DLT productsinto its latest library offerings. As a library partner forBenchmark, M4 Data will offer Benchmark's DLT1 tape drive withleading price/performance metrics to its customers worldwide,providing them with a wide range of incrementally scalableautomation solutions. M4 Data provides its customers with storage solutions fromdesktop to enterprise requirements. According to DavidHuntingdon, sales and marketing director at M4 Data, theBenchmark DLT1 tape drive is perfect for M4 Data's future line ofDLT tape libraries. "Benchmark's DLT1 tape drive provides theright performance and price point to complement M4 Data's line ofDLT tape libraries. We believe that the people behind the companyand the products they are introducing will make this a successfulendeavour for both of us. We are excited about the opportunity topartner with Benchmark." Lew Frauenfelder, president of Benchmark Tape Systems,describes the synergy between the two companies. "M4 Data has thequalities necessary to expand the tape library market andincrease the already wide range of choices available. The OEMagreement will open up Benchmark's marketing channels worldwide.The price and performance of the Benchmark DLT1 will be a welcomefit for M4's customers." The Benchmark DLT1 tape drive offers a 40 GB native capacity(80 GB compressed) and a 3 MB/second native transfer rate (6MB/sec compressed), providing enterprise reliability andperformance at low-end server pricing. Along with leadingprice/performance metrics, the Benchmark DLT1 is read compatiblewith the DLT4000 utilizing DLTtape(TM) IV media. The BenchmarkDLT1 is available in internal and external configurations.Virtually all software packages are supported. Designed withautomation in mind, the Benchmark DLT1 features soft unloadcapability. About Benchmark Founded in May 1998, Benchmark Tape Systems Corporation isdedicated to the development of tape backup and archive systemsthat feature simplified design, reliability, ease of use, andexceptional performance for small to medium size computernetworks and workstations at the most competitive prices in theindustry. Benchmark's technology is derived from DLTtapetechnology licensed by Quantum Corporation, a minority investor.The company is marketing its products through multiple channelsof distribution worldwide. Benchmark's web site iswww.BenchmarkTape.com. About M4 Data M4 Data provides data storage solutions to the computercommunity. Its primary goal is to provide customers with the mostcost-effective, high performance data storage solutions based oninnovative design and advanced technology, customer-focusedquality manufacturing, and backed by a responsive world-widesupport network. M4 Data has over twenty years experience indeveloping and manufacturing Open Reel, 3490E cartridge tapedrives, and automated tape library solutions to meet the needs ofsome of the most demanding customers in the world. With over40,000 units field installed, M4 Data has the experience toeffectively address all mainframe data interchange and high-speedbackup requirements, no matter how demanding the application,providing connection to virtually any host platform by virtue ofits multiple interfaces. M4 Data also provides comprehensivesupport on its products internationally through various officesand agents. The Company's fully qualified ISO9000 productionfacilities assure the finest quality standards. M4 Data'scorporate headquarters and Research and Development facilitiesare located in Wells, Somerset, UK. The manufacturing facilitylocated in Camberley, UK. M4 Data employs over 170 people with 40of those in Research and Development Department. More informationcan be obtained at the web site www.m4data.com. ots OriginalText Service: Benchmark Tape Systems Corporation Internet:http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Marilyn R. Kroner ofBenchmark Tape Systems Corp., (USA) 720-406-5130,mkroner@BenchmarkTape.com; Kathy Tanabe of Hi-Tech Ink (U.S.),(USA) 303-694-6411, ktanabe@hitechink.com; Keith Mason ofHarvard Public Relations (Europe), 011-(+44)(0)20-8564-6360,keith@harvard.co.uk; Randy Fox of M4 Data, (USA) 307-632-9957,randyfox@sprynet.com; or Carle Churgin of ChurginCommunications, (USA) 303-449-7688, churgin@churgin.com, forBenchmark Tape Systems Corporation Web site:http://www.m4data.com Web site: http://www.BenchmarkTape.com

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