Aster Data Systems Announces Global Partner Program

SAN CARLOS, CA, Jun 16 (MARKET WIRE) --
Aster Data Systems, a proven leader in high-performance database systems
for data warehousing and analytics, today announced the Aster Global
Partner Program, designed to deliver industry-leading solutions and
services to address data-driven customer needs. The partner program
provides a rich ecosystem of complementary technology and system
integration partners for customers who want to do more with the
massively-parallel Aster nCluster database.

Aster nCluster is an analytic database with breakthrough capabilities in
performance, availability, and rich in-database analytics. Data warehouses
powered by Aster nCluster provide high-performance access to a persistent,
comprehensive, and up-to-the-minute record of a business's data, enabling
them to collect, manage, and monetize terabytes per day of new data.

The Aster Global Partner Program includes leading technology and
consulting providers, and will be initially segmented by: independent
software vendors (ISVs), technology partners, and system integrators
(SIs). Existing members of the partner program can be found here:
www.asterdata.com/partners.

"More and more customers are clamoring for the Aster nCluster database to
be implemented in mission-critical data warehousing and analytic projects.
By creating a formal partner program, we can offer our customers easier
access to the deep skills and technologies available to support their
Aster data warehouse implementations. In turn, this program benefits our
partners by giving them new selling opportunities," said Mayank Bawa, CEO
of Aster.

"We are excited to formally launch the Aster Global Partner Program which
makes it easier for ISVs, service providers, and platform technology
partners to embed the Aster nCluster database in their analytics offerings
for customers. We are seeing a growing demand from businesses across
industries to harvest growing data volumes for customer acquisition,
loyalty management, corporate risk management, fraud detection, and many
other business-critical solutions," said Raj Pai, VP of Strategic
Alliances of Aster. "By creating a strong ecosystem of partners,
customers can now leverage the unique scale, performance and economic
advantages offered by Aster nCluster with best-of-breed offerings across
their technology solution stack."

BVI (see separate press release issued today for more information)

BVI provides actionable in-store data that allows retailers and brand
manufacturers to make much better decisions when it comes to staffing,
merchandise placement, display programs and marketing spending. BVI takes
in-store analysis well beyond existing point of sale (POS) and video
analytics systems, enabling retailers and brand manufacturers to quickly
identify problems and areas for improvement. The RetailNEXT data analysis
platform is enhanced by a unique set of video tools that enable detailed
customer behavior analysis at a fraction of the cost of in-store
observation studies.

To serve large multi-store chains, the Aster nCluster database software
will be bundled with RetailNEXT to provide aggregation and reporting of
individual store data at regional and corporate levels. The combination of
BVI and the Aster nCluster database also provides the ability to perform
advanced traffic analysis across an entire chain of stores. As part of the
relationship, BVI and Aster will jointly market this powerful set of
retail decision support products.

Acxius Strategic Consulting (see separate press release issued today for
more information)

Acxius Strategic Consulting, a management consulting and systems
integration company, today announced a strategic partnership agreement
with Aster Data Systems. The two companies will leverage the partnership
to target "big data" analytic solutions for customers in the insurance,
financial services, healthcare, and other industry verticals.

Acxius will offer the Aster nCluster database to work in conjunction with
Acxius clients' existing data integration products, to enable their
customers to rapidly collect and analyze high volumes of data for deep
analysis and reporting.

About Aster Data Systems

Aster Data Systems is a proven leader in high-performance analytic
database systems for data warehousing -- the first DBMS to tightly
integrate SQL with MapReduce -- providing deep insights on data analyzed
on clusters of low-cost commodity hardware. The Aster nCluster database
cost-effectively powers frontline analytic applications for companies
such as Coremetrics, MySpace, aCerno (an Akamai company), and ShareThis.
Running on low-cost off-the-shelf hardware, and providing 'hands-free'
administration, Aster enables enterprises to meet their data warehousing
needs within their budget. Aster is headquartered in San Carlos,
California and is backed by Sequoia Capital, JAFCO Ventures, IVP,
Cambrian Ventures, and First Round Capital, as well as industry
visionaries including David Cheriton and Ron Conway. For more information
please visit http://www.asterdata.com, or call 650-232-4400.

Aster Data Systems, Aster nCluster and the Aster logo are registered
trademarks of Aster Data Systems. All other brands and trademarks
referenced herein are acknowledged to be trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective holders.

Press Contact:
Marlena Fernandez Berkowitz
ZAG Communications for Aster Data Systems
303.408.3155
marlena@zagcommunications.com

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