Austin, TX - April 3, 2006 - First Choice Software, today announced it has attained Gold Certified status in the Microsoft Partner Program with a competency in ISV/Software Solutions, recognizing First Choice's expertise and total impact in the technology marketplace. As a Gold Certified partner, First Choice has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and proven ability to meet customers' needs. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, giving them a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

First Choice provides a comprehensive suite of CRM customer service and support solutions to improve customer retention, interaction, and satisfaction particularly for customers who have deployed Clarify solutions. Built on a .NET platform with a thin client, IT organizations and call centers can reduce their overall cost of Clarify implementations and improve performance. With First Choice, customers benefit from a next generation system by a vendor who is focused on their success—today and in the future.

"We are extremely pleased to have attained Gold Certified status in the Microsoft Partner Program. This allows us to clearly promote our expertise and relationship with Microsoft to our customers and prospects," said Stephen Lynn, chief executive officer. "The benefits provided through our Gold Certified status help us to continue to enhance the offerings that we provide for customers."

"Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities. They need to trust in someone that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners, which have certified expertise and direct training and support from Microsoft, can build a positive customer experience with our technologies," said Allison Watson, vice president of the Worldwide Partner Sales and Marketing Group at Microsoft Corp. "Today, Microsoft recognizes First Choice Software as a new Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise in providing customer satisfaction with Microsoft products and technology."

As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified Status, First Choice had to declare a Microsoft Competency. Microsoft Competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner's capabilities with specific Microsoft technologies to customers looking for a particular type of solution. Each competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the technology industry.

The Microsoft ISV/Software Solutions Competency recognizes the skill and focus partners bring to a particular solution set. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners that have obtained this competency have a successful record of developing and marketing packaged software based on Microsoft technologies.

"Solutions Competencies are an important way for Microsoft to better enable ISVs to meet customer needs," said Sanjay Parthasarathy, corporate vice president of the Platform Strategy & Partner Group at Microsoft. "They allow ISVs to keep and win customers with their deep knowledge of solutions-based Microsoft platform technologies. Microsoft has a long history of working closely with ISV partners to help deliver compelling solutions and applications to our mutual customers, and the Solutions Competencies are an important step in continuing to enhance vital relationships with ISVs worldwide."

The Microsoft Partner Program was launched in December 2003 and represents Microsoft's ongoing commitment to the success of partners worldwide. The program offers a single, integrated partnering framework that recognizes partner expertise, rewards the total impact that partners have in the technology marketplace, and delivers more value to help partners' businesses be successful.

Dedicated to the success of enterprise clients, First Choice set out in 1995 to offer a new breed of solutions particularly for customers who had deployed Clarify solutions. First Choice provides a comprehensive suite of CRM customer service and support solutions to improve customer retention, interaction, and satisfaction. Built on a .NET platform with a thin client, IT organizations and call centers can reduce their overall cost of Clarify implementations and improve performance. With First Choice, customers benefit from a next generation system by a vendor who is focused on their success today and in the future. First Choice is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

4/3/2006