For Immediate Release

TOP PRIORITY OF MARKETING EXECUTIVES IN ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN IS TO SHORTEN TIME TO MARKET FOR NEW PRODUCTS, ACCORDING TO SURVEY

Shorter launch time seen to be key in generating new revenue quicker and creating a more knowledgeable sales force; 69% of Fortune 1000 require more than three months to launch new products to their sales force

San Mateo, CA - October 3, 2001 - Eloquent® Inc. (Nasdaq: ELOQ), a leading product launch software and services provider, today announced the results of a comprehensive survey conducted by TTS, a San Francisco-based independent market research company. The survey examined the challenges and issues facing marketing departments when launching new products to internal and external sales forces in today's tighter economy.

With marketing departments responsible for product launches at 93% of the companies surveyed, marketing executives are acutely aware that efforts must be made to improve upon costly and ineffective methods of product launches, such as multi-day company-wide meetings. The survey revealed that marketing departments must ensure that the sales force and sales channels receive new product information quickly and begin selling sooner. At the same time, new product information must be presented in a digestible, consistent format so the sales teams and channel partners have all of the information required for successful selling, while avoiding information overload.

According to Catherine Kitcho, a product launch specialist known as the Launch Doctor (www.launchdoctor.com), and author of "High Tech Product Launch" and the forthcoming "From Idea to Launch at Internet Speed, "many companies need to refocus their product launch process on speed and profit.

"Today, companies are faced with more complex launches, but also pressure to get to market faster. To speed up the launch cycle, companies must use technology solutions that improve collaboration and communication among the entire launch team," said Ms. Kitcho. "Such solutions also enable companies to deliver more consistent messages to sales channels and customers, ensuring a successful and profitable launch."

The survey indicated that companies still rely heavily on large face-to-face meetings with their sales force and channel partners to introduce new products. Large face-to-face meetings require extensive travel, which many companies are seeking to reduce due to the significant expenses and recent safety concerns associated with air travel. However, almost 50% of Fortune 1000 companies have started to use rich media and Web-based communication tools to reduce the need for unnecessary travel during product launches and roll-outs.

Other key findings of the survey include:

•  The top priorities of companies seeking to improve their product launch process in order of importance are:
  1. - Reducing time to market
  2. - Getting across a consistent message to sales channels worldwide
  3. - Reducing product launch costs, especially in today's tighter economy
•  69% of companies require more than 3 months to launch new products
•  88% of companies use multi-site face-to-face meetings which can result in the delivery of inconsistent new product information and huge drains on marketing budgets
•  The majority of companies spend a minimum of $500,000 per year on product launches
•  45% of companies conduct more than 10 product launches each year (includes significant product updates)

"The results of the survey echo what we have been hearing from our contacts within marketing departments of Fortune 1000 companies charged with launching and rolling out new products," said Ed Molkenbuhr, President, Eloquent, Inc. "In the current economy, it is increasingly important for companies to shorten the gap between the time a new product is introduced and the point when it begins generating revenue. Eloquent LaunchForce helps Fortune 1000 companies do this successfully, while reducing the overall cost of introducing new products to internal sales teams and the sales channel."

Commissioned by Eloquent, the independent survey was conducted during a four-month period and respondents included more than 290 senior level marketing executives from Fortune 1000 companies.

About Eloquent Eloquent (Nasdaq: ELOQ) provides product launch software and services to Fortune 1000 companies that dramatically improve an organization's ability to communicate with globally dispersed employees, partners, and distribution channels. The company's flagship product, Eloquent LaunchForce, shrinks the gap between the time new products are available and the point they begin to generate revenue by better equipping the sales force with the information they need to do their jobs. Overcoming traditional product launch problems such as inconsistent delivery of new product material, information overload and expensive company-wide meetings, Eloquent LaunchForce enables companies to accelerate new revenues, reduce product launch expenses and increase the effectiveness of sales and marketing organizations. Offering rich media technology in live, on-demand, and CD-ROM formats, Eloquent has successfully helped over 50 Fortune 1000 companies launch over 250 new products. For more information, visit www.eloquent.com.

For more information, please contact:
Justin Creally
High Road Communications
415-262-1982
jcreally@highroad.com