Canada's VerticalScope Launches Germany's Largest Web Hosting Resource Site

Toronto, ON / April 02, 2002 / VerticalScope Inc. / TopHosts.Com, a VerticalScope Inc. company and the world’s largest independent web hosting resource site, has expanded into Germany with DE.TopHosts.Com.

Building on the success of TopHosts.Com, "which has successfully served the North American hosting industry and hundreds of thousands of monthly visitors since 1997, VerticalScope will direct qualified traffic to the German hosting marketplace with DE.TopHosts.Com," said VerticalScope Inc. President Rob Laidlaw.

"There are special challenges which face the German hosting industry. The marketing of hosting options retains a large North American focus, which forces many German businesses to agree to an overseas hosting solution because they are unaware of other options."

Hosting in Germany has traditionally been provided by access-based ISPs as an adjunct to their core business, but over the last year, network-focused companies are placing more emphasis on Web-level and application level services.

Since its German launch, thousands of Web developers and small business owners have visited the site to search the host database, review the monthly Top 25 ranked hosts, and access the extensive Webmaster resources which can guide a German business from inception to hosting. DE.TopHosts.Com connects the German web hosts to thousands of potential customers. Company showcases give the leading Web hosts the opportunity to present their latest products and packages, while product and service reviews track the newest developments in Internet technology.

IDC forecasts that the European web hosting market will increase rapidly in value to over E5.65 billion (US$ 5.1 billion) by 2004. The German market is expected to account for 26 percent of the European market by 2004.

“Our goal is to educate German corporate decision makers,” said Laidlaw. “DE. TopHosts.Com is a truly unique resource, which can guide novice and expert Web developers through every aspect of finding a suitable German host for their enterprise.”

About DE.TopHosts.Com

DE.TopHosts.Com is the Internet authority on German Web hosting. As the most comprehensive Web host directory, DE.TopHosts.Com provides the most relevant, productive and powerful tools and information for Web developers, Webmasters, and E-commerce businesses. As part of an aggressive spring launch strategy, DE.TopHosts.Com will be advertising in major European publications such as “.Net Magazine”, “Internet Works” and “Internet Magazine" in addition to establishing partnerships with major Webmaster and Internet technology websites. Visit www.DE.TopHosts.Com.

About VerticalScope Inc.

Toronto-based VerticalScope Inc. is a world leader in creating resources for the SME market. Boasting an array of resource portals, each one dedicated to a specific industry niche, VerticalScope Inc., tracks and covers current market developments with incisive, digestible content. Its powerful proprietary tools bring companies together, and allow hundreds of thousands of visitors to locate their ideal business partners. VerticalScope Inc. is the only source businesses need for reliable timely industry information. Completely independent, VerticalScope Inc. has built a reputation for reliable and unbiased content. Visit www.verticalscope.com.

Contact:

David Eisenstadt
Beth Merrick
The Communications Group Inc.
(416) 696-9900
deisenstadt@tcgpr.com
bmerrick@tcgpr.com

Peter O'Neill
VerticalScope Inc.
(416) 341-8950 ext. 239
poneill@verticalscope.com