Europe Press Room: 2008

Keynote Systems launches 2008 Christmas Season Web Performance Online Retail Index

London, England, – November 12, 2008 – Keynote Competitive Research, the industry analysis group of Keynote (Nasdaq: KEYN), today announced that it will monitor the technical performance quality (responsiveness and reliability) of Web sites in the run up to the Christmas period, from the beginning of November until the end of January 2009. Keynote is monitoring the Web sites of the UK’s top retailers including Amazon, Argos, BHS, Debenhams, Hamleys, HMV, House of Fraser, John Lewis, Littlewoods, Play.com, Selfridges, Tesco Direct, ToysRus.

In addition to these sites, Keynote will also be monitoring a number of Web sites across various other industry sectors such as grocery stores, department stores, travel sites and music and electronics stores. Keynote will make itself readily available to media before, during and after the Christmas period and will reveal which sites perform the best. Media interested in receiving updates on sites in Keynote’s 2008 Christmas Web Performance Index, including performance data and rankings during this period of time, should email their request to: keynoteteam@johnsonking.co.uk.

Keynote will monitor these sites using Keynote Transaction Perspective® High Frequency which uses Internet Explorer to provide a true end-user perspective of Web performance. Keynote’s Transaction Perspective is the industry’s most accurate measurement tool that provides full visibility into the performance and availability of Web transactions from the real end user’s perspective. It uses the actual Internet Explorer browser to generate real transactions from locations all over the world.

Keynote recommends that all retailers ensure their site are ready for the Christmas season by undertaking comprehensive test and measurement of the sites, including load testing to prepare for peaks in traffic.

Martin Stern, EMEA regional manager, Keynote Systems said: “With the internet now an integral part of any retail activity, a company website is often the first port of call for both potential and existing customers and one bad experience is often enough to turn a consumer away for life. There has recently been a large amount of speculation that the internet will soon be replacing window shopping due to its convenience and the fact it is easily accessible – more and more consumers are being driven towards online shopping in a bid to avoid the hustle and bustle of the high street. It is critical therefore that you can effectively meet your customers’ needs on the web, as well as in the shops.

“Failure to do so may result in online revenues declining, despite increasing numbers of users accessing your site. Many businesses are so preoccupied with developing the styling of their site that they crucially overlook how their new websites will perform in the real world and the end users’ experience. Failure to understand what your end users like and dislike about their online experience can have severe repercussions on an online business no matter how brilliant the underlying idea or how beautiful the website design,” continued Stern.

About Keynote

Keynote Systems (Nasdaq “KEYN”) is the global leader in on-demand test & measurement solutions for continuously improving the online experience. As an independent and trusted third-party, Keynote provides IT and marketing executives with an unbiased view into their Internet services from around the world. For over a decade, Keynote has been providing measurement data and testing capabilities that allow companies to understand and improve their customers’ online and mobile experience. Keynote has four test and measurement businesses: Web performance, mobile quality, streaming & VoIP, and customer experience/UX. In addition, Keynote’s industry analysis group called Keynote Competitive Research publishes proprietary studies measuring customer experience and service levels across a wide range of industries

Known as The Mobile and Internet Performance Authority™, Keynote has a market-leading infrastructure of 2,500 measurement computers and mobile devices in over 240 locations around the world. Keynote also maintains one of the most representative panels of online users consisting of 160,000 consumers. Keynote’s on-demand, hassle-free infrastructure allows businesses to access services they need, when they need them to pinpoint and fix mobile quality and Internet problems before they impact customers.

Keynote helps over 2,800 corporate customers become “the best of the best” by helping them improve online business performance and mobile communications quality. Keynote’s customers represent top Internet and mobile companies including American Express, BP, Caterpillar, Dell, Disney, eBay, E*TRADE, Expedia, Microsoft, SonyEricsson, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon and Vodafone.

Keynote Systems, Inc. is headquartered in San Mateo, California and can be reached at www.keynote.com or by phone in the U.S. at (650) 403-2400.

Keynote, The Internet Performance Authority, Perspective and WebEffective are registered trademarks and The Mobile and Internet Performance Authority and True Experience are trademarks of Keynote Systems, Inc. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2008 Keynote Systems, Inc.

Editorial Contacts:

Ryan Whelan and Kathryn Mills-Webb, Johnson King, +44 (0) 20 7401 7968, keynoteteam@johnsonking.co.uk