(Montvale, NJ - (MARKET WIRE) - October 2, 2003) - SYS-CON Media, the world's leading i-technology publisher, today announced that LinuxWorld Magazine (LWM) (www.LinuxWorld.com) has applied for membership in BPA International.

BPA International will track circulation for LinuxWorld Magazine based on business/distribution, demographic, and geographic coverage. The magazine will have 12 months to complete its initial circulation audit.

"We are pleased to have LinuxWorld Magazine apply for membership in BPA International," said Glenn Hansen, BPA International president and chief executive officer. "I'm confident that our audit of its circulation will help the publication in its efforts to assure advertisers that it effectively serves their target markets."

"The launch of LinuxWorld Magazine has met with immediate success in the wider Linux community and with business and i-technology leaders," said Fuat Kircaali, founder and CEO of SYS-CON Media. "LinuxWorld Magazine will serve the industry as the leading Linux print publication. We aim to be the first, and possibly the only Linux technology magazine in the world with a BPA audited circulation."

"We are delighted with the way that SYS-CON -- through IDG's licensing agreement -- is publishing LinuxWorld Magazine and LinuxWorld.com and showing commitment to open source and Linux professionals everywhere," said Colin Crawford, vice president of business development and operations at IDG. "We are pleased to continue our commitment to Linux professionals everywhere through this partnership with SYS-CON Media."

"LinuxWorld Magazine is dedicated to helping i-technology and business professionals make their migration, development, and deployment on Linux successful," said Jeremy Geelan, group publisher of SYS-CON Media. "Our business-savvy editors appreciate that the top-tier management of many companies can often be unaware of just how widespread open source software is within their own organizations. LinuxWorld Magazine articles and features are designed to promote the use of Linux in real-world business."

"As the leading magazine for enterprise and IT management, LinuxWorld Magazine is the first true direct advertising vehicle for our partners who need to reach highly influential corporate buyers and decision makers," said Megan Mussa, director of sales and marketing at SYS-CON Media. "Linux is making serious moves into the enterprise, and corporate IT managers need reliable news and information in order to successfully deploy their mission- critical solutions -- LinuxWorld will deliver that information."

LinuxWorld.com is often referred to by leading online news sources such as Google. LinuxWorld Magazine has the largest number of qualified readers, mostly corporate i-technology managers and development managers, and targets a circulation of more than 90,000 readers. The magazine is expected to be the only circulation-audited Linux publication, bringing the highest value to its advertising and media partners.

For subscriptions, please visit www.LinuxWorld.com, or contact by e-mail subscribe@LinuxWorld.com.

For advertising opportunities and details on rates, programs, availability, and deadlines, please contact Megan Mussa at megan@sys-con.com or by phone at 201 802-3023.

For newsstand inquiries, contact Curtis Circulation Company, in New Milford, New Jersey.

About BPA International
A not-for-profit organization since 1931, BPA International is in the Business of Performing Audits and has the largest membership of any media auditing organization in the world. Media owners, advertisers, and advertising agencies govern the tripartite organization. Our international membership of 5,400 consists of more than 2,600 media properties (print, electronic, face-to-face, wireless, databases) and 2,800 media buyers in more than 20 countries. Visit www.bpai.com for the latest audit reports, membership information, and news.

About SYS-CON Media

SYS-CON Media, listed in Inc 500 three years in a row as the fastest growing, privately held publishing company in America, is the world's leading publisher exclusively serving i-technology markets. SYS-CON publications include: Java Developer's Journal (www.JavaDevelopersJournal.com), .NET Developer's Journal (www.DotNETDevelopersJournal.com), Web Services Journal (www.WSJ2.com), Wireless Business & Technology (www.WBT2.com), XML-Journal (www.XML-Journal.com), WebSphere Developer's Journal (www.WebSphereDevelopersJournal.com), BEA WebLogic Developer's Journal (www.WeblogicDevelopersJournal.com), ColdFusion Developer's Journal (www.ColdFusionJournal.com), PowerBuilder Developer's Journal (www.PowerBuilderJournal.com), and Linux Business Week (www.LinuxBusinessWeek.com), and LinuxWorld Magazine (www.linuxworld.com), and MX Developer's Journal (www.MXDevelopersJournal.com).

About IDG

Headquartered in Boston, International Data Group (IDG) informs more people about information technology than any other company in the world and is the leading global provider of IT media, research, conferences and events. IDG publishes more than 300 newspapers and magazines in 85 countries, led by the Computerworld, InfoWorld, Macworld, Network World, PC World, and CIO global product lines. IDG offers online users the largest network of technology-specific sites around the world through IDG.net (www.idg.net), which comprises more than 330 websites in 70 countries. IDG is also a leading producer of 168 computer-related events in 35 countries, and research arm International Data Corporation (IDC) provides computer industry research and analysis through 51 offices in 43 countries worldwide. Company information is available at www.idg.com.

LinuxWorld is the registered trademark of International Data Group, Inc. SYS-CON is using the mark pursuant to a license agreement from IDG.

Contact:
Megan Mussa
Company: SYS-CON Media
Voice: 201 802-3023
E-mail: megan@sys-con.com

Contact:
Karlene Lukovitz
Company: BPA International
Voice: 203 447-2811
E-mail: klukovitz@bpai.com