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AUSTIN, TX -- (Marketwired) -- 04/18/13 -- Spiceworks™, the vertical network for IT, today introduced SpicePanels, a new service that brings together technology vendors and beta testers selected from Spiceworks' network of 2.4 million IT professionals. The new offering helps both start-up and established technology companies more quickly develop, test and trial new products, services and marketing campaigns by tapping into the collective power of the Spiceworks Community. Early customers include start-ups such as Pertino and OtoGo Mobile, as well as established technology brands such as Canon, EMC, and VMware.

"As an IT professional, I welcome the chance to help technology vendors design, build and market the technologies I rely on to do my job," said Mark Kleine, IT manager at McCoy Tree Surgery. "I took part in a SpicePanel with Pertino and felt like it gave me a voice and the opportunity to influence a cloud networking service that our company now uses."

SpicePanels are virtual focus and testing groups comprised of hand-picked IT professionals that fit vendors' desired profiles, including technology expertise, company size, industry, or other criteria. These custom engagements provide vendors with real-time community feedback and can be conducted as focus groups, beta test environments or product trials. SpicePanels can be as short as one hour or last up to several weeks based on vendors' needs.

The new offering is flexible enough to be used at any point in a vendor's product development and marketing process -- from viability testing and creation to execution and post-launch efforts. The SpicePanel process includes:

• Targeted recruiting: Spiceworks takes the guesswork out of panel recruiting by quickly matching vendors with the IT professionals that have relevant experience and expertise in specific technology areas. IT professionals are also selected with the SpicePanel scope and vendors' needs squarely in mind, so technology brands get what they need, when they need it.
  
  
• Co-moderation of panels: Spiceworks assists vendors throughout the process to ensure they're receiving the real-time feedback and direct input they need to drive their development efforts forward. This simplifies a complex process while giving vendors the opportunity to build one-on-one relationships with potential customers.
  
  
• Continuous feedback: Technology brands interact with SpicePanel participants in multiple ways, including private groups within the Spiceworks Community where feedback is gathered in real-time, group conference calls, one-on-one conversations, and post-panel surveys. Continuous feedback helps vendors rapidly adjust product functionality on the fly or how an offering is marketed.
  
  
• Launch platform: Spiceworks provides an ideal launching pad for new products and services from both start-up and established technology brands looking to reach small-to-midsize businesses. More than 2.4 million IT professionals use Spiceworks to manage their IT environment, connect with peers and learn about the latest products and services. SpicePanels provide vendors with a group of engaged IT professionals who regularly write product reviews, share their experiences with peers in the Spiceworks Community, and can serve as long-term brand advocates.
  
  

"We developed SpicePanels after seeing how powerful the open and honest feedback from the Spiceworks Community was in shaping the way vendors develop and market their offerings," said Jay Hallberg, co-founder and VP of Marketing at Spiceworks. "SpicePanels highlight the power of vertical networks and the way vendors, IT professionals and Spiceworks are collectively changing the IT industry."

SpicePanels are now available to start-up and established technology brands. To get started, visit http://www.spiceworks.com/marketing/products/spicepanels

About Spiceworks
Spiceworks is the vertical network for IT that connects 2.4 million IT professionals with over 1,500 technology brands to simplify how IT professionals discover, buy and manage more than $425 billion in technology products and services each year. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Spiceworks is backed by Adams Street Partners, Tenaya Capital, Institutional Venture Partners (IVP), Shasta Ventures and Austin Ventures. For more information visit http://www.spiceworks.com.

Follow Spiceworks on Twitter: http://twitter.com/spiceworks. Connect with Spiceworks on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Spiceworks. Search for available career and networking opportunities on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/companies/spiceworks.

Spiceworks is a trademark of Spiceworks, Inc. All other names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.