Press Room: 2006
Keynote to Monitor Performance of Leading Online Shopping Sites on Black Friday – Data Available to Media Beginning Friday and Through the Holiday Season
SAN MATEO, Calif., — November 22, 2006 — Keynote Competitive Research, the industry analysis group of Keynote Systems (Nasdaq: KEYN), today announced it would make itself readily available to media throughout the Thanksgiving holiday weekend for reporting on the speed and reliability of leading retail Web sites beginning on Black Friday. Media interested in receiving Keynote’s reports and/or a live interview on Black Friday or during the upcoming weekend should email Dan Berkowitz at dberkowitz@keynote.com.
The source of Keynote’s reporting to the media are the 2006 Keynote Online Holiday Shopping Indices, new transaction performance indices from Keynote comprised of leading shopping sites across three retail categories (apparel, books & music, electronics) that will collect measurement data over both broadband and dial–up Internet connections and go beyond the shopping cart page to collect data all the way through to the checkout page.
The data used to create Keynote’s 2006 shopping indices is collected in real time on an hourly basis from 10 cities across the U.S. providing an up-to-the-minute barometer of online consumer experience throughout the 2006 holiday shopping season. The index data is collected using Transaction Perspective® 7.0, Keynote’s market–leading Web site performance measurement and monitoring service.
Keynote recognizes the importance of the holiday season to online retailers. During this period more users will purchase products on leading retail sites than during the entire rest of year. In order to provide the best experience for users and to maximize sales, sites must be highly available (free of outages and errors) and provide reasonable responsiveness (meaning download speeds of consistently good performance, even under high load). If there are major performance issues a user will typically become frustrated and potentially make their purchase from another site.
“Keynote’s online retail study conducted this summer found that many retailers were already struggling to keep up with user load. The study uncovered unexpected and significant downtime and outage issues, said Ben Rushlo, senior manager of competitive research at Keynote. “Keynote is concerned that many of the sites on the indices will struggle during the holiday shopping season. Online shoppers are savvier than ever and any negative experience on a site – performance issues, outages and errors – can directly impact their likelihood to purchase. If a site is down, a customer can easily go to a competitor to make the purchase.”
Keynote’s 2006 Online Holiday Shopping Indices are available for purchase. For more information on purchasing the indices please call 1 (800) KEYNOTE (539-6683).
Sites on Keynote’s apparel index include: Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF); Eddie Bauer (Nasdaq: EBHI); Foot Locker (NYSE: FL); Gap (NYSE: GPS); JC Penney (NYSE: JCP); JCrew; Macy’s (Federated Department Stores, NYSE: FD); Neiman Marcus; Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN); Saks Fifth Avenue (NYSE: SKS); Sears (Nasdaq: SHLD); Zappos.
Sites on Keynote’s books & music index include: AbeBooks.com; Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN); Barnes & Noble (NYSE: BKS); Borders (NYSE: BGP); Buy.com; Overstock.com (Nasdaq: OSTK); Target (NYSE: TGT); Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT).
Sites on Keynote’s electronics index include: Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN); Best Buy (NYSE: BBY); Buy.com; CDW (Nasdaq: CDWC); Circuit City (NYSE: CC); Dell (Nasdaq: DELL); Office Depot (NYSE: ODP); OfficeMax (NYSE: OMX); Overstock.com (Nasdaq: OSTK); Staples (Nasdaq: SPLS); Toys R Us (NYSE: XKE); Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT).
Information regarding the methodology behind Keynote’s Web performance indices can be found at: www.keynote.com/solutions/performance_indices/retail/retail.html
For general information on Keynote’s Web performance indices view: www.keynote.com/solutions/mm_public_services.html
About Keynote Competitive Research
Keynote Competitive Research is the industry analysis group within Keynote that produces Web performance indices and ranking studies of Web site performance in the areas of service levels (responsiveness/reliability), customer experience and best practices implementation. The studies and indices produced are all available for purchase.
Keynote Competitive Research provides deep insights into an industry’s online best practices and how a particular Web site’s customer experiences and performance levels compare to key competitors. Keynote uses the world’s largest Internet test & measurement network and one of the most representative panels of Internet users to deliver data and insights on the end user experience. Keynote Competitive Research provides an online business with an in-depth understanding of its customers, competitors and markets. It helps an online business to determine the best strategies for gaining a competitive edge and accomplishing business goals.
About Keynote
Keynote Systems (Nasdaq “KEYN”) is the global leader in test & measurement solutions that improve mobile communications and online business performance. 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, we have been providing measurement data and testing capabilities that allow companies to understand and improve their customer’s online and mobile experience. Keynote has four test and measurement businesses: Web performance, mobile quality, streaming & VoIP, and customer experience/UX. In addition, our 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 2,400 measurement computers and mobile devices in over 240 geographic locations around the world. Keynote also maintains one of the most representative panels of online users consisting of 160,000 consumers. Our 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.
We help over 2,600 corporate customers become “the best of the best” by helping them improve online business performance and mobile communications quality. Our customers represent top Internet and mobile companies including American Express, BP, Caterpillar, Dell, Disney, eBay, ESPN Mobile, E*TRADE, Expedia, FedEx, 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 and Perspective are registered trademarks and The Mobile and Internet Performance Authority is a trademark of Keynote Systems, Inc. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2006 Keynote Systems, Inc.
Editorial Contacts:
Dan Berkowitz, Keynote Systems, (415) 518-7870, dan.berkowitz@keynote.com
Dan Cahill, Roaring Communications, (415) 552-3999, dcahill@roaringcommunications.com
