January 24, 2006      

San Jose Company Honored for Export Achievements
Rep. Lofgren Presents Dept. of Commerce Award to Propel Software Corporation

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) today presented Propel Software Corporation of San Jose with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Export Achievement Certificate. The award recognizes businesses that have used the export services of the Department’s U.S. Commercial Service to open new foreign markets and to grow their international business.

“Ninety-five percent of the world’s consumers live outside of the United States, and Propel Software is an example of how California businesses are working to increase high tech export sales around the world,” Lofgren said.  “American high tech exports support good high-wage jobs here at home while fueling ingenuity and innovation in the world marketplace.  I am pleased to recognize Propel Software Corporation with this honor.”

Propel Software Corporation, a leader in Internet acceleration solutions, utilized the Silicon Valley U.S. Export Assistance Center and worldwide Commercial Service network to gain introductions to internet service providers (ISPs) in several foreign markets.  Recognizing the Commercial Service’s “door-opening” ability, Propel requested meetings with ISPs through the agency’s American embassy-based offices in several developing countries, where the prevalence of dial-up Internet access makes Propel Accelerator particularly attractive.  As a result, Propel has made export sales to several first-time markets, including Thailand, Russia and several Latin American countries. 

“The expert assistance of the U.S. Commerce Department has been invaluable to our global expansion,” said Steve Kirsch, founder and CEO of Propel. “To enter a new market successfully you need both an in-depth understanding of the national economy and a solid network of local contacts, which is exactly what we have been offered by the Commercial Service.”

Propel Accelerator provides a high-speed experience for users of 802.11 hotspots, wireless mobile data, low-speed broadband and dial-up connections. It is currently deployed by hundreds of ISPs and other Propel users around the world, making available an improved Internet experience to more than 34 million subscribers.

With its network of offices across the U.S. and in more than 80 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide.  In 2004, the U.S. Commercial Service helped U.S. businesses generate export sales worth $26 billion.