MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today, Mercury Interactive Corporation , the global leader in business technology optimization (BTO) software, announced that Mark Hurd, chief executive officer and president of HP, will speak at Mercury World 2006, which will be held October 8-11 at the Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mercury World, the world's largest BTO event, is a leading forum for customers to engage in interactive, hands-on discussions about how to optimize the business outcomes of IT using Mercury BTO software.

In his Mainstage presentation, Hurd will discuss software's strategic value to customers and how the proposed acquisition of Mercury by HP will help extend HP's leadership in the enterprise management software market.

Since joining HP in early 2005, Hurd has improved the company's operating efficiency and execution as well as its financial performance and customer focus. The result has been increasing growth and profitability, greater value for shareholders and customers, and a stronger competitive position in global IT markets.

Mercury World 2006 will feature four days of best-in-class speakers, programs and sessions for Mercury customers and partners. This year's event will include an impressive lineup of industry leaders including keynote addresses by Madeleine Albright, the first female U.S. Secretary of State, and from Jared Diamond, author of Pulitzer Prize-winning Guns, Germs, and Steel and the best-selling book, Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. Additional Mainstage events include presentations by Mercury customers, Mercury executives, and other industry thought leaders.

Mercury World participants can choose from nearly 100 track sessions led by Mercury users, experts, partners, and other members of the BTO community. The agenda consists of high-level strategies, tips, and techniques spanning a wide range of Mercury products and services.

For more information or to register for Mercury World 2006 in Las Vegas, please visit: http://www.mercury.com/mercuryworld/ .

ABOUT MERCURY

Mercury Interactive Corporation, the global leader in business technology optimization (BTO) software, is committed to helping customers optimize the business value of information technology. Founded in 1989, Mercury conducts business worldwide and is one of the largest enterprise software companies today. Mercury provides software and services for IT Governance, Application Delivery, and Application Management. Customers worldwide rely on Mercury offerings to govern the priorities, processes and people of IT and test and manage the quality and performance of business-critical applications. Mercury BTO offerings are complemented by technologies and services from global business partners. For more information, please visit http://www.mercury.com/.

NOTE: Mercury and the Mercury logo are trademarks of Mercury Interactive Corporation and may be registered in certain jurisdictions.

All other company, brand and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

CONTACT: Jean Kondo of Mercury, +1-650-603-5441, or jkondo@mercury.com;
or Elizabeth Crosta of Ogilvy Public Relations, +1-415-677-2800, or
elizabeth.crosta@ogilvypr.com, for Mercury

Web site: http://www.mercuryinteractive.com/