ROCHESTER, N.Y., June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Odyssey Software, Inc., a leading provider of advanced mobile device management solutions, today announced that its Athena(TM) management console add-in for Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 was named as a finalist of the "Best of Tech Ed 2008 IT Professional Awards" in the Systems Management & Operations category by Penton Media's Windows IT Pro(R) and SQL Server Magazine(R).

The Best of Tech Ed 2008 Awards recognize companies who offer innovative products in the industry. The judges reviewed over 220 products and services submitted for the contest and chose 29 finalists to be interviewed at the Tech·Ed 2008 IT Professionals Conference in Orlando, Florida. Winners will be announced on June 12th at an evening reception for all of the finalists and at http://www.windowsitpro.com/awards on June 13th.

"Choosing from such a wide variety of outstanding entries is a challenge every year, and the quality of this year's entries was particularly high," said Karen Forster, group editorial and strategy director for Windows IT Pro and SQL Server Magazine. "The products selected as finalists clearly provide innovative solutions and strategic importance to the market, are competitively advantageous and provide exceptional value to customers."

Athena from Odyssey Software is a revolutionary, extensible mobile device management solution for Windows Mobile, Windows Embedded and other Windows-based devices, which provides vital functions designed for the management of devices running mobile messaging, mission critical, line-of-business or other field-force based applications. Athena extends and complements the native device management capabilities of Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 by enabling help desk personnel and IT support staff to comprehensively manage these devices over any IP-based wired or wireless network. Unlike other third party device management products, which universally employ their own servers and consoles, Athena's on-device agent is designed to integrate seamlessly with System Center Configuration Manager 2007 allowing enterprise customers to leverage their investment in this platform and its inherent scalability, security, failover and reliability -- no proprietary Odyssey Software infrastructure, servers or consoles are ever required.

"We are thrilled to be recognized as a finalist for the Best of Tech·Ed 2008 IT Professional Awards," said Mark Gentile, president and CEO of Odyssey Software. "We have worked diligently to enhance the mobile device management capabilities of industry-standard enterprise management platforms by developing Athena, which integrates seamlessly with these platforms to deliver the industry's most advanced mobile device management solution. It is a great honor to be recognized by Penton Media for our achievements."

Penton Media's Windows IT Pro, the largest independent Windows IT community in the world, has Windows IT Pro as its flagship print publication. Windows IT Pro also includes SQL Server Magazine and Office SharePoint Pro. The Windows IT Pro network has 2.5 million unique visitors to its Web sites each month, and more than one million subscribers who opt-in to one or more email newsletters. Windows IT Pro is the world's leading producer of custom road shows, paid conferences and paid workshops for Windows and SQL Server IT and developer professionals. For more information visit: http://www.windowsitpro.com/.

Penton Media, Inc. is the largest independent business-to-business media company in the U.S., serving more than six million business professionals every month. The company's market-leading brands are focused on 30 industries and include 113 trade magazines, 145 Web sites, 150 industry trade shows and conferences, and more than 500 information data products. Headquartered in New York City, the privately held company is owned by MidOcean Partners and U.S. Equity Partners II, an investment fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co., LP, and its co-investors. For additional information on the company and its businesses, visit http://www.penton.com/.

About Odyssey

Odyssey Software is a leading provider of enterprise-class device management software solutions for all Microsoft Windows Mobile, Windows Embedded, and Windows device platforms. Our mission is to provide industry leading software solutions that make it easy and cost effective for IT organizations to manage and support the complexity of mobile enterprise deployments, unlocking the true potential of the mobile workplace by connecting people with information, colleagues, clients, and applications to drive new business opportunity-moving mobile business forward. More information is available at http://www.odysseysoftware.com/ or by calling 585-214-2409.

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Claire Barton of NPI PR, +1-831-440-2406,
claire@nadelphelan.com, for Odyssey Software, Inc.; or Peter Phillips of
Odyssey Software, +1-650-617-3442, pphillips@odysseysoftware.com

Web site: http://www.odysseysoftware.com/
http://www.windowsitpro.com/awards
http://www.windowsitpro.com/
http://www.penton.com/