NEW YORK, November 1, 2005 – Light Reading's Byte and Switch, the leading online storage networking publication, has merged with CMP's Storage Pipeline and is being relaunched today.

Bearing a new tagline – "Storage Networking and Beyond" – and augmented with editorial content and columns from Storage Pipeline, Byte and Switch continues to focus on key issues of enterprise storage networking for IT professionals. Light Reading's Next-Gen Data Center Forum is also being folded into Byte and Switch, reflecting a broadened focus on how storage networks are evolving within the context of centralized data centers.

In contrast to other storage publications, Byte and Switch delivers independent and original content and breaking news on a daily basis, along with continually changing how-to reports, case studies, interviews, polls, and directories.

Byte and Switch's team of seven full-time editors is led by Terry Sweeney, Editor in Chief, who launched CMP's Storage Pipeline. Mary Jander continues in the role of Site Editor. Together, Terry and Mary have more than 40 years' experience in technology journalism.

The relaunch of Byte and Switch was made possible by CMP Media LLC's acquisition of Light Reading Inc. in August 2005. The union of two market-leading technology B2B firms results in a site with the largest circulation in the storage market.

Based on previous averages, the newly redesigned Byte and Switch site will attract 650,000 monthly page views and 93,000 unique monthly visitors. The site also features an opt-in newsletter incorporating 102,755 Storage Pipeline online newsletter subscribers.

"The combination of Byte and Switch, Storage Pipeline, and Next-Gen Data Center Forum creates the enterprise storage publication with the most highly qualified readership in the industry," said Stephen Saunders, President of Light Reading and Senior Vice President of CMP's newly formed Communications Group. "The relaunch of Byte and Switch represents a key step in taking the highly successful business-to-business publishing model established by Light Reading's publications to the next level within CMP Media."

The Byte and Switch brand will extend to a range of additional publications, services, and events, including:

"We're looking forward to continuing to deliver the most intelligent mix of breaking news, analysis, and technical content to enterprise storage buyers," said Terry Sweeney, Editor in Chief of Byte and Switch. "Byte and Switch is the destination for the latest on everything from arrays to backup software, storage networks, virtualization, and beyond. As the storage landscape shifts and reforms, Byte and Switch is the Web's richest destination for information, insight, commentary, and technical know-how."

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About CMP Media
CMP Media is the leading integrated media solutions company providing "broad and deep" access to the entire technology spectrum – the builders, sellers, and buyers of technology worldwide. The company's comprehensive database of technology decision makers enables marketers to reach targeted audiences throughout the purchase process with publications, web offerings, face-to-face events, consulting, and other marketing services that deliver actionable results.

About Byte and Switch
Originally launched in June 2001, Byte and Switch addresses the need for clear, concise information and analysis about the exploding field of storage networking. The new Byte and Switch's goal is to meet and exceed IT users' growing need for information about enterprise storage networking and data center infrastructure.

Contact:

Alix Raine
SVP of Communications, CMP Media
[email protected]
+1-516-562-7827

Amy Averbook
Marketing Manager, Light Reading Inc.
[email protected]
+1-212-925-0020 x112