Business Editors/High Tech Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 18, 2001

Micromuse Inc. (Nasdaq: MUSE), the leading provider of service and business assurance software assurance software, today announced that Europolitan Vodafone is implementing a network management solution based on Micromuse's flagship Netcool(R)/OMNIbus(TM) application to provide realtime monitoring of its network-based services.

Vodafone Plc, the world's largest mobile telecommunications company, owns 71 percent of Europolitan Holdings AB, the parent company of Europolitan Vodafone.

AU-System was responsible for designing and implementing Europolitan Vodafone's service assurance solution.

"It's very important for us to have a network of the highest quality and to be able to control any faults that may arise so that we can take the necessary steps and inform the customers affected as quickly as possible," said Markus Asenryd, head of Europolitan Vodafone's Network Management. "The monitoring environment for our third-generation network will be even more complex, so this solution will prepare us for the expansion that will take place in conjunction with the growth of 3G-based services."

As the core service assurance component in Europolitan Vodafone's infrastructure, the solution will provide network operators with a complete end-to-end view of the status of network-based voice and data services. Europolitan Vodafone deployed applications based on the following components of the Netcool suite in its Karlskrona-based network operations center:

- The Netcool(R)/OMNIbus(TM) application collects and consolidates realtime
status data from various devices, including applications from Nokia and
Hewlett-Packard, to help determine what the problem is.

- The award-winning Netcool/Impact(TM) application determines who is impacted
by the problem.

- The Netcool/Internet Service Monitors(TM) and Netcool/Wireless Service
Monitors(TM) software suites determine the availability and response time of
Internet and wireless applications and services.

"As an established leader in wireless services, Europolitan Vodafone is in an excellent position to steer the growth of GPRS and UMTS networks, and recognizes the need for an end-to-end network management solution that will enable the operator to quickly bring new services to market," said Richard Lowe, Micromuse's Director, Sales, EMEA. "Europolitan Vodafone deployed a solution that will enable the efficient management of diverse equipment from multiple vendors, both now and in the future."

About Europolitan Vodafone

Europolitan Vodafone is a mobile operator with a license to build 3G mobile telecoms networks. Our strength lies in our focus on developing international services, service and quality. Europolitan Vodafone employs some 1,500 people and is listed on the Attract 40 list of the Stockholm Stock Exchange through its parent company, Europolitan Holdings AB. The company's majority owner is Vodafone of the UK, with 71 per cent of Europolitan Holdings AB. Private shareholders, investment companies and pension funds own the remaining 29 per cent. The Vodafone Group is represented on 5 continents and has around 95 million customers (proportional number of customers calculated on the basis of ownership). For more information, please visit www.europolitan.se and www.vodafone.com .

About Micromuse

Micromuse Inc. (Nasdaq: MUSE) is the leading provider of service and business assurance software. Micromuse's recent list of awards include the TeleStrategies OSS Excellence Award for Best New Product for the Netcool(R)/Visionary(TM) application, and Web Hosting Magazine Editor's Choice Award. In addition, Micromuse has been recognized in the Forbes 500, Bloomberg's Top 100 Stocks, the Barron's 500, Deloitte & Touche's Technology Fast 500, San Francisco Chronicle 500, Individual Investor's Index of America's Fastest Growing Companies and Network World's NW200. Micromuse customers include AT&T, BT, Cable & Wireless, Cellular One, Charles Schwab, Deutsche Telekom, Digex, EarthLink, GE Appliances, ITCDeltaCom, J.P. Morgan Chase, One 2 One and Verizon. Headquarters are located at 139 Townsend Street, San Francisco, Calif. 94107; (415) 538-9090. The Web site is at www.micromuse.com.

Micromuse and Netcool are registered trademarks of Micromuse Ltd. All other trademarks and registered trademarks in this document are the properties of their respective owners. Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations, but are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties.

The factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include the following: fluctuations in customer demand, the Company's ability to manage its growth (including the ability to hire sufficient sales and technical personnel), the risks associated with the expansion of the Company's distribution channels, the risk of new product introductions and customer acceptance of new products; the rapid technological change which characterizes the Company's markets, the risks associated with competition, the risks associated with international sales as the Company expands its markets, and the ability of the Company to compete successfully in the future, as well as other risks identified in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission Filings, including but not limited to those appearing under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and on Form 10-K on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on the Company's Web site.