 
TELECOM PRESS RELEASES 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
 
   ** NOTE: we are publishing these press releases nearly verbatim 
   as a service to SysOps and other online enthusiasts. We are not 
   responsible for inaccuracies or excessive braggadocio. <G> ** 
 
                                 -=*=- 

From Searchlight Software:

           >>  SEARCHLIGHT SOFTWARE'S "PROJECT ODESSA" 
                 BRINGS BBS-LIKE FEATURES TO THE WEB  <<

       "New product is a true World Wide Web server bundled
       with modules for hosting Web-based conferences and file libaries"

   AUGUST 1995 -- Search Software will demonstrate its new World Wide 
Web host product at ONE BBSCON and announce plans for a fall beta-
testing schedule and a December release date. Code-named "Project 
Odessa," Searchlight's new software is a true World Wide Web server 
designed to run on a Windows NT or Windows 95 platform with a TCP/IP 
stack. Unlike similar products, Odessa includes utilities for hosting 
message conferences, file libraries and user databases, making it the 
first all-in-one solution for running a BBS-like service on the Web.

   "Traditionally, the World Wide Web has been used as a vehicle for 
delivering prepared documents and static files," said Searchlight 
President Frank LaRosa. "But that's changing rapidly. Today, people want 
to have conferences, databases, surveys and other interactive features 
at their Web sites. Project Odessa was conceived as a way to pair the 
flexibility of a BBS product with the global accessibility of the Web. 
Our position as a leading developer of BBS software gives us a fresh 
approach to the Web and a unique understanding of the system operator's 
needs." Cleveland-based Searchlight Software has been producing the 
popular Searchlight BBS software package since 1987.


>>[ Share Conferences and Files With a BBS ]<<

   Odessa's conference and file modules use the same file formats as 
Searchlight BBS software, making Odessa the first Web product capable of 
sharing data with a traditional BBS system. Operators who set up an 
Odessa server on a LAN running Searchlight BBS will have direct, real-
time access to their Searchlight conferences, file libraries and other 
resources. Messages and files posted from either source are immediately 
visible to both BBS callers and World Wide Web users.

   "One of the problems with existing Web-based conference solutions is 
that they're limited to the Web interface," said LaRosa. "A large number 
of BBS operators want to start offering Web services, but find that it's 
difficult or impossible to build a Web site that works like their BBS. 
With Odessa, you can build a Web site that uses the same conferences and 
file libraries as your BBS. In fact, if you already run Searchlight BBS, 
you can install Odessa and instantly offer a Web site with the same 
conferences and file libraries as your BBS -- there's no lengthy 
conversion or setup process involved."


>>[ Open Architecture Offers Compatibility, Expansion ]<<

   Odessa is built around a series of dynamic link libraries (DLLs) that 
can be easily replaced, upgraded or expanded upon by third-party 
developers without replacing the main server. In addition, Searchlight 
plans to release versions of Odessa's congference, file and user 
database modules that are compatible with Web servers from major players 
like the O'Reilly and Quarterdeck. "The real focus of our development is 
the back end -- the utilities and modules that provide interactivity," 
LaRosa said. "Odessa's modular design lets webmasters take advantage of 
its BBS-like functionality even if they prefer to use another company's 
Web server software."

   Long-term plans for Project Odessa include continuing development of 
"back end" applications (including an extensible database module, an 
advertising system and a chat application) and ports to other operating 
platforms. Odessa was primarily developed using Borland's C++ compiler, 
which will allow Searchlight to port the product to OS/2 and Unix 
platforms.

   Searchlight will continue to develop its popular RIP/ANSI-based BBS 
software product. "Odessa is designed to complement Searchlight BBS, not 
replace it," explained LaRosa. "We'll continue upgrading and supporting 
our BBS software as long as there is a need for traditional dial-up BBS 
systems." He added that Odessa can run alone or in conjunction with a 
Searchlight BBS system.


>>[ Searchlight Teams With Internet Provider ]<<

   The Odessa software was developed as a joint project between 
Searchlight Software and Multiverse, Inc., Cleveland's largest 
commercial Internet service provider. "When we sat down to design this 
software, we knew what SysOps and webmasters wanted -- but we didn't 
know a whole lot about how the Web works," LaRosa said. "Our partnership 
with Multiverse gave us immediate access to some of the best Web 
designers and system operators in the midwest, as well as the 
infrastructure we needed to properly develop and test a product of this 
scale."

   Since its inception in 1993, Multiverse has become the leading 
Internet provider to Cleveland's business and professional community. 
Multiverse maintains the city of Cleveland's official home page 
(http://www.cleveland.oh.us) as well as corporate Web sites for 
companies like Manco, Inc. (http://www.manco.com). The company's 
services include the Multiverse BBS (running Searchlight BBS software), 
offering subscribers full access to the Internet. "Odessa will 
fundamentally change the way the Web operates," said Multiverse V.P. of 
Operations, Michael Kister. "We talked about the limitations of the 
traditional Web format, and how that could be improved upon. Ultimately, 
we scrapped a lot of old ideas and created a new product from the ground 
up. With Odessa, we'll have databases that can be dynamically referenced 
to create HTML documents on the fly. Reconfiguration of Web sites will 
be a snap -- our clients will gain a huge advantage through our use of 
Odessa."


>>[ Prices, Release Schedule Announced ]<<

   Odessa is targeted for a December 1995 release date with an initial 
price of $495, including the Web server and applications for user 
databases, message conferences and file libraries. Since Odessa's server 
can support traditional HTML pages as well as Odessa applications, this 
price buys a complete Web server/Web BBS solution. Additional 
applications (such as general-purpose databases and chatting) will be 
announced in the fall and released during 1996.

   A limited number of beta-test positions will be made available during 
ONE BBSCON at a cost of $100. This price entitles the beta tester to a 
full copy of the Odessa product at the conclusion of the beta-testing 
period. Beta testing for Project Odessa is scheduled to begin in late 
September and the beta-test team will be strictly limited to the first 
100 participants. Interested parties can apply at Searchlight's booth 
during ONE BBSCON exhibit hours. Should any beta-test positions remain 
available after the convention, these will be offered through the end of 
August at a cost of $250.

   See Searchlight in booths 635 and 734 at ONE BBSCON. Searchlight 
Software, Inc., (216) 631-9290. 

                                 -=*=-

From OnPro Development Corp.:

          >>  NEW WORLD WIDE WEB MARKETING TOOL PROVIDES
               JUMP-START TO ONLINE PUBLICITY PROGRAMS  <<

           "WebPost<TM> Provides Fast, Easy-to-Use Automated Approach
           to Posting on Internet Directories and Search Engines"

   BEDFORD, MA -- August 7, 1995 -- OnPro Development Corp., a leading 
developer of online marketplaces, today announced the availability of 
WebPost<TM>, an automated tool for posting company URLs and information 
to more than 25 directories and search tools on the Internet.

   WebPost is accessible to any company involved in Web-site 
development, design and marketing. Located at OnPro's marketplace, Sales 
and Marketing Exchange (SME), WebPost is available today at 
http://www.sme.com/webpost/

   "Posting to the Internet directories is a first step in generating 
awareness and traffic, but it's a tedious and time-consuming process," 
said Bill Younker, president of OnPro. "Until now, companies spent days 
locating directories on the Web, navigating to the proper submission 
page within each directory, then filling out each form one-at-a-time. 
WebPost reduces the time to as little as 30 minutes and eliminates the 
possibility of missing an important posting."

   WebPost supports the major directories, search engines, "What's New" 
sites and mailing lists such as Yahoo, Yellow Pages, Lycos, NCSA and 
NetHappenings.

   WebPost allows quick posting from a single location. The user fills 
out a single master form, then selects the directories for posting. As 
each directory is selected, a representative form for that directory is 
displayed, allowing the user to customize the submission before posting 
it to the directory. Once posted, the user receives a confirmation 
notice from the directory, then clicks on the browser "Back" key and 
processes the next directory.

   "This approach allows users to complete the process in minutes with 
the flexibility of customizing each entry," said Larry Gormley, OnPro's 
Vice President of Online Services. "All the information is organized on 
one page, eliminating the need to navigate from one Web stie to 
another."


>>[ Value-Added Links and Extensions ]<<

   In addition to providing companies with a tool for fast and easy 
directory posting, OnPro delivers a rich set of links to other Internet 
marketing tools and resources located on the Web. These links are co-
located with WebPost at SME.

   WebPost enhancement plans include vertical directory listings and 
automated logging. "We will continue to enhance WebPost and develop 
other tools and links to information resources that benefit sales and 
marketing professionals and providers," said Gormley. "WebPost fits into 
the SME vision while answering the immediate need of hundreds of 
companies establishing a Web presence every day."


>>[ Pricing and Availability ]<<

   WebPost is free of charge and available today. OnPro intends to seek 
sponsors for the WebPost site in the future.


>>[ Company Overview ]<<

   OnPro Corp. is a Massachusetts-based company formed in 1994 to create 
online marketplaces. SME is the company's premier marketplace. The 
company's mission is to make SME the most comprehensive and useful 
global resource for sales and marketing professionals. In addition to 
SME, OnPro provides online marketplace consulting and implementation 
services to selective corporate customers. 

                                 -=*=-

From OnPro Development Corp.:

      >>  WORLD WIDE WEB MARKETPLACE FOR SALES AND MARKETING 
                 COMMUNITY NOW FULLY OPERATIONAL  <<

           "Service Establishes Six Subsidiary Marketplaces,
           Signs First Agreements to Sell Publisher Content"

   BEDFORD, MA -- August 7, 1995 -- OnPro Development Corp., a leading 
developer of online marketplaces, today announced the availability of 
Sales and Marketing Exchange (SME) as a fully operational marketplace 
for sales and marketing professionals and providers. The formation of 
SME was announced by OnPro in late March, 1995.

   Located on the World Wide Web, SME offers a rich and growing database 
of information, tools and services for sales and marketing 
professionals. Examples include online directories of service companies 
such as PR agencies, tools such as software templates and information 
products for resale such as newsletters. SME is available today at 
http://www.sme.com

   "Our intent is to make SME the most comprehensive, useful and easy-
to-use resource for sales and marketing professionals," said Bill 
Younker, president of OnPro. "Our status as an independent company is 
key to that intent as it allows us to openly work with all promotion and 
content providers. We also employ an affordable pricing model, non-
exclusive agreements with publishers and strategic partnering to quickly 
fuel SME's growth. The result is a marketplace rich in content with 
links to value-added sites on the Web and comprehensive lists of print-
based resources."

   In addition to its deep content, SME's organization makes the service 
easy to use. Its six subsidiary marketplaces -- MarketingWeb, SalesWeb, 
PRWeb, ADWeb, DMWeb and DesignWeb -- provide a logical structure to SME, 
and a universal toolbar allows the user to navigate anywhere within the 
service in two clicks. A robust search engine with powerful querying 
functionality will be available in August.


>>[ First Information Product and Content Publishers Signed ]<<

   OnPro recently signed reseller agreements with MediaMap, SALES LEADS 
and Lawrence Erlbaum Associates to sell their information products at 
SME. MediaMap is the leading information product provider to high-
technology public-relations professionals. "There were several 
compelling reasons to put our infomration up on SME," said Kirke Curtis, 
MediaMap COO. "Apart from providing us with a new sales channel for our 
existing products, SME also gives us an opportunity to develop new 
online products at lower price points and thus to serve a whole new 
segment of our market. Our move also responds to our clients' demands 
for Internet access to our information. With our new products up on SME, 
clients can get access to just the information they need, when they need 
it, at a price point they can afford -- 24 hours a day from anywhere in 
the world."

   SALES LEADS is the leading supplier of sales lead information to 
industrial sales reps, and Erlbaum is a leading publisher of books and 
journals to PR professionals. "These initial agreements mark SME's 
direction with content," said Younker. "In addition to these agreements, 
we are in discussions with a number of other publishers to resell 
content and provide services such as news feeds to SME."


>>[ First Tool Introduced ]<

   OnPro separately announced today its WebPost<TM> tool for automating 
the time-consuming process of posting to the many Internet directories 
and search engines. In addition to WebPost, OnPro is working with other 
providers to sell tools ranging from direct mail cost estimators to 
marketing planning templates.


>>[ Web Experiencing High Business User Growth ]<<

   According to Georgia Institute of Technology's Graphics, 
Visualization & Usability (GVU) World Wide Web User Survey, an estimated 
15 to 20 million users have access to the Web. The survey reports that 
less than one-quarter of users are from educational domains, and more 
than a third are now professional and management users.

   Access to the Web by users of the major private online services and 
Microsoft Network are expected to accelerate the number of business 
users. "We believe that new business users want to use the Web as a 
productivity resource and tool," said Younker. "SME is fast becoming the 
answer to that need."


>>[ SME Pricing ]<<

   SME offers sales and marketing service providers links to their Web 
sites at no charge. One-time fees of $145 for freelancer profiles and 
$395 for company profiles are available for organizations that don't 
require a full Web site. Terms for publishers vary by content type. 
Publishers typically retain 80 percent of revenues and setup costs are 
absorbed by OnPro.
   Service and Content providers may also use SME as an announcement 
medium for new products and services. OnPro will begin selling ads and 
sponsorships in the third quarter of 1995. Users utilize SME free and 
pay only for content downloads and content purchases delivered by mail.


>>[ Company Overview ]<<

   OnPro Corp. is a Massachusetts-based company formed in 1994 to create 
online marketplaces. SME is the company's premier marketplace. The 
company's mission is to make SME the most comprehensive and useful 
global resource for sales and marketing professionals. In addition to 
SME, OnPro provides online marketplace consulting and implementation 
services to selective corporate customers. 

                                 -=*=-

From the American Bar Association: 
 
   >>  NEW AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP STANDARDS 
      ON USES OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION  << 
 
WASHINGTON, DC, July 12, -- Rapid advances in technology are eroding  
traditional notions of privacy rights. Before long, walls will cease to  
be barriers to overhearing conversations or observing activity. Devices  
are being developed that can scan a person from a distance for a  
concealed weapon. And law enforcement agencies will not have a monopoly  
on making use of emerging technologies. 
 
   Suspected criminal organizations, for example, may be able to place  
crucial evidence out of reach of law enforcement agencies through the  
use of sophisticated encryption. Little attention has been given to  
these developments and their impact on the delicate balance between  
privacy concerns and law-enforcement needs. 
 
   "Our homes and our persons -- once considered 'safe havens' -- may no  
longer be protected by Fourth Amendment requirements," said Sheldon  
Krantz, chair of a newly convened American Bar Association task force on  
Technology and Law Enforcement within the Criminal Justice Section. Its  
goal will be to revise existing standards on electronic surveillance and  
formulate principles governing the use of emerging technologies." 
 
   Krantz said, "Our undertaking is a daunting one. Technological  
advances for law enforcement are both desirable and inevitable, but we  
need informed discussion of the appropriate restrictions that should be  
placed on their uses. Existing statutes, case law and administrative  
regulations do not begin to address the problems created by the new  
technologies." 
 
   The Task Force will analyze existing and potential standards on such  
matters as visual surveillance, wiretapping and surveillance of  
electronic communication, search and seizures of data in computer  
systems, and the use of encryption by criminal organizations to deter  
law enforcement. 
 
   Krantz, former dean of the University of San Diego Law School and a  
past chair of the ABA's Criminal Justice Section, said the Task Force  
intends to solicit views from a variety of sources prior to drafting  
final recommendations, which they expect to present within 18 to 24  
months. "While it will be difficult to formulate standards in this area  
that properly balance privacy and law enforcement concerns, all Task  
Force members perceive a dangerous void in current national policies  
that needs to be filled. We welcome the challenge," said Krantz. 
 
   The Task Force is composed of representatives from federal and state  
law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, the criminal defense bar, the  
judiciary, and privacy experts.  
 
                                 -=*=- 
 
From Pacific Internet: 
 
        >>  PACIFIC INTERNET UPDATES SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS 
       FOR FIRST LOW-COST INTERNET WORLD WIDE WEB SERVER  << 
 
        "New 'Web-in-a-Box,' Pentium-based, turnkey server offers  
        simple solution to online commerce, Web information publishing" 
 
CULVER CITY, CA -- Pacific Internet, a leading supplier of online  
products and services, has introduced the first low-cost, turnkey  
Internet server solution to enable users to immediately configure a  
complete, online, corporate-wide communications server or establish a  
site on the Internet's World Wide Web (WWW). 
 
   Named "Web-in-a-Box" (TM), the open architecture, Intel Pentium- 
driven, Unix-based Web-server system comes complete with all necessary  
hardware and software to establish one or more Web sites and set up home  
pages that can be accessed by the millions of Internet users. 
 
   Introduced as the eight-month-old company's first product sold under  
the "Pacific Internet" brand name, Web-in-a-Box includes industry- 
standard Web server software and comes with leading Internet software  
utilities -- including TCP/IP, e-mail, FTP, Gopher and news services. 
 
   Fully configured, the Pacific Internet Web-in-a-Box server product  
can easily handle up to 250,000 hits per day and 500 hits per minute,  
allowing users to effectively "broadcast" information to the burgeoning  
Internet population. As an added feature, Web-in-a-Box comes equipped  
with Web statistics software that tallies and logs the number of "hits"  
-- or Web site accesses -- to an organization's home page, to allow for  
instantaneous feedback and content adjustment. And, to make content  
development and changes effortless, Web-ion-a-Box includes a complete  
set of easy-to-use WYSIWYG HyperText Markup Language (HTML) authoring  
tools for use in the creation, editing and hyperlinking of Web pages. 
 
   "Web-in-a-Box represents the first low-cost, PC-based Web server,"  
explained Garry S. Hipsher of Pacific Internet. "Budget-conscious  
organizations can now easily install and manage in-house servers,  
eliminating the need for specialized third-party vendors. Our decision  
to standardize upon the mainstream PC Platform, coupled with the open  
Unix operating system, delivers the best of all worlds in price,  
performance and expandability," said Pacific Internet's Hipsher. 
 
 
>>[ Electronic Commerce ]<< 
 
   Already connecting tens of millions of computers of all platforms and  
architectures worldwide, the Internet and the World Wide Web are  
consistently being given a high priority rating by researchers,  
education, and the business community because they provide immediate  
access to massed information as well as corporate background data and  
product information. 
 
   "Every business today needs to give serious consideration to the  
subject of Internet access and Web presence, regardless of the  
organization's size or industry. Over the next three years, an in-house,  
corporate Web server will come to provide an indispensable medium for  
information sharing, marketing and global commerce for companies of all  
sizes," said Hipsher. 
 
   In addition to being a complete plug-and-play solution, Web-in-a-Box  
is based on industry-standard, modular Unix and Pentium architectures  
allowing for easy and affordable upgrading of RAM, disk space and  
network bandwidth as users' Web sites grow in demand and complexity.  
These same features allow for the use of extensive off-the-shelf, third- 
party software tools alongside the server's integrated systems software. 
 
   System configuration for the Web-in-a-Box solution includes a 90MHz  
Pentium CPU, 16MB of expandable RAM, a 16-bit Ethernet card, a 1- 
gigabyte hard drive, an internal CD-ROM drive, floppy drive and a 350MB  
tape drive, preconfigured with Unix Internet software. 
 
   As an added benefit for Web-in-a-Box users, Pacific Internet has  
negotiated third-party T1 and 56Kbps high-speed Internet connections --  
considered essential to users expecting heavy-volume traffic over the  
Internet's Web. To facilitate use of these high-speed Internet  
connections, users can opt to have T1 and 56 Kbps wide-area-network  
routers built into their Web-in-a-Box systems, eliminating the need for  
external peripherals. 
 
   The basic Web-in-a-Box provides ample computing power to allow one  
system to host multiple domain names and Web sites -- for one company or  
an organization with diverse identities, or for several companies  
sharing server capacity. The Web-in-a-Box Model W1000 will be priced as  
low as $4,995 and be available exclusively from Pacific Internet  
beginning in August of 1995. 
 
   Pacific Internet employs both traditional and online methods for  
product marketing and sales using the PacNetWeb. For further  
information, contact Pacific Internet at (310) 410-9700, visit its World  
Wide Web page at http://www.pacnet.com or send inquiries to pac- 
sales@pacnet.com.  
 
                                 -=*=- 
 
From U.S. Robotics: 
 
>>  U.S. ROBOTICS ANNOUNCES 33.6KBPS OPERATION; EXTENDS V.EVERYTHING  << 
 
          "New Software Also Boosts Throughput at Lower Speeds;  
          Increases V.34's Ability to Connect at Higher Speeds" 
 
SKOKIE, IL -- July 12, 1995 -- U.S. Robotics today announced new  
software for its Courier desktop modems and Total Control systems  
products that provides 33.6Kbps capabilities. An extension of the  
company's "V.Everything" feature set, the new software also provides the  
added benefit of higher data rates at any speed; built around the V.34  
standard, it includes enhancements that enable better performance on any  
V.34 connection between two products running the new software. 
 
   U.S. Robotics' new modem software closely tracks the work of the ITU  
standards committee. The V.34 Working Group has come to technical  
consensus on enhancements to the V.34 standard that boost speed to  
33.6Kbps. Formal approval of a new version of V.34 is in process. 
 
   "The ITU will approve a speed of 33.6Kbps as an enhancement to the  
V.34, as opposed to creating a new standard," said U.S. Robotics' Dale  
Walsh, vice president of advanced development and a member of the  
committee that developed V.34 and the new additions to the V.34  
standard. "We expect the new software we've developed will be very  
similar to the final standard -- if there are any changes to the  
standard, we'll be able to implement those via software download." 
 
 
>>[ U.S. Robotics' New Software Provides Added Benefit at Any Speed ]<< 
 
   "Our new software not only boosts speed up to 33.6Kbps, but also  
increases overall throughput," added Walsh. "In general, we're seeing  
that connections between two U.S. Robotics products running the new  
software will consistently be from 2400 to 4800 bits per second faster  
than they were using the previous version of the software. 
 
   "For example, on a noisy connection where a customer might typically  
experience 26,400 bps, it's likely the new software will allow a  
connection at 28.8 on a regular basis. By pushing the barriers of higher  
speeds, we've been able to enjoy a dividend of faster connections at  
lower speeds." 
 
   The new software, which is available immediately for Courier desktop  
modem users, allows two new speeds, 33.6Kbps and 31.2Kbps, in addition  
to the enhanced overall performance on V.34 connections. Connections at  
33.6Kbps with other manufacturers' products will be realized when those  
companies implement the enhanced version of V.34. 
 
 
>>[ Availability ]<< 
 
   The company has elected to make the new 33.6 software available at no  
cost for owners of Courier "V.Everything" and V.Fast Class desktop  
modems, which include Flash ROM capabilities. (Courier owners may  
download the software from U.S. Robotics' FTP site -- www.usr.com -- or  
via the company BBS: 708-982-5092.) The 33.6 software will also be  
included in all newly shipping Courier desktop products. 
 
   The new software will also be ported into the company's remote access  
servers, modem pools and high-end WAN communications systems, for end- 
to-end interoperability. Availability and pricing for upgrades to  
systems-level products have not yet been announced; however, the 33.6  
software is expected to be available for all systems products by year- 
end. 
 
   U.S. Robotics, (708) 982-5010.  
 
                                 -=*=- 
 
From Security First Network Bank: 
 
   >>  FIVE PACES, NETSCAPE TEAM TO OFFER SECURE ONLINE BANKING  << 
 
           "Security First Network Bank, Wachovia, Huntington  
            and Area Bancshares to Implement" 
 
ATLANTA, GA (July 1995) -- Five Paces Software, Inc., an Atlanta-based  
software company providing services to financial institutions interested 
in offering online financial products and services to their customers,  
and Netscape Communications Corporation have teamed to offer secure  
banking over the Internet and other global networks, both public and  
private. 
 
   As part of the agreement, Five Paces has chosen to distribute  
Netscape Navigator<TM> and Netscape Navigator Personal Edition in its  
initial release of Virtual Bank Manager<TM>, a software tool that allows 
financial institutions to offer their customers full online service over 
the Internet. The performance of Netscape Navigator, operating over  
14.4Kbps modems, allows anyone with a PC to easily access secure,  
full-service banking online. 
 
   "The relationship between Five Paces and Netscape further endorses  
the Internet as an emerging channel for conducting business," said Marc  
Andreesen, cofounder and vice president of technology at Netscape. "Five 
Paces' intuitive banking application, combined with Netscape's  
easy-to-use, standards-based software, will create a powerful platform  
for delivery of online banking services." 
 
   In affiliation with SecureWare, Inc., of Atlanta, Five Paces has  
developed a secure Web platform. In order to secure electronic commerce  
transactions across public networks, three layers of protection are  
required: 
 
   []  ENCRYPTION TECHNOLOGIES protect data and ensure privacy as  
information travels over open networks; 
   []  FIREWALLS and FILTERING ROUTERS limit access to the system from  
external networks; and 
   []  TRUSTED OPERATING SYSTEMS provide strong access controls that  
create virtual lock-boxes for each customer, protecting against  
unauthorized tampering with his/her private account information. 
 
   Five Paces' secure Web platform incorporates all of these requisite  
technologies, enabling businesses and their customers to take advantage  
of financial and commercial services over the Net. 
 
   "The encryption provided by Netscape acts as an armored car, helping  
to protect data as it passes over the Internet," explained Michael C.  
McChesney, cofounder and chief executive officer of Five Paces. "The  
trusted operating system creates a vault in which the data can be stored 
when it reaches the bank." 
 
   Five Paces will use Netscape Communications Server<TM> and Netscape  
Commerce Server<TM>, which employs the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) open  
security protocol for conducting secure communications and commerce over 
the Net. Designed around technology from RSA Data Security, SSL delivers 
features such as encryption, authentication and data integrity. Netscape 
Navigator and Netscape Commerce Server have incorporated SSL since the  
products first shipped in December 1994. Five Paces has integrated the  
Netscape servers into its secure Web platform, along with the trusted  
operating system and additional security technologies in which  
SecureWare has invested hundreds of man years. 
 
   Security First Network Bank, FSB (http://www.sfnb.com), scheduled to  
open for business in the third quarter of this year, will be the first  
bank to license and use the Five Paces online banking and security  
technology. Additionally, Wachovia Corp. of Winston-Salem, N.C. (NYSE:  
WB), Huntington Bancshares of Columbus, Ohio (NASDAQ: HBAN), and Area  
Bancshares of Owensboro, KY, have licensed the Virtual Bank Manager  
software as part of a recently announced plan to invest in Security  
First and its consequent acquisition of Five Paces. 
 
   "The relationship between Five Paces and Netscape provides a solution 
unparalleled in the industry for financial institutions seeking to  
establish secure online services for their customers," said Michael S.  
Karlin, president of Security First. 
 
   Five Paces Software, Inc., formerly known as WebTech, Inc., is  
dedicated to developing and maintaining a secure operating environment  
for Internet banking to ensure that financial institutions and their  
customers are protected from internal and external attack. Five Paces is 
affiliated with SecureWare, Inc., and has licensing agreements with  
SecureWare to sell its trusted operating system and secure Web platform. 
 
   SecureWare, Inc., an Atlanta-based software company focused on  
security products for networked businesses, produces secure network  
communications, operating systems and application products designed to  
protect sensitive data in enterprise networks. Founded in 1986,  
privately held SecureWare also works with OEMs to provide security  
products and services to business and government customers. 
 
   Netscape Communications Corporation is a premier provider of open  
software to enable people and companies to exchange information and  
conduct commerce over the Internet and other global networks. The  
company was founded in April 1994 by Dr. James H. Clark, founder of  
Silicon Graphics, Inc., a Fortune 500 computer systems company; and Marc 
Andreesen, creator of the NCSA Mosaic research prototype for the  
Internet. Privately held Netscape Communications Corp. is based in  
Mountain View, California. 
 
                                 -=*=- 
 
From SecureWare, Inc.: 
 
           >>  DO YOU KNOW WHO'S READING YOUR E-MAIL?  << 
 
      "SecureWare Introduces Confidential, Authenticated, Secure  
      E-mail: Free evaluation copy available for Internet download" 
 
ATLANTA (July 1995) -- Do you know who's reading your e-mail? U.S. Air  
Force Capt. Scott Zobrist thought he did when he sent e-mail to a  
handful of Air Force buddies detailing the account of the Bosnian rescue 
mission of his friend and fellow F-16 pilot Capt. Scott O'Grady.  
However, his confidential message, containing Air Force operations  
secrets, was quickly transported beyond his intended recipients to  
millions of international Internet and America Online subscribers. 
 
   To protect businesses from similar potentially costly risks,  
SecureWare, Inc., a recognized leader in computer security technology  
for both commercial and government customers and developer of the  
security architecture for the first Internet bank, has introduced  
SecureMail<TM>. A privacy enhanced electronic mail package, SecureMail  
offers secure e-mail transmissions across public networks. Using  
advanced cryptography from RSA Data Security, SecureMail positively  
identifies both the sender and receiver, ensures that messages arrive  
exactly as they were sent, and encrypts messages so that only the  
intended recipients can read them. 
 
   "Incidents such as the worldwide spread of the private e-mail of the  
rescue of pilot Scott O'Grady from Bosnia, which included explicit  
descriptions of radio frequencies, code names and weapon loads, further  
emphasizes the need for secure e-mail," explained David Luther, vice  
president of business development for SecureWare. "Secure electronic  
mail is essential as businesses and government exchange valuable data  
and conduct electronic commerce over the Internet and other public  
networks." 
 
   Unlike other e-mail products, SecureMail uses advanced encryption  
technology to ensure the confidentiality, integrity and authenticity of  
e-mail correspondence -- yet it's as easy to use as ordinary e-mail  
packages. Because the security functions operate transparently, users  
simply point and click on the Send and Read buttons to exchange  
digitally signed and encrypted e-mail. 
 
   SecureMail ensures e-mail confidentiality by converting the clear  
text message to ciphertext -- a series of encoded characters -- as it  
travels over the networks. While others may continue to eavesdrop and  
view the ciphertext, they are unable to decipher the original message. 
 
   By computing a unique cryptographic hash -- similar to a digital  
thumbprint -- for each message, SecureMail provides message integrity.  
When the message is received, the message hash is re-computed and  
compared to the original value to ensure that the message has not been  
modified. 
 
   The hash value is included within a digital signature at the end of  
the message. Similar to a handwritten signature used on printed  
documents, the digital signature is used to authenticate the identity of 
the author of the message. The signature also provides for  
nonrepudiation -- the sender cannot deny that he or she sent the  
message. 
 
   "SecureMail offers businesses and individuals an easy-to-use,  
affordable means to communicate privately using e-mail," said David  
Arnovitz, president and cofounder of SecureWare. "This assurance is  
imperative as more and more organizations go online to conduct  
business." 
 
   SecureMail uses advanced cryptographic algorithms from RSA Data  
Security to provide a software-only implementation of the Privacy  
Enhanced Mail (PEM) standard. Encrypted attachments are supported using  
PEM (RFCs 1421-1424) with the Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions  
(MIME) standard (RFC 1521). SecureMail messages may include combinations 
of graphics, text documents, audio and video data. 
 
   SecureWare will continue to adapt SecureMail to evolving e-mail  
security standards, such as the MIME Object Security Services (MOSS) and 
the recently proposed Secure MIME (S/MIME) blueprint. 
 
   SecureMail also can secure e-mail using the hardware token identifier 
and cryptographic algorithms on the National Security Agency's Fortezza  
PCMCIA card, in conformance with the Message Security Protocol (MSP)  
standard. 
 
   In addition to ensuring privacy, SecureMail offers a full range of  
e-mail features, including: 
 
   []  Ease of use through an intuitive graphical user interface and  
          online help; 
   []  Address books with groups and nicknames; 
   []  A spelling checker; 
   []  Automatic word wrap while composing messages; 
   []  Multiple folders for organizing and filing messages; 
   []  Powerful message searching and sorting; and 
   []  Support for multimedia attachments (MIME). 
 
   Free evaluation copies of SecureMail can be downloaded from  
SecureWare's World Wide Web site at http://www.secureware.com.  
SecureWare is available for HP/UX, SCO ODT, ATX and SunOS. SecureMail  
also can be run on any of these Unix platforms and displayed on an X  
Server operating on a Windows PC, Macintosh or other Unix platform.  
Note: SecureMail is subject to export restrictions. 
 
   SecureWare, Inc., an Atlanta-based software company focused on  
security products for networked businesses, is a premier provider of  
secure network communications, operating system and application products 
designed to protect sensitive data in enterprise networks. Founded in  
1986, privately held SecureWare has worked with OEMs to supply security  
products and services to commercial and government customers. Having  
developed some of the world's most secure computer platforms, including  
 
                                 -=*=- 
 
From FreeMark: 
 
  >>  PRODUCTVIEW INTERACTIVE TO LAUNCH FREE E-MAIL SERVICE THIS YEAR: 
      ADVERTISERS WILL UNDERWRITE COST OF E-MAIL VIA SPONSORSHIP  << 
 
          "Company Changes Name to FreeMark Communications" 
 
CAMBRIDGE, MA -- June 27, 1995 -- ProductView Interactive, Inc.,  
announced today that it will launch by the end of the year an electronic 
mail (e-mail) service that is completely free to users, including  
communications costs. The company also announced that it has changed its 
name to FreeMark Communications, Inc., effective immediately. 
 
   "Our new name FreeMark Communications, Inc., reflects our focus on  
providing consumers with a variety of free online resources," said  
FreeMark Communications' president, Robert Young. "Free e-mail is the  
first of these resources." All of the resources on FreeMark's new online 
service will be supported solely by advertiser sponsorship. 
 
   With the exponential growth in home PC usage, e-mail is becoming a  
common means of communication. The Internet currently handles over one  
billion pieces of e-mail per month. Among users of online services,  
e-mail constitutes the single-most accessed activity. Both the Internet  
and online services charge hourly or monthly fees, however. By providing 
free e-mail to consumers, FreeMark expects to become the e-mail service  
of choice for new users, while rapidly converting price-sensitive  
members of commercial online services. 
 
   "As the real costs of the Internet surface, more and more people will  
want affordable access," said Nicholas Negroponte, director of MIT's  
Media Lab and chairman of FreeMark's media advisory board. "FreeMark's  
obvious cost benefit will make it a popular choice for e-mail users." 
 
 
>>[ Postage-Paid E-mail ]<< 
 
   FreeMark Mail users will be given a mailbox in the FreeMark domain  
(e.g., "SubscriberName@FreeMark.com"). FreeMark Mail is an offline  
e-mail system where each piece of e-mail is visually displayed onscreen  
in the graphic form of an envelope postmarked with a digital stamp  
bearing the insignia of an advertiser. FreeMark Mail users view  
sponsor's advertisements both when reading and composing e-mail  
messages. Users double-click on the envelope to read the e-mail. If the  
recipient wants more information about the advertiser, he/she can click  
on an advertiser's banner at the bottom of the e-mail message, which  
leads to a third screen containing a special promotion or message.  
E-mail messages can be sent to and received from any other FreeMark user 
or any Internet e-mail address. Only FreeMark users see advertising;  
i.e., when e-mail is sent from a FreeMark Mail user to someone on the  
Internet or a different online service, the person receiving the mail  
will not see the advertising. FreeMark has applied for a patent on the  
inventions developed for its unique e-mail system. 
 
   FreeMark expects its free e-mail service to appeal to a wider target  
audience than is usually thought to be online. FreeMark's intuitive  
point-and-click interface will make it easy for the novice to get  
online. There is absolutely no cost to users for e-mail, including  
connection charges. 
 
 
>>[ For Advertisers -- As Easy as Buying a Book of Stamps ]<< 
 
   FreeMark is a very simple media buy for advertisers: they buy an  
inventory of digital stamps, which are allocated to FreeMark subscribers 
based on demographic profiles requested by advertisers and product  
references expressed by subscribers. Anyone using FreeMark e-mail will  
see advertising whenever they send or receive mail. 
 
   "FreeMark developed the model for sponsored e-mail with the aim of  
attracting any and all types of advertisers, especially packaged goods  
advertisers, which have had a particularly difficult time trying to  
leverage interactive media as an effective advertising medium" explained 
Mr. Young. "Most products that sell successfully via online media do so  
because they are complicated and expensive purchases that require  
consumers to collect a lot of information -- so-called 'considered  
purchases.' Packaged goods, on the other hand, such as toothpaste, fast  
food and laundry detergent, depend on brand-name recognition and  
promotions for sales. FreeMark's e-mail sponsorship model allows these  
brands to gain repeated name exposure to their target audiences." 
 
   Mr. Young also noted that a compelling difference between FreeMark  
and other traditional advertising venues is that FreeMark can provide  
proof that an ad has been seen. "Since advertisers only pay us once we  
provide them with absolute proof of exposure, there's an element of  
accountability that you don't find in other media," he explained. 
 
   FreeMark is currently working with a number of advertisers and  
advertising agencies in preparation for the phased rollout of FreeMark  
Mail during the fall of 1995, followed by the availability of  
interactive brochures in 1996. Interactive brochures will contain  
in-depth information on a wide range of products and services such as  
cars, vacations and financial services. FreeMark will become a central  
repository for such information, intended to help consumers make  
educated purchase decisions. 
 
  FreeMark's Web site: http://www.freemark.com 
 
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