Enova and Philips launch interactive services joint venture; First-of-its-kind project: Subsidiary of utility parent company and consumer electronics giant will start with a rollout of 30,000 screen phones in San Diego

Business Wire, Jan 17, 1996

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 17, 1996-- Enova Corp., the parent company of San Diego Gas and Electric, today announced a joint venture between its subsidiary, Enova Technologies, and Philips Home Services, the screen telephony and interactive services branch of the Philips Electronics group of companies.

The two companies will establish a new type of consumer-based electronic commerce network for the Philips Screen Phone. Screen phones combine voice with a text screen, keyboard and computing power, to deliver easy-to-use, inexpensive home and business services.

The companies will offer a variety of services on the new network, including bill paying, energy and outage management information, electronic banking, e-mail, text message paging and home shopping for merchandise and other services. Other features will include an option to receive news headlines, stock quotes, sport scores and advanced telephone services including a form of number-only caller ID. The joint venture will also offer utility bill paying and outage management services over its network to SDG&E customers. As restructuring of the electric utility industry proceeds, the network will be able to communicate real-time prices and interface with home automation systems.

"We believe that moving into electronic services delivery is a new and exciting, but natural extension of our traditional lines of business," said Steve Baum, president and CEO of Enova Corp. "By working with Philips we have access to a world leader in technology and have found a partner who shares our vision and commitment to bringing these services to consumers. This will also be a tremendous opportunity for small businesses in San Diego to market products and services."

"This venture brings the utility and consumer electronics industries together for the first time," said Gerrit Schipper, president and CEO of Philips Home Services. "It reflects the deeper changes underway in our respective industries, as well as Philips' and Enova's mutual interest in developing innovative responses to those changes."

Initially, the venture will deploy 30,000 Philips Screen Phones in San Diego. A successful local distribution of the screen phones should grow to more than 500,000 customers in San Diego and Orange Counties, accompanied by a national rollout. Philips Screen Phones are currently used by consumers through their financial institutions and telephone companies and in inventory management, international shipping, automated medical payments and electronic home automation. Both Enova and Philips anticipate broader service offerings over the network in 1996 and a significantly reduced price for screen phones. The project with Enova represents the largest single rollout of Philips Screen Phones to date.

Headquartered in Burlington, Mass., Philips Home Services, a subsidiary of Origin/Philips C&P, has created a new opportunity for businesses to connect with their customers and for individuals to reap the benefits of the information age by launching and developing the global market for screen phone and screen phone network technology.

Besides Enova Technologies and SDG&E, its principal subsidiary, Enova Corp. is the parent company to four other subsidiaries: Enova Energy Management, Enova Financial, Pacific Diversified Capital and Califia.

CONTACT: Philips Home Services

Paul Chapple, 617/238-3414

or

Enova Corp.

Kathleen Flanagan, 619/696-4574