Singapore Press Holdings signs exclusive marketing agreement with FaxSav to sell Internet faxing services

Business Wire, Sept 12, 1996

SINGAPORE/EDISON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 12, 1996-- Singapore Press Holdings Ltd.(SPH) announced today that the company has signed an agreement with FaxSav Inc. for the exclusive right to sell the FaxSav for Internet suite of faxing services in Singapore.

The arrangement to be FaxSav's exclusive partner in Singapore is an important strategic component in both companies' global growth strategies. SPH endeavors to be a premier one-stop provider of information and services in the emerging multimedia environment. FaxSav's objective is to be the leading supplier of low-cost, high quality global faxing services, using the Internet and its proprietary fax-only network to provide convenient, cost-effective and reliable faxing solutions for businesses worldwide. Together, the strategic alliance between the two companies brings them one step closer to these objectives.

"To expand our business opportunities, SPH was searching for an Internet faxing service. FaxSav's features ended that search," said Low Huan Ping, SPH Group General Manager - Information Technology/Corporate Planning and Business Development/ Multimedia. "FaxSav fits our corporate strategy and provides the low-cost, easy-to-use fax services that our fast-paced business market demands," continued Low. "FaxSav's commitment to the end-user is as important to us as the global build-out of their network."

"In building our business internationally, strategic alliances are key to expanding our physical presence outside the US. SPH's impressive movement into electronic commerce drew our attention," said Murawski, FaxSav President and CEO. "SPH's experience and leadership in the Asian market provides a strong link to potential end-users of our faxing services. SPH can offer a practical, immediate and measurable business application of the Internet to its customers," continued Murawski, "and show them a way to instantly increase productivity and save money, too."

Singapore Press Holding Company

SPH is a leading publishing and printing group in Asia, with a combined daily circulation of over one million for its newspapers and a combined circulation of over 250,000 for its magazines. Incorporated in 1984 through a merger of major newspaper groups in Singapore, SPH is not new to aligning itself with major players to achieve its goals.

SPH is moving systematically into the multimedia environment. SPH holds a 20% stake in Singapore CableVision, as well as a majority stake in both Movielink in Singapore and Asia pacific Post in Hong Kong. With two other companies, SPH was awarded a license to operate mobile telephone service in Singapore. In 1995, Cyberway, a joint venture between SPH and ST Telecommunications, became the third Internet operator in Singapore.

On the Internet SPH showcases AsiaOne - the gateway to Asia for business, news, sports, entertainment, and education. The AsiaOne web site has been cited as one of the best web sites by such groups as the McKinley Group Inc. of California. The site boasts over 18 million "hits" per month, growing at a rate of over one to two million per month. The AsiaOne web site is "hyperlinked" to the FaxSav registration page as part of the exclusive arrangement between the two companies.

With the Internet playing a major role in the SPH strategy, the alliance with FaxSav Incorporated opens a new avenue for SPH to be part of the electronic commerce solution: Internet faxing services.

FaxSav Incorporated

FaxSav Inc. introduced a suite of internet faxing services, FaxSav for Internet, in the first half of 1996 as part of the company's strategy to become the leading supplier of global faxing services via the Internet. Through the use of its integrated Internet-based and telephony-based network and its proprietary software, FaxSav enables its customers to send documents and images worldwide at rates substantially below the international rates charged by traditional long-distance carriers.

"SPH as a major multimedia company in Southeast Asia will be an important member in the rapidly growing base of selling alliances with FaxSav," said Murawski. "SPH joins a family of over 40 marketing agencies selling FaxSav in 24 countries."

To further strengthen service for a base of over 7,200 businesses using FaxSav's fax-to-fax services and 1550 registered users of desktop services in 82 countries, FaxSav is aggressively seeking to expand its network into major markets around the world. In less than four months, FaxSav has already activated five Internet fax points of presence (POPs) outside of the US, i.e. London, Hong Kong, Paris, Frankfurt, and Bermuda. These POPs enable fax machine users to fax via the Internet to fax machines worldwide, as well as enable efficient routing of desktop and scanner faxing. As construction of the FaxSav global intranet of fax POPs continues, more users around the world will be able to take advantage of all of the faxing services offered by FaxSav Incorporated.

FaxSav's services allow faxing via the Internet and the FaxSav network from any Windows desktop application or email, as well as from fax machines and scanners. Each service manages the entire fax process, from the free application software to the final delivery of the fax. Each service is designed with the busy business environment in mind: with ease-of-use, convenience, reliability and cost-savings being paramount.