Business Services Industry

IDT Launches Net2Dine Web-Based Restaurant Directory with Nationwide Listings; Completes Innovative Advertising Accords with AOL and Other Major Internet Search Engines

Business Wire, August 19, 1999

HACKENSACK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 19, 1999--

IDT Corporation (NASDAQ: IDTC) today announced the launch of Net2Dine.Com - the Company's first Internet directory (http://www.net2dine.com).

Designed for restaurant owners and consumers alike, Net2Dine.Com is the largest web-based restaurant directory of its kind on the Internet, currently listing over 112,000 restaurants in the United States.

Net2Dine.com attracts restaurants to its website by offering a free restaurant listing as well as value-added products that increase a restaurant's presence on the Internet. For $10 a month, a restaurant may subscribe to Net2Dine.com's Webpage Plan. Every subscribing restaurant will receive its own mini Webpage built into Net2Dine.com's Website, complete with Click2Reserve on-line reservations. Each Webpage will provide detailed information about the restaurant, including its credit card policy, specials, reservations requirements and other relevant information.

Through contracts with leading web portals like AOLa (NYSE: AOL) and other major search engines, IDT's Net2Dine(TM) directory is prominently featured on these sites whenever an Internet user searches for the search word "restaurants." In addition, IDT has contracted with another leading search engine to feature Net2Dine.Com whenever consumers search for the keyword "dining." Attractive Net2Dine banner ads appear prominently at the top of the results page when any of the above search words are input into the search windows on several major portals and search engines.

"We are setting the new paradigm for ownership" of the Internet," commented Howard Jonas, IDT's Chairman and CEO. "While everyone was rushing to secure domain names, we have locked several key consumer search words on the world's largest search engines, and expect to expand our directory offerings to other consumer products. It will be yet another value-added component of our Internet division, and will be a new driver of revenues for our hosting business."

Net2Dine.com has launched an advertising campaign with print ads in the New York Times, New York Magazine and Nation's Restaurant News. In addition, Net2Dine.com plans to expand its marketing efforts through television, radio, and additional internet-based advertising as well as on billboards, subways and buses.

"We are moving forward with a more extensive nationwide campaign after a successful local marketing campaign," said Marc Bodner, Net2Dine's lead project manager. "We anticipate that within the year, we will significantly expand our restaurant database, and Internet users nationwide will utilize Net2Dine.com as their key source for locating restaurants for all occasions. Clearly, the value-added features that we offer set us apart from our competitors."

Net2Dine.com has entered into a contract with PageTalk, Inc. (www.pagetalk.com) to be the exclusive Internet dining guide offering a PageTalk(TM) button. PageTalk(TM) provides the capability for restaurants to record a voice message, accessible to consumers through a simple "click" button. Restaurateurs will be able to update their voice message at any time with a simple telephone call. Net2Dine.com has also entered into a contract with Mapquest.com (www.mapquest.com) to provide mapping and direction services for all restaurants on the Webpage Plan. Additionally, Net2Dine.com is also preparing to unveil additional features such as Click2Take - an on-line take-out and delivery service, on-line full-color menus, regional "featured restaurant" pages, and discounts and coupons.

Of obvious benefit to consumers, Net2Dine.Com offers a convenient, one-stop Web address where diners and travelers may find a restaurant according to geographic location, price range or cuisine. It is particularly valuable to travelers, who may utilize the site to plan business and/or pleasure engagements at restaurants in or around their destinations. The Click2Reserve on-line reservations feature is very attractive to the consumer market as it provides the ability to arrange reservations on-line by simply clicking icons and completing a short form.

About IDT Internet Services

IDT Internet Services has established itself as a leader in the ISP business since 1994. The Internet Division has dial-up points of presence across the country and Puerto Rico, with a nationwide customer base. The Company was the first ISP to introduce a flat-fee rate for customers. IDT provides a full suite of corporate solutions, including DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), 56K-T3 access, collocation, virtual private networks, corporate dedicated voice services, e-commerce applications, web hosting and web design. In addition, Nuestra Voz(TM), launched earlier this year, is a pre-paid, bilingual ISP serving the Hispanic community throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. For more information about IDT Internet Services, please visit www.idt.net

For more information about Net2Dine.com, please contact Marc Bodner at 201-928-4428 or visit www.net2dine.com

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