Commerce Group Corp. Subsidiary Plans New Web Portal To Model Go2Net Strategy And Invites Web Sites To Participate In Acquisition Program

Business Wire, Jan 29, 1999

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 29, 1999--Commerce Group Corp. (Nasdaq: CGCOC and Boston Exchange: CMG) Friday announced that its subsidiary, Ecomm Group Inc., is currently planning to consolidate niche Web sites into a new Web portal.

Ecomm believes that a significant opportunity exists to develop and consolidate certain fragmented niches of the Internet community into a Web portal.

An Internet portal is a hub or gateway to the Internet, such as Excite (Nasdaq:XCIT), Lycos (Nasdaq:LCOS), Go2Net (Nasdaq:GNET), and Infoseek (Nasdaq:SEEK), that provides many services and features for its visitors. Because the Internet is growing so rapidly, specialized or niche portals are being developed as the hubs or gateways to the Internet for groups of individuals with specific interests.

For example, iVillage and Women.com are Internet portals for women, c|Net (Nasdaq:CNET) and ZDNet (NYSE:ZD) are Internet portals for computers and technology, and MecklerMedia's (Nasdaq:MECK) Internet.com is a portal to the Internet for Internet technology and business.

Ecomm's new Web portal will provide a full range of the Web's most popular services. These services include free Web-based e-mail similar to HotMail (Nasdaq:MSFT), free Web page communities similar to GeoCities (Nasdaq:GCTY), chat communities similar to TalkCity, auctions similar to e-Bay (Nasdaq:EBAY) and uBid (Nasdaq:UBID), targeted advertising similar to DoubleClick (Nasdaq:DCLK) and Flycast, instant messaging similar to America Online (NYSE: AOL), a personalized start page similar to Netscape (Nasdaq:NSCP), product suggestion similar to Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN), a topical Internet Directory similar to Yahoo (Nasdaq:YHOO), and e-commerce similar to OnSale (Nasdaq:ONSL) and Digital River (Nasdaq:DRIV).

Ecomm seeks to acquire niche Internet Web sites which provide:

-- An Interactive online environment in which content is updated

frequently and visitors are active participants, interacting with

both users and one another;

-- Content that captures and retains visitors' interest by

entertaining, providing varying perspectives and encouraging

users to participate or take action on the information provided;

-- Ease of use of the Internet site through its design,

communication and navigation features and tools; and advertising

and sponsorship opportunities through an approach combining brand

integration, animated advertising, product promotion and content

area sponsorship.

Ecomm invites Internet companies to participate in its acquisition program by calling 949/442-8919.

Statements in this release are made pursuant to the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties, including without limitation, continued acceptance of the company's services, increased levels of competition for the company, and dependence on the performance of the management of the company.