Be Free Launches Affiliate Networks for Financial Information Websites

Business Wire, Jan 8, 1999

MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 1999--

Lending Tree and QSpace Expand Affiliate Network Services to Web

Customers

Be Free, Inc., a leading provider of online affiliate network technology and services, today announced affiliate network relationships with LendingTree and QSpace. Be Free will provide the technology and services to create and manage customized affiliate marketing channels for these financial information service sites.

"Consumers are feeling increasingly comfortable using the Web for personal finance as well as business transactions" said Gordon Hoffstein, president and CEO of Be Free, Inc. "Be Free enables financial service providers like LendingTree and Qspace to significantly increase their customer base by creating an affiliate network program of complementary web sites."

Be Free's branded affiliate networks help online retailers drive revenue by selling products "in context" on thousands of high profile, high-content web sites. Be Free clients are able to set up "virtual storefronts" on affiliate sites, which are targeted for the complementary nature of the service or merchandise they offer. Through the Be Free system, affiliate sites earn a commission for each product sold through the affiliate referral network. The system also provides real-time market intelligence on the effectiveness of each affiliate storefront.

LendingTree (www.lendingtree.com) is an online loan center that puts consumers in touch with lending organizations free of charge. Consumers are offered a choice of rates on mortgages, loans, debt consolidation and credit cards by simply filing out a single form. LendingTree chose Be Free for their affiliate network solutions because of the ability to specifically target affiliate partners for optimal web exposure.

QSpace Inc. is the parent company of iCreditReport.com (www.icreditreport.com), the only service on the Internet providing online consumer credit information in seconds, an exclusive feature of Yahoo! Finance. Transactions use a proprietary, multi-step authentication software, and encryption technology for privacy and security. QSpace's relationship with Be Free will expand consumer reach for the company.

About Be Free

Be Free, Inc. is a leading provider of online affiliate network technology and services. Be Free's branded affiliate networks help online retailers drive revenue by selling products "in context" on affiliate web sites. With more than 60,000 affiliates in their networks, Be Free's clients include the Internet's leading merchants such as barnesandnoble.com, (NASDAQ:BKS) Travelocity (NASDAQ:TSG), Electronic Newsstand, Reel.com, (NASDAQ:HLYW) Verisign (NASDAQ:VRSN) and Network Solutions (NASDAQ:NSOL). The company's product offering includes the BFAST(tm) affiliate network technology and the BFIT(tm) targeted advertising delivery. Founded in 1996, Be Free has offices in Pittsburgh, Penn., and Marlborough, Mass.