Hitachi's Internet Commerce Software Incorporates Cutting-Edge Address Verification Technology

Business Wire, March 2, 1999

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 2, 1999--

--TradeLink Provides Customers With Improved Competitive Advantage

Through ISV Partnership With Intelligent Systems, Inc.--

Adding to an impressive roster of Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), Hitachi Computer Products (America), Inc. announced today that Intelligent Systems, Inc.--a recognized leader in real-time address verification software--has joined Hitachi's Top-Level ISV partner program for TradeLink(TM). TradeLink is the Internet Commerce industry's first, truly horizontal IC solution designed to meet the core requirements for the business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) markets. The addition of Intelligent Systems, Inc. will provide TradeLink customers with RAVES(TM)--a Real Time Address Verification Enterprise System that provides organizations the ability to validate addresses at the I-commerce point of sale. The integration of RAVES allows TradeLink customers to improve their competitive advantage by eliminating the high costs incurred with shipping to incorrect addresses, while building customer trust and loyalty with each IC transaction.

The RAVES system is unique in its ability to instantaneously validate and auto-correct addresses entered into TradeLink against a database of 360 million addresses that are verified and regularly updated by the United States Postal Service. An enterprise-wide application, RAVES optimizes the quality and value of business-critical databases by ensuring that customer information is correct and verified before being entered into the system, and that every department in the enterprise (e.g. customer support, sales, billing, etc.) has "clean" addresses in their databases.

"We were delighted to be accepted as one of Hitachi's Top-Level ISV partners," said Jesse Jones, Vice President of Sales for Intelligent Systems, Inc. "The growth of the IC market has provided organizations with a cost-effective method to improve their customer relationships. The seamless integration of RAVES with TradeLink will provide Hitachi's customers with improved efficiency and speed of operations so that products purchased online can be delivered on-time."

"Hitachi has a long-standing commitment to customer satisfaction," said Mark Collett, Director of Hitachi Computer Products (America), Inc. "It was important for TradeLink to integrate an open, cutting-edge solution for real time address verification that allows our customers to become more efficient and maximize the value of doing business online. We are confident that TradeLink customers will realize the enterprise-wide value that RAVES uniquely offers."

Interested parties should contact Michael Bouchard of Hitachi at 800-225-2702 for more information about Hitachi's TradeLink ISV program, or visit the TradeLink web site at www.hitachi-tradelink.com.

About Hitachi

With nearly three decades of experience in end-to-end enterprise systems, transaction software, support and service, Hitachi delivers highly reliable, easy-to-use and interoperable products worldwide. Its mission is to ensure that its customers receive the maximum return from their computing investment. Toward this end, Hitachi employs a strategy of partnering with world class U.S. companies to assure technical and business success for its customers.

Hitachi Computer Products (America), Inc. (HICAM), a subsidiary of Hitachi America, Ltd., builds a wide range of mainframe computer peripherals, including disk and magnetic tape drives and semiconductor storage devices. HICAM also develops software and hardware products for networking. For more information about Hitachi Computer Products, America, Ltd., visit its World Wide Web site at http://www.hicam.hitachi.com.

Hitachi America, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., Japan, markets and manufactures a broad range of electronics, computer systems and products and semiconductors and provides industrial equipment and services throughout North America. For more information about Hitachi America, Ltd., visit its World Wide Web site at http://www.hitachi.com.

Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading global electronics companies, with fiscal 1997 (ended March 31, 1998) consolidated sales of 8,417 billion yen ($63.8 billion(1)). The company manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including computers, semiconductors, consumer products and power and industrial equipment. For more information on Hitachi, Ltd., please visit Hitachi's Web site at http://www.hitachi.co.jp.

(1) At an exchange rate of 132 yen to the dollar.

About Intelligent Systems, Inc.

For nearly a decade, Intelligent Systems, Inc.(ISI), a global corporation, has been a leading provider of custom software, information technology and consulting services. By specializing in Windows,NT,UNIX, and Mainframe software applications, ISI has developed the capability to provide a wide variety of software solutions. ISI's reputation for innovation, cost-effective products and rapid turn-around is only surpassed by our commitment to customer service and satisfaction. For more information about Intelligent Systems, Inc., please contact Jesse Jones (301-840-9563) or email jesse@intelligentsys.com and visit our Web site at http://www.intelligentsys.com or send an email to http://www.info@intelligentsys.com.