AltaVista Chooses XYPOINT For Free Wireless Internet Service; Simple, On-demand Consumer Friendly Service to Drive Wireless Internet Adoption

Business Wire, Feb 29, 2000

Business Editors, High-Tech Writers

Wireless 2000

NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 29, 2000

XYPOINT, the WAP alternative, today announced AltaVista would be the first Internet portal to use its free wireless Internet service, called WebWirelessNow (TM), for consumers wanting to access the Internet with any digital wireless phone.

WebWirelessNow (TM) is the WAP alternative for businesses and consumers wanting to access the Internet via their existing digital phone on their existing carrier network. The on-demand service will be offered free-of-charge to AltaVista customers and will allow them to receive self-customized content such as stock quotes, weather, news and sports updates.

"We are laser focused on bringing wireless consumers the Internet, from any content provider, large or small, on any device," said Ken Arneson, president and CEO of XYPOINT. "We are pleased that AltaVista is going to offer this simple, customized wireless service to its customers."

Next generation apps will bring voice centric services to consumers that offer even more user friendly features, like the ability to trade stocks and participate in on-line auctions -- all by simply speaking into the phone.

The service is currently available at www.webwirelessnow.com and will be available at www.altavista.com. Unlike other such services currently available, WebWirelessNow puts the consumer in charge, allowing them to pull "real-time" information such as stocks, traffic and weather from the Internet without owning a WAP phone. The customer chooses what information they want and using their phone, like a remote control, downloads the information when they want it.

Moreover, WebWirelessNow is simple to use, requiring only a web registration and a digital phone. Once that process is completed, a text message is sent to the user's phone containing a unique Infolink number assigned to their account. Saving the Infolink number in their phone book enables them to receive personally customized information whenever and wherever they want. Accessing "real-time" traffic, stocks or weather requires simply toggling through their phone book to the desired Infolink, e.g. traffic -- and pressing "talk". After the phone rings, the user hangs up and within seconds receives a text message Infolink of the latest traffic conditions. The service is free and the customer is not charged for airtime. Future services will also be enhanced with XYPOINT geo-location and voice technology.

About XYPOINT

XYPOINT, a privately held Seattle-based company, is turning cell phones, pagers, PDAs and other wireless devices into personal remote controls for the digital age. Our technology and services enable content providers, e-commerce companies, and corporate enterprise networks to stay connected with their customers, even when those customers are nowhere near a computer. So no matter where a user is -- virtually anywhere in the world, they can bid in on-line auctions, trade stocks, respond to e-mail, and take part in many other "wired" activities.

XYPOINT has been a leader in wireless technology since 1993, pioneering the wireless "location technology" vital to 911 service nationwide. We serve numerous major corporations -- including Vodafone AirTouch, GTE Wireless, U.S. Cellular and many others. For more information about XYPOINT, please visit www.xypoint.com.