OfficeMax.com and Tornado Development Ink Deal to Supply Unified Messaging Solutions to Small Business Customers

Business Wire, March 7, 2000

Business Editors

-- Tornado Messenger(tm) Selected as Unified Messaging Engine For Its

Flexibility, Scalability and Ease of Use --

CLEVELAND/EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 7, 2000

OfficeMax.com, OfficeMax Inc.'s (NYSE:OMX) public Internet site, and Tornado Development today announced an agreement to bring Tornado Messenger(tm) to the online office supply superstore's large base of small business customers. The new service will be branded MaxMailbox(tm), and will provide seamless integration of voicemail, email, faxes and paging.

By integrating email, voicemail, faxes and pages into a single mailbox, the Companies said, MaxMailbox gives small business customers a system that can be accessed from any Web-enabled computer, Web TV browser or touch-tone phone. Messages on MaxMailbox become "media neutral"; meaning print and electronic messages can be translated into voice and vice versa.

"We're excited to be working with such a respected e-tailer as OfficeMax.com," says Kevin Torf, Chairman and Founder of Tornado Development. "Given the choice of UM options on the market, the fact that Tornado beat the rest of the pack further solidifies our reputation as the most reliable and scalable carrier-grade unified messaging engine -- bar none."

Tornado Development said its technology is based on single store architecture that allows for maximum flexibility and interoperability. An incoming message is stored as a single file, rather than more common unified messaging systems that duplicate the message for every possible format -- email, voicemail, fax and page. Thus, the Tornado version requires less storage space per user, resulting in more cost-efficient system operation.

"Extensive research among our core small business customers identified an opportunity for a solution that simplifies communications in a timely and cost-effective manner," said Ryan Vero, OfficeMax's head of eCommerce. "The advantage of MaxMailbox is that it allows small businesses to have the same sophisticated communications systems that were once available to large corporations."

Two services will be available:

Free Service - users who sign up for the complimentary version will be given an email address and 800-number with exclusive extension. Included in the offer will be limited storage space, free 800 service and incoming fax service. Under this plan, users may retrieve messages from any phone or Internet-connected computer free of charge.

Premium Service - by signing up for the $6.95/month premium service, users will enjoy a personal 800-number, email address, 10MB of storage space, unlimited access, minimal advertising and outbound fax capabilities (.10 page.) Additional storage is available for purchase for an added $1.00/month.

About OfficeMax.com

OfficeMax.com offers over 20,000 items, free next business day delivery on orders over $50, and a credit card security guarantee. OfficeMax.com also provides a variety of services to help small business and home office customers such as express orders for frequently purchased products, usage reporting, online order tracking, convenient order-by-number features and an informational resource center. Additionally, OfficeMax.com visitors can take advantage of @MaxSolutions, a small business resource center offering customers an array of marketing, finance, communication and eBusiness utilities.

About OfficeMax

OfficeMax operates more than 960 full-size superstores in over 370 markets in 49 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition to offering office products, business machines, computers and related items, the Company also features CopyMax and FurnitureMax, in-store modules devoted exclusively to print-for-pay services and office furniture. OfficeMax also operates smaller format, OfficeMax PDQ stores. Through joint venture partnerships, OfficeMax operates superstores in Brazil, Japan and Mexico. Additionally, the Company has 19 delivery centers throughout the United States to serve its catalog and direct marketing businesses, including OfficeMax.com.

About Tornado Development

Tornado Development Inc. is the developer and marketer of Tornado Messenger, the only carrier-grade Unified Messaging engine that offers a single, flexible system for ISPs, Telcos, LECs and CLECs. The company specializes in turnkey solutions that answer all software, hardware, customization, hosting and installation needs, with emphasis on reliability, cost-effectiveness and customer servicing.

NOTE TO EDITORS: An at symbol precedes "MaxSolutions" in the word "@MaxSolutions". This symbol may not appear properly in some systems.