SkyDesk to Offer Online Data Protection for Intuit's QuickBooks Customers; Alliance To Deliver Customized Version of Online Backup, Storage and Remote Access for Leading Small Business Product

Business Wire, May 2, 2000

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 2, 2000

SkyDesk (formerly @Backup), a provider of Internet storage solutions, today announced it has been selected to provide online backup, storage and remote access service for QuickBooks(R) 2000 and QuickBooks Pro 2000(R), Intuit's (Nasdaq:INTU) leading small business accounting and management software product. The online backup service for QuickBooks is a customized version of SkyDesk's @Backup service. Intuit estimates that hundreds of thousands of small businesses are using QuickBooks 2000 and QuickBooks Pro 2000 in addition to those visiting QuickBooks.com.

SkyDesk is among the latest group of QuickBooks Internet Gateway alliances, a program that was introduced by Intuit last October. The business-to-business e-commerce and e-services companies included in the QuickBooks Internet Gateway gain access to QuickBooks customers who upgrade to the latest version and a channel to place their services into the workflow of small businesses at the point-of-need.

This agreement is an example of SkyDesk's business-to-business strategy of joining with leading software providers to deliver a range of secure, integrated storage enhancements and illustrates SkyDesk's commitment to meeting the needs of small to medium-sized business owners. QuickBooks has approximately 80 percent share of dollars at retail, according to PC Data. Moreover, SkyDesk has been providing Intuit's Online Backup for market-leader TurboTax(R) since January 2000, providing thousands of tax filers with safe online storage for their 1999 State and Federal tax returns.

"Intuit's strategy is to provide web-enabled services, connected to QuickBooks, that help our customers run their businesses better and smarter," said Dan Nye, Intuit vice president of QuickBooks Internet Solutions. "Today's announcement is a natural progression for both companies to expand our relationship. SkyDesk's @Backup service gives our small business customers heightened security for their financial data as well as peace of mind that their files are protected."

SkyDesk's @Backup service for QuickBooks is a customized version of the @Backup service that answers the need for automatic and more secure backup, storage and file access.

"QuickBooks users encompass the ideal demographic for our @Backup service. These are small to medium-size business owners who are pressed for time and resources but still need to protect their data. SkyDesk provides them with a user-friendly service," said Jim Till, senior vice president of sales and marketing for SkyDesk. "Our relationship with Intuit illustrates how we're using alliances to tailor our service offerings to meet the specific needs of their customers. This is where our allies derive the greatest value from SkyDesk."

QuickBooks Online Backup Service powered by @Backup will be available to QuickBooks users at a special price of $49.95 per year. Intuit is currently offering $10 off the annual price. Offer valid for a limited time. Prices, terms and conditions subject to change. @Backup service can be used for a 30-day trial period free of charge.

About SkyDesk

SkyDesk is an application service provider focused on delivering reliable, secure, easy-to-use and cost-effective data storage and document management solutions to small and medium-sized businesses and individual computer users. SkyDesk's services, which include @Backup, SkyFiler and SmartClone, enable users to protect, store, access and share their data. @Backup is an online data protection and storage service available on an annual subscription basis. SkyDesk offers the @Backup service directly through its web site and indirectly through its marketing relationships with companies such as Advanced Digital Information Corporation, Dell, Earthlink, Excite, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard and Intuit. SkyFiler is an Internet-based service that enables workgroups to securely share and collaborate on documents at any time and from any location. SmartClone is a service that allows users to move their computer configuration settings and preferences from one computer to another. For more information about SkyDesk, please visit www.SkyDesk.com.

Note to Editors: Intuit, the Intuit logo, Quicken, QuickBooks, QuickBooks Pro, TurboTax and ProSeries, among others, are registered trademarks and/or registered service marks of Intuit Inc.