Vcommerce Earns Approval of TRUSTe 'Privacy Seal'; Leading Online Privacy Program Awards Vcommerce's Outsourced E-commerce Services With Seal for Securing Online Privacy of Customers

Business Wire, Oct 10, 2000

Business/Technology Editors

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 10, 2000

Vcommerce Corporation, the leading e-commerce service provider, today announced that it has been recognized by TRUSTe, the leading independent organization dedicated to building consumer trust and confidence in the Internet. TRUSTe awarded Vcommerce with its Privacy Seal for voluntarily adopting a privacy policy that allays consumer fear over sharing personal information online through disclosure of its information use and practices. Web sites using Vcommerce's outsourced e-commerce service give users the opportunity to exercise control over their personal information through implemented measures that help protect the security and accuracy of personally identifiable information.

"We are proud to have received the endorsement and privacy seal of TRUSTe, the preeminent online privacy advocate on the Web today," said Scot Melland, president and CEO of Vcommerce. "We take great pride in offering our customers--e-tailers, retailers, manufacturers and community Web sites--the ability to make their customers feel safe in sharing information on the Internet. Vcommerce has and always will work to ensure that online privacy practices are in line with consumer and government demands."

TRUSTe has emerged as the only voluntary program for Web sites seeking to address the issue of online privacy using an industry supported self-regulation model. A cornerstone of the program is the TRUSTe "trustmark," an online branded privacy seal displayed by member Web sites. The trustmark is awarded only to sites that adhere to established privacy principles and agree to comply with ongoing TRUSTe oversight and consumer resolution procedures. Privacy principles embody fair information practices approved by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Federal Trade Commission and prominent industry-represented organizations and associations.

About TRUSTe

TRUSTe, the leading privacy seal program, is an independent organization dedicated to building consumer trust and confidence in the Internet. Founded in 1997, TRUSTe is the premier privacy seal program worldwide. The TRUSTe seal is currently displayed on all of the Internet's portal sites, 15 of the top 20 sites and approximately half of the top 100 sites. Since the summer of 1999, Nielsen/Net Ratings has continuously rated TRUSTe as the most visible symbol on the Internet. TRUSTe is based in San Jose, CA, with an office in Washington, D.C. To learn more about protecting your privacy online, visit the TRUSTe Web site at www.truste.org.

About Vcommerce Corporation

Vcommerce Corporation is the leading provider of outsourced e-commerce services. Vcommerce offers companies a comprehensive and scalable end-to-end solution that quickly and seamlessly integrates e-commerce into their existing businesses. The Vcommerce infrastructure includes all the hosting, transaction processing, customer service, order fulfillment and merchandising and marketing programs necessary to power successful online retailers. Comprised of more than one million products across thousands of categories, Vcommerce connects its commerce partners to the most extensive supplier network on the Web. Vcommerce has developed custom storefronts for Beliefnet, MyFamily.com and others. Additionally, Vcommerce has built more than 250,000 online stores for small businesses, affinity groups and individuals. A privately held company, Vcommerce is funded by Archery Capital, Benchmark Capital, CMGI@Ventures and Pequot Capital Management. Vcommerce was recently named one of the industry's Hot 100 private companies by UPSIDE magazine. For more information, visit www.vcommerce.com.