NativeMinds Names Robin Keller as VP of Engineering; Former Ask Jeeves Executive to Oversee Development of Natural Language Customer Self-Service Technology

Business Wire, March 26, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 26, 2001

NativeMinds, a leader in online natural language customer self-service solutions, announced today that Robin Keller, formerly a director of engineering at Ask Jeeves, Inc., has joined the company as vice president of engineering. In that role, Keller will provide strategic product direction and drive continued excellence in the research and development of NativeMinds' NeuroServer(R) product. NeuroServer software enables the creation and maintenance of automated online customer service representatives, called vReps(TM). Market leaders such as Ford, Oracle, and GlaxoSmithKline are currently using vReps created with NativeMinds products to increase sales and deflect costly phone calls and emails by automatically answering high-volume questions directly via their corporate Web sites and intranets.

"NativeMinds has demonstrated a keen understanding of enterprise companies' customer service needs; hence its NeuroServer product has been successful at many large corporations," said Keller. "I am pleased to join the team, and contribute my experience to direct the strategy, development and success of NativeMinds' next-generation products."

During his tenure at Ask Jeeves, Keller directed an engineering team to provide integration of products with third party offerings, including voice and wireless technologies. He defined technical and business strategies for deployment of products in multi-vendor environments, and adapted the natural language processing technology to diverse operating systems and Web environments.

Prior to Ask Jeeves, Keller spent eight years at Oracle Corp. in engineering management positions. In that capacity, he led development teams for the Oracle Server Manager database administration tool and the Desktop Products Division, which was responsible for Oracle client, server, and networking products operating on a multitude of desktop operating systems. Keller's previous experience also includes the role of chief technology officer at WorldPages, Inc., and consulting engagements at Centura Software and Fidelity Investments. Overall, Mr. Keller brings almost thirty years of engineering management experience to NativeMinds.

"Our goal is to be the leader in natural language customer self-service interaction management solutions, and continually meet or exceed the needs of our Fortune 1000 customers," said Walter Tackett, NativeMinds' chief executive officer. "We're very fortunate and excited to have Robin Keller on our executive team. It strengthens our position in the market and gives us an edge in product development."

About NativeMinds

NativeMinds is a pioneer in the development of self-service interaction management software that builds and maintains automated online customer service and support agents called vReps. Created with NativeMinds' flagship product NeuroServer(R), vReps answer customer questions via two-way, conversational dialog and rules-based display of relevant content from pre-existing information sources including Web site search, CRM knowledgebases, and customer-facing databases. vReps enhance the customer experience and lower support costs by emulating live customer service representatives to deflect inquiries from higher support channels such as phone and email. Leading customers of NativeMinds' vRep solutions include Ford Motor Company, Oracle, Convergys, One 2 One (Deutsche Telekom), Misys and GlaxoSmithKline. NativeMinds is a privately held corporation based in San Francisco. For more information and to talk to a vRep, visit www.nativeminds.com.

Note to Editors: NativeMinds, vReps, NeuroServer, and the NativeMinds logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of NativeMinds, Inc.