TelSurf Networks and eBalance Inc. to ProvideConsumers With Voice Access to Web-based Personal...

Business Editors

Spring Internet

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 5, 2000

Content Agreement Enables eBalance Customers To Obtain

Account Information Over Any Telephone

TelSurf Networks, creator of the world's first Internet "audio browser" service, and eBalance, a leading Web-based financial management service, today announced a partnership that will provide eBalance customers with free voice access to Web-based personal financial account data, from any telephone. The company made the announcement at Spring Internet World, here through April 7.

Patent-pending and fully voice-activated, TelSurf Networks' audio browser -- accessible at 888-TelSurf -- turns ordinary telephones into toll-free Internet on-ramps by enabling subscribers to access Internet-sourced audio content and communications services, at no charge.

Under the new agreement with eBalance, TelSurf Networks will license its TelService audio browser service to eBalance and operate the service on their behalf. This will enable eBalance's partners to provide their customers with secure and private telephony audio access service to their financial information via any phone -- new or old, wired or cell -- using a toll-free number.

In a reciprocal arrangement, TelSurf Networks and eBalance will work to provide TelSurf's subscribers with eBalance services available from both the 888-TelSurf.com Web site and via TelSurf's 888-TelSurf Internet-via-phone service.

Based in San Ramon, Calif., eBalance is an Application Service Provider (ASP) established in 1999 to deliver through established destination sites products and services for consumers to manage their financial resources.

eBalance captures a user's financial data from banks, brokerages, mutual funds, and other online accounts; consolidates the information into a single, secure consumer database; and then provides the user with a menu of powerful financial reports and applications. eBalance provides this service to its B2B partners' customers. These customers enjoy complete integration among all of their financial accounts and institutions at this one-stop, online source for up-to-date balance updates and complete account histories.

"This is precisely the kind of vital, real-time information that 888-TelSurf was created to provide," said Simon Lam, CEO and founder, TelSurf Networks Inc. "In aligning with forward-thinking companies like eBalance, we're working to increase the value of the Internet through intuitive, relevant consumer services. As the first company to introduce and market audio browser technology, TelSurf Networks is well-positioned to help online service enablers like eBalance to broaden their scope beyond `wired' consumers and deliver the advantages of online technology to anyone, free of charge, through the telephone."

"Industry analysts predict that in less than three years, a significant number of Internet users will manage their finances online," said Myles Suer, founder and president, eBalance. "At the same time, Forrester Research has found that only 16 percent of consumers want to have all of their accounts in only one financial institution. If anything, we expect fewer consumers to have only one financial relationship in the future.

"Because consumers are not always connected to a personal computer, we believe that alternative channels for accessing financial information will be highly attractive to our consumers, especially for retrieving account balances. Telephonic banking today is a mainstream banking system.

"According to Bank Systems and Technology, balance and cleared-check inquiries represent 70 percent of these calls. The system we are providing with TelSurf Networks enables the consumer to complete this function for all of their accounts regardless of financial institution with one easy to remember phone number.

"TelSurf Networks is helping us add value by giving our customers convenient and secure access to their personal financial information via any phone, and eventually enabling us to expand our potential client base by targeting consumers who currently lack conventional Internet access," he said.

TelSurf Networks and eBalance are working together to ensure the privacy and security of financial information that is disseminated over the TelSurf network. Both companies are committed to ensuring absolute protection of personal, confidential information.

About TelSurf Networks

TelSurf Networks Inc. is an angel-funded startup founded in January 1999 by entrepreneurs and telecommunications pioneers Simon Lam and Ken Guy. TelSurf Network's 888-TelSurf service -- the first audio browser -- delivers the broadest range of user benefits and service functionality of any service announced or currently deployed. The company is headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif.

About eBalance

eBalance Inc. was founded in 1999 by an experienced team of financial and communications industry veterans to bring to consumers comprehensive, simple and objective financial management enabled by the Internet. The company is located at Bishop Ranch 2, 2682 Bishop Drive, Suite 210, San Ramon, Calif., 94583. Tel: 925/904-2000, fax: 925/904-2002. For more information about eBalance or to sign up for its services, visit www.ebalance.com or call 925/904-2003.