Data Downlink Corporation
101 Hudson Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
201-557-5850

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jay S. Winuk
Winuk Communications
646-613-7720

Steven Goldstein
Data Downlink Corporation
(212) 363-9620

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (April 25, 1997) - Business information users can now conduct online searches across a comprehensive array of proprietary quantitative databases and easily download the data directly into their PCs in spreadsheet format, according to Steven Goldstein, chief executive officer of Data Downlink Corporation, creator of the new on-line service, called .xls. The service provides sophisticated web-based searching tools for each content provider's information and provides links from .xls to the content provider's own home page (Note to editors: please see examples attached). .xls was designed to be a cost-effective and easy-to-operate 'one-stop shop' for quantitative business and investment information, according to Goldstein. The service aggregates and indexes 24 databases licensed from 17 leading content providers (see below), for hassle-free user access at Data Downlink's web-site (http://www.xls.com).

Current and Historical Information Accessible, Easily Downloaded

A web-based service that works with either Netscape Navigator™ or Microsoft Internet Explorer™, .xls segments its data into six categories: Companies, Industries, Financial Markets, Demographics, Countries and Economic Statistics. Each company and industry has an index page with links to specific content. Users can also access information by keyword, by content index or by clicking on Sources, which leads to a listing of .xls content providers. All accessed data can be directly loaded or saved as an Excel or Lotus file, for later copying, pasting or manipulation.

"Until the advent of .xls, I had spent many hours reentering quantitative data from information service providers," said Steve Hudson, network specialist for the Georgetown University School of Business, a beta-tester of Data Downlink's new service. "With .xls, I simply log on, enter my user name and password, search the entire database and then download the information I need 'live,' directly into a spreadsheet. In addition .xls has built-in expense tracking, which allows each of the users to assign an account to be billed. This is a useful and well-designed product."

Wide Array of Business Information

Data Downlink has initially licensed general purpose business content that will provide users with quantitative company, industry and economic data; demographic, country-specific and product-specific information; and more detailed vertical-market-specific information (for such markets as high technology, health care and consumer products). Through .xls, business information consumers have access to the widest array of Web-based quantitative business information available, including both historical and current data. The company plans to add more than 15 new databases within the next six months.

Among the current .xls content providers are Indepth Data (SEC filing information in spreadsheet form); Data Analysis Group (computer industry forecasts from leading trade journals); Mergerstat (mergers and acquisitions data); Leadership Directories (Corporate, Financial and Association Yellow Books) and Media General Financial Services (financial information on U.S. public companies).

"There are two distinct markets for .xls," said Goldstein. "First, there is the large 'institutional' market: consulting firms, investment banks, commercial banks and money management companies. The second market consists of individual business information consumers, such as information brokers, corporate strategic planners and investor relations professionals."

Discrete Pricing Strategies Accommodate Large and Small Customers

Customers are charged for information either on a pay-per-view basis -- at a cost ranging from $2.80 to $185.00 per file - or on a subscription basis. Revenue generated by pay-per-view information usage is split evenly between Data Downlink and the content provider while subscription revenue is split in the content provider's favor. Data Downlink's sophisticated billing and customer tracking software provide comprehensive customer information to the company's content providers.

Data Downlink has developed discrete pricing strategies for each of the two target market segments. A large consulting firm may pay a flat fee of $1,000 per month for access to the service for all its employees at a given site, plus all applicable pay-per-view charges. Individual business information consumers are charged a modest monthly subscription fee ($50.00 per month), plus all applicable pay-per-view charges.

In addition to their monthly royalty payment, content providers are given detailed information regarding the usage of their information and general information as to the content which is most frequently accessed from .xls. Data Downlink develops sophisticated web-based searching tools for each content provider's information and provides links from .xls to the content provider's own home page. Data Downlink also assists in generating leads for direct sales from the content providers to .xls customers.

"As an .xls content provider, we appreciate the simplicity and reciprocity of our relationship with Data Downlink. We just provide the relevant files; Data Downlink does all the processing," said Charles E. Blackburn, vice president, business development, Media General Financial Services, Inc. "Through the powerful .xls service, end users of our information can select just the data that fits their specific needs, and .xls provides them with a variety of pay-as-you-go or subscription-based plans. The system works well for everyone involved, including the user."

Founded in July 1996 by Steven Goldstein and Michael Angle, former executives of Knight-Ridder Business Information Services, Data Downlink Corporation is based in Jersey City, New Jersey. For more information about .xls and Data Downlink, contact the company's sales department at 201-557-5850 or via e-mail at [email protected].