Announcement
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CONTACT: Jay S. Winuk

Winuk Communications

646-613-7720

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

 

DATA DOWNLINK INTRODUCES " .xls Version 2.0"

 

New Search Features, Intranet Capabilities Added to

Web-based Information Service

 

Five New Databases Added, More than One Million

Spreadsheets Now Available On Line

 

 

 

New York, July 16, 1998 . . . Combining the addition of five new databases, proprietary "data shredding" capability, a series of new search features and other enhancements to its web-based information service, .xls, Data Downlink Corporation today launched ".xls 2.0." The new version of the business and financial information service features more than one million spreadsheets from 50 different databases available at its site, www.xls.com. .xls 2.0 will be available on line as of July 20, 1998.

"We've designed .xls 2.0 to be the most comprehensive, user friendly source of professional business and financial information on the web," said Steve Goldstein, founder and CEO of Data Downlink Corporation. "And our exclusive data shredding technology now allows users to easily convert tables and numerical data into spreadsheet format." Goldstein noted that the upgraded service is automatically available to existing and new customers at no additional charge.

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Data Downlink .xls 2.0, page 2

 

Service Enhancements: Easier to Use, More Effective

Enhancements to .xls featured in the 2.0 version include:

  • New data shredding capability, allowing users to convert text and tables into downloadable, customizable spreadsheet format with one mouse click. The service will "shred" 20,000 tables a day for use by customers from databases such as Investext® and Tablebase®.

 

  • Better spreadsheet indexing, particularly for market research databases, allowing users to know more about spreadsheets before purchasing them. Information includes SIC codes and company names contained within the spreadsheet, publication date and business concepts addressed.

 

  • An advanced search capability that lets information professionals use Boolean logic for searches across the entire service as well as the text-oriented databases.

 

  • Public company identifiers (company, name, ticker symbols, etc.) for more than 25,000 global companies matched across all .xls databases.

 

  • Keyword search capability added to the .xls homepage to get at information faster.

 

  • New search results page added-results of a search segmented by companies, industries, spreadsheet content providers and news/investment research.

 

  • Fresh new graphics added throughout the service.

 

New Databases Feature Leading Investment, Corporate Data

Data Downlink has added five new databases to .xls, bringing the service to 50 databases and more than one million spreadsheets. The five new databases available at .xls are:

Investext®: Published by The Investext Group, the Investext database features the world's largest on-line collection of investment research reports from more than 450 investment banks, brokerage houses and consulting sources worldwide. A two-year research report archive is available at the site. Data is updated daily.

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Data Downlink .xls 2.0, page 3

 

Extel: Published by Financial Times Information, the Extel database features high-value, structured financial data, including detailed coverage of more than 14,000 quoted companies from 53 countries with up to 15 years of history. Data includes balance sheets, profit and loss statements, per share data and more. Updated weekly.

MCM CorporateWatch® Database: Published by McCarthy Crisanti Maffei, the leading provider of real-time new issue information and analysis, the database features information on more than 12,000 fixed income and 4,000 equity issues. Each area provides more than 100 data fields for comprehensive analysis of specific markets. Updated daily.

FINCOM: Published by Capital Access International, the premier research, consulting and data services firm serving the institutional fixed-income community, the FINCOM database comprises bondholding information, investment profiles, and investment professionals for more than 7,000 North American and European institutional investors. FINCOM data is posted to .xls on a monthly basis.

Bankstat: Published by Thomson BankWatch, the world's largest bank rating agency, Bankstat offers detailed current and historical financial reports on more than 10,000 banks and securities firms in 185 countries. Compiled by a team of analysts, the data is derived from the institutions' interim and annual reports. Complementary information from selected sources, such as central banks and regulatory bodies, is

also included. Updated 40 times per year.

Data Downlink Now Providing Intranet Service

Mr. Goldstein notes that the company has developed software tools for integrating .xls functionality and licensed content into individual companies' corporate intranets.

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Data Downlink .xls 2.0, page 4

 

"For companies with multiple users and specific content and search needs, we are now customizing our service to match those needs, saving these corporate customers time and money," said Mr. Goldstein.

Data Downlink's customized and intranet services, now being used by investment houses such as Lehman Brothers and Credit Suisse First Boston, eliminates multiple passwords, weeds out unneeded databases, tracks company usage by individuals, allows customized searches and the related research output and more.

"Data Downlink's customized corporate service excels at knowledge management," said Robert Lord, assistant vice president for corporate services at Credit Suisse First Boston. "They've streamlined our data gathering capabilities while expanding our reach, allowing us to easily access information we want and eliminate data we don't want. Our bankers get the data they need fast in a format specifically designed for our needs using .xls and the customized service Data Downlink developed for us."

"Through its .xls service, Data Downlink consistently provides Lehman with accurate and timely ownership information," said Jag Singh, vice president at Lehman Brothers. "They've created a new customized page for us that provides easy access and high quality information that meets our bankers' very specific needs."

Data Downlink Corporation, based in New York City and founded in 1996, provides a comprehensive library of premium financial and business information through its web-based search service, called .xls (http://www.xls.com). Offering company financials and economic, demographic, industry, country and market-specific data, .xls is distinguished by allowing the subscribing or pay-per-view user to automatically download database information live directly into a Microsoft Excel or Lotus 1-2-3

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Data Downlink .xls 2.0, page 5

 

spreadsheet.

For more information about Data Downlink and its 50 different databases, visit the company's web site (www.xls.com) or call customer service at 212-363-9620 in the U.S. or in London at 44-0-410-147-307.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: Complete list of databases available from .xls attached.