Centraal Corporation and Network Solutions Announce Strategic Agreement; Companies Plan to Expand Internet Name Space.

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 9, 1998--Centraal Corporation, creators of the RealNames Web page addressing system, and Network Solutions, Inc., global leader for Internet domain name registrations, today announced a strategic agreement. The agreement offers Web site owners a simple way to drive traffic to their Web sites and Internet marketers an effective way to be found on the Internet using familiar brands and trademarks.

Under the terms of the agreement, Network Solutions will market, sell and service RealNames subscription orders to domain name owners, directly and through channels worldwide. The agreement also includes an investment by Network Solutions in Centraal Corporation's Series B preferred stock, with warrants to purchase common shares based in part on RealNames subscription sales performance.

"Network Solutions recognizes Centraal's RealNames technology as a compelling and viable approach to driving traffic and navigating to specific Web pages," said Bob Korzeniewski, CFO and acting COO of Network Solutions. "Centraal provides Network Solutions an opportunity to expand the services we offer to customers on a worldwide basis through Network Solutions' Alliance, Premier and Affiliate channels. This opportunity builds upon our industry leading domain name registration and customer service infrastructure."

"Network Solutions and Centraal will combine strengths in a strategic way to meet the rapidly evolving needs for Internet consumers and marketers alike," added Michael A. Daniels, Chairman and acting CEO of Network Solutions.

"It has been our aim to make the RealNames System ubiquitous. Any user, at any time, and from any place on the Internet should be able to navigate the Internet using whatever RealName a company chooses, and has the right to use," said Keith Teare, founder and CEO of Centraal Corporation. "We welcome Network Solutions as a business partner, an investor, and as a significant advisor to our efforts."

"As the world leader in Internet Web addresses, Network Solutions shares a common mission with RealNames, to help businesses leverage their brand name on the Internet and reach their customers," said Doug Wolford, senior vice president of marketing and sales for Network Solutions. "This agreement extends our reach in the name space. We're in the business of helping companies establish their Internet identities and this is another way to do that."

RealNames Distribution Relationship

Network Solutions and Centraal will offer RealNames and make them available through Network Solutions' channels and marketing programs. Network Solutions will have exclusive rights to offer RealName subscriptions through its Alliance, Premier, and Affiliate channels both in the U.S. and abroad.

The Customer Service Agreement

In addition to offering RealNames subscriptions, Network Solutions will provide customer service for RealNames. Under the terms of this agreement, Network Solutions will provide services necessary to maintain and support RealNames subscription orders.

The Investment Agreement

Network Solutions will invest $4.2 million in the Centraal Corporation Series B preferred stock offering. Network Solutions will also have warrants to acquire common shares, based in part on the successful subscription sales performance, which, if exercised in full, would provide Network Solutions with ownership just below 20 percent of Centraal's current outstanding capital stock on a fully diluted basis. Network Solutions will also be entitled to designate one person to Centraal's Board of Directors.

More about RealNames

The RealNames Service, is a Web navigation service that offers companies, brand and trademark owners a way to enhance their identity on the Internet.

Centraal unveiled the Real Name System, a new global naming system for navigating the Internet, in March and began its first distribution partnership with AltaVista in May 1998. Since then, LookSmart has agreed to distribute the RealNames system on its directory site.

Today, Centraal's RealNames resolvers contain more than 3 million RealNames, 15,000 of these are from paying customers. Centraal directs Internet users to desired Web sites, and analyzes user search requests to determine Internet usage preferences and trends. RealNames system usage shows that nearly 25 percent of all RealNames searches are brand-related; 10 percent are entertainment-related; 10 percent request well-known Web sites; and 15 percent are looking for software download information. As the user base grows, Centraal will continue to provide more aggregated analytical information.

About Centraal Corporation

Formed in 1997 and privately held, Centraal Corporation provides a novel Internet naming solution to its customers and partners and an intuitive navigation system for Internet users. Centraal is venture-backed by idealab Capital Partners (Pasadena) and Draper Fisher Jurvetson (Redwood City), both leaders in internet start-up venture capital. Centraal Corporation is located in Palo Alto, California.

About Network Solutions

Network Solutions, Inc., (NASDAQ: NSOL) is the worldwide leader in Internet Web address registration services with more than 3 million registrations representing an estimated 75 percent world market share. Web addresses provide a unique Internet identity for communications, marketing and e-commerce. Network Solutions currently acts as the exclusive registrar for all Web addresses within the .com, .net and .org top-level domains (TLDs) and offers additional registration capabilities for more than 200 country TLDs. Known as the dot com people,(TM) Network Solutions offers a package of registration services to the growing numbers of small businesses coming online who want to establish a unique identity and build their brand online including: RegistrationPlus,(TM) a real-time, online registration or reservation service; and dot com mail,(TM) a portable, personal Web or POP-based e-mail service to help small businesses maximize their brand names on the Internet. Network Solutions also provides enterprise network services that focus on assisting large commercial organizations in the evolution and management of their enterprise networks. BusinessWeek's INFO TECH 100 ranks Network Solutions 33rd among the world's 100 best performing IT companies. For more information, see the www.networksolutions.com Web site.

This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, market acceptance of this product, competition from other companies, technological changes and the future growth of the Internet.

Trademark information

RealNames System, RealNames Service, RNS and Centraal are trademarks of Centraal Corporation. Other trademarks and registered trademarks are the properties of their respective owners. The RealNames System is a patent pending technology.

Editor Note: Also see related press release titled "Centraal Corporation Announces Major Investment Round and Significant Business Agreement."