Checkfree Corp. announces agreements with Sharp, SPRY and a host of Internet access providers; Checkfree serves as the leader of interactive financial services for the Internet.

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 6, 1994--Checkfree Corp. today announced agreements to provide electronic bill payment and related services to an array of leading technology companies and their customers.

Checkfree's new clients are portable computer maker Sharp Electronics Corp.; the Seattle-based developer of Internet In A Box(TM), SPRY Inc.; and NETCOM On-line Communication Services Inc., the nation's leading direct Internet access provider. The agreements solidify Checkfree's position as the number one electronic payments service provider to the nation's rapidly growing online information service industries. They are also in keeping with Checkfree's strategy of making electronic funds transfer services available to individuals and businesses through an array of devices and media. Checkfree is the primary vehicle for the movement of funds between consumers browsing the Internet and the companies that service them.

SPRY Provides Secure Credit Card Transactions Over the Internet

Checkfree will provide credit card and automated clearinghouse (ACH) payment processing services to SPRY. The company's best-selling Internet In A Box software combines a complete package of easy-to-use software with a special edition of Ed Krol's The Whole Internet User's Guide and Catalog, a definitive guide to the resources available on the world's largest computer network. SPRY subscribers can instantly access the Internet via a local Internet service provider or through a toll-free SprintLink connection.

Known as Secure Encrypted Transactions (SET) architecture, SPRY's new on-line ordering system brings greater efficiency and security to small business sales transactions made over the Internet. Due to security concerns, many businesses selling products or services over the Internet today ask their customers to submit credit card or other payment information by a separate channel, such as by fax or regular telephone. With SET, merchants and customers can complete on-line transactions in complete privacy.

For large business sales transactions, SPRY will also support the Secure-Hypertext Transfer Protocol (S-HTTP) standard that is being developed by Terisa Systems. S-HTTP will be integrated into SPRY's product line in 1Q95.

SPRY's products combined with Checkfree and Terisa System's technology will allow SPRY's customer to make secure credit card transactions (VISA, MC and AMEX) over the Internet.

"SET and S-HTTP paves the way for a whole new world of electronic commerce," says David Pool, president of SPRY. "In partnership with Checkfree and a multitude of merchants, SPRY will put a universe of products and services at the fingertips of Internet users."

NETCOM

NETCOM On-line Communications Service Inc. is the nation's leading direct Internet access provider, with access nodes in cities across the country. Since its founding in 1988, the NETCOM subscriber base has grown to more than 50,000 users. For $19.95 a month, consumer subscribers can easily navigate the Internet using NETCOM's award-winning NetCruiser graphical interface.

NETCOM's agreement with Checkfree will allow for the billing and collection of service fees electronically, from the customer's checking, savings or credit card accounts, expanding the payment choices available to NETCOM subscribers. Checkfree's flexible system allows customers to choose their preferred method of payment.

Additional Alliance Partners

The Pipeline Inc., based in New York, is both an Internet access provider and publisher of Windows- and Mac-based software. With more than 7,000 subscribers to date, Pipeline CEO, James Gleick, is pleased to be joining forces with Checkfree for the electronic collection of service fees. Basic Pipeline service begins at $15 a month.

"It's great to have a relationship with a financial services company that is so forward thinking, yet has real solutions for today's electronic commerce," says Gleick. "The landscape is changing so rapidly, we hope to take advantage of innovative financial opportunities such as partnering with Checkfree."

Optigon Interactive will also be using Checkfree services to collect subscriber fees. Based in Emeryville, Calif., Optigon Interactive's Total Entertainment Network (TEN) is a new online service that focuses on providing its subscribers with high-quality multi-player games, accessible information services, and robust communications capabilities. Currently undergoing beta testing in the San Francisco Bay Area, TEN features a variety of exciting and entertaining games and simulated environments. Included among these is the first online multi-player version of SimCity from Maxis, one of the best-selling computer games of all time.

"TEN has been designed to appeal to young, computer-literate adults who want an online service that speaks their language in a way that is fun, informative, and user-friendly," notes Daniel Goldman, Optigon's 28-year-old founder and president. "And just as we look forward to serving subscribers who are techno-savvy, we are excited about working with techno-savvy vendors like Checkfree."

About Sharp

Sharp Electronics Corp., the $2.8 billion U.S. sales and marketing subsidiary of Japan's Sharp Corp., has one of the industry's broadest lines of consumer, business and industrial electronic products. Sharp is the world leader in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and uses this advanced technology in many of its more than 45 product lines including audio and video systems, microwave ovens, projection panels, electronic organizers, notebook computers and peripherals, copiers, facsimilie machines and calculators. Headquartered in Mahwah, N.J., Sharp Electronics employs more than 2,200 people nationwide.

About SPRY

SPRY Inc. is the leading developer of Internet access applications for the office, home and publishing markets. Founded in 1987, the privately held company is based in Seattle. Their Internet Office solution, the AIR Series, is the first suite of applications to work over any TCP/IP transport. In addition, SPRY also provides an Internet Home solution, Internet In A Box, the first shrink wrapped package to provide easy desktop computer access to the Internet. SPRY can be reached at 1-800-SPRYNET (777-9638), [e-mail], or you can access their WWW server at http://www.spry.com.

About Checkfree

In 1994, Checkfree Corp. will process more than $6 billion in payments, with more than 1 million businesses benefiting from its services. Checkfree Corp. is America's number one provider of electronic payment processing services touching over 3 million individuals. Headquartered in Columbus, the privately held company employs 370 full-time associates. Checkfree was founded in 1981. For more information call 1-800/882-5280 (consumer services), 1-800/532-9696 (commercial services).

For more information about NETCOM call 800/353-6600 or 408/345-2600. For more information about Pipeline call 212/267-3636.

For more information about Optigon Interactive call 510/596-8700.

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NOTES:

All brands, products and service names mentioned are trademarks or registered service marks of their respective owners.

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