Corex Introduces Area Code Fix, the Solution to the Area Code Split Confusion Affecting More Than 50 Million Phone Numbers.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 22, 1999--

Breakthrough software updates area codes in popular

contact managers easily, quickly and reliably

Corex Technologies Corporation today introduced Area Code Fix(TM), the company's breakthrough solution to the area code split confusion affecting more than 50 million telephone numbers in the United States. Area Code Fix updates area codes in popular contact managers and personal information managers (PIMs) easily, quickly and reliably. Because of the complexity and time-sensitivity of splitting and reassigning new area codes, no other software examines historical splits and reliably recommends changes for out-of-date telephone numbers. Area Code Fix is the first software to accurately update telephone numbers to comply with past and current area code splits in a single process, saving customers hours of frustration dialing inactive phone numbers.

Area Code Fix compares contact files with current area code information, identifies the phone numbers that may have changed and suggests appropriate changes for each record.

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New Area Code Fix

--   examines CardScan(TM), Microsoft(R) Outlook(TM), ACT!(TM),
     Lotus(R) Organizer(R) and Palm(R) Desktop databases for area code
     changes;

--   assigns a confidence level of high, medium or low to suggested
     area code changes;

--   maintains an electronic audit trail that tracks changes so that
     modifications can be undone at any time;

--   compares only new contact information or reexamines an entire
     contact database; and

--   offers a 12-month subscription for monthly updates that deliver
     the latest area code split information.

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The area code split confusion

Area Code Fix manages the area code split confusion currently sweeping the country. The reason for widespread area code changes is that as mobile phones and pagers become increasingly prevalent, various service providers are rapidly consuming blocks of phone numbers. The most common solution to the shortage is to take a geographic location with a common area code and split the area two or more times. This frees up the old telephone numbers, creating entirely new sets of available numbers.

Time also plays a crucial role in area code splitting and updating. There are two general phases that occur during a split. During the first three to six months, called the permissive phase, callers encounter a recording alerting them to the new number. The next six months or so are known as the mandatory phase during which callers receive a message indicating they have dialed a wrong number. The confusion over the changes is exacerbated when the telephone numbers freed during the split are later reissued to a new person or business. It is at this point in the split procedure that identifying incorrect area codes proves most difficult.

Users may not remember when they obtained the original telephone number and may not know whether the number in question is a new, valid, reassigned number or if it is an old number whose area code needs to be updated. In the past two years, the NANPA (North American Numbering Plan Administration) has added more than 38 new U.S. area codes, affecting more than 50 million telephone numbers.

Although users may be aware of splits affecting their area, they likely are unaware of the changes taking place in other parts of the country. For customers with geographically dispersed contacts in their databases, this proves to be an especially big problem, which Area Code Fix solves.

Area Code Fix: How it works

After the telephone numbers have been reissued in the old area code, it is impossible to look at a database and determine whether telephone numbers need to be changed or are newly issued, valid numbers based solely on the area code and prefix (the first three numbers of a seven-digit telephone number) combination. As time passes, the likelihood that a number has been reissued increases. Since most splits occur along geographic boundaries, Area Code Fix effectively uses zip code information in conjunction with the prefix to decide whether the phone number in question has been changed or reissued.

The software assigns confidence levels to each suggestion to reflect the reliability of the change in the area code. Because of the check and balance of prefix and zip code in the software's design, users can assume that all updates with a high or medium level of confidence are correct and can opt to automatically accept those changes. Those recommendations that are assigned a low level of confidence should be reviewed by the user. An example of a low level of confidence occurs when not all numbers in a record, such as mobile, pager and home, correlate to the zip code in the record's address. Also, an electronic audit trail is maintained so that changes can be reviewed or undone at any time.

"While testing Area Code Fix on my CardScan database, I found that the recommendations were so accurate, I didn't even bother to verify them," said Matthew Bailey, vice president & general manager, Sundance Resort in Sundance, Utah. "I accepted all, even the low-confidence suggestions. The examination takes just a few minutes, thereby saving me vast amounts of time. As the area code situation worsens, Area Code Fix will became an increasingly valuable tool."

Customer benefits

In the U.S. alone, more than ten area code splits have occurred in 1999. That number is expected to increase in 2000, therefore, Area Code Fix customers have an urgent need for the latest split information. Corex provides a 12-month subscription, which notifies customers by e-mail with monthly updates of the latest area code splits. Running these monthly updates increases the chances that splits will be caught early--before old numbers are reissued--gradually eliminating the need to review low-confidence ratings.

"Area Code Fix is an incredible add-on to my contact management application," said Howard Wexler, president of Stirling Computer Corp., a corporate consulting firm. "I checked more than 1400 contacts, some with up to seven different phone numbers. All of the suggestions were correct. It eliminates the pain and hassle of trying to locate new numbers for contacts in areas affected by a split. I would recommend this software to anyone who needs their contact information to be current and accurate."

Because of the high complexity in updating contact managers for area code changes, the few services on the market today require customers to submit their entire database, thereby disclosing private contact information. Area Code Fix delivers the assurance that a third party will not acquire customers' contact information because users perform the updates themselves in a simple process that takes just minutes.

"With the widespread area code splits currently affecting the country, it's nearly impossible for busy professionals to constantly stay abreast of the latest changes," said Jonathan Stern, president and CEO of Corex. "Area Code Fix increases productivity and eliminates the hassle of calling multiple inactive numbers before finally reaching a contact. Area Code Fix is a cost-effective, simple way to manage the problem and keeps phone numbers in your contact manager, PIM or Palm organizer accurate."

Pricing and availability

Area Code Fix will be available from Corex on August 15, 1999, on the World Wide Web at www.areacodefix.com. Customers will be able to download the software for a U.S. list price of $49.99. As a special introductory offer, customers will receive an instant rebate of $20.00, paying just $29.99. In addition, they will receive a free 12-month subscription of monthly split updates--an additional $19.99 value. Area Code Fix is compatible with the following contact management applications: CardScan, Microsoft Outlook, ACT!, Lotus Organizer and the Palm Desktop software.

About Corex Technologies

Corex Technologies Corporation, based in Cambridge, Mass., develops and markets industry-leading contact management and business card scanning software and hardware products that increase personal and corporate productivity. Founded in 1993, the privately held, venture-backed company develops the award-winning CardScan family of products. The complete line of CardScan products is available directly from Corex Technologies and at more than 3,000 authorized resellers, PC retailers, office superstores, mail-order outlets and distributors, including CompUSA, Circuit City, Fry's Electronics, Micro Center, Office Depot, Staples, OfficeMax, MicroWarehouse, CDW, Ingram Micro and Tech Data.

CardScan is a registered trademark of Corex Technologies Corporation. All other company names and products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.