Lead Internet Experts Discuss Explosive Growth of Ecommerce in Traditional and New Markets at 2nd Annual eCC Bermuda Conference.

Business/Technology Editors

HAMILTON, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 19, 2000

Patricia Seybold, Author of Customers.com and Nick Jones,

Senior Analyst at Jupiter Communications Offer their Insights

on the Prospects for Ecommerce

"We are seeing a digital revolution like never before," said Bermuda's Ecommerce Minister Rene Webb to open the 2nd annual eCC Conference at the Hamilton Princess in Hamilton, Bermuda. The eCC Bermuda Conference has united the world's leading thinkers in the development of ecommerce with the thought leaders in the offshore community.

Minister Webb, the World's first Ecommerce Minister, summed up the anticipation and excitement of the conference when she stated "We are thrilled at the prospect to listen to and engage with the leading thinkers in ecommerce, and hope to be able to position Bermuda as the premier offshore jurisdiction for ecommerce companies."

Nick Jones from Jupiter Communications highlighted the Internet market maturity of the United States where online individuals will account for 50 percent of the population in 2001. He also identified an increasing level of consumer militancy that is being transferred from the online relationships between consumer and merchant to other channels including the offline world.

Commenting on the conference Jones added, "This conference is a phenomenal opportunity for leading business executives and thought leaders to exchange ideas, offer their experiences and share their perspectives on the rapidly growing global ecommerce market. In addition, they can develop relationships which can enhance the growth and development of their businesses specifically and Bermuda's ecommerce industry generally."

Patty Seybold, author of Customers.com and CEO of the Patricia Seybold Group discussed the importance of customer experience to enhancing the acquisition, retention and monetization of customer bases at ecommerce enterprises. In her remarks she noted that one important reason that AOL could acquire Time-Warner was because, even though they had a smaller customer base, AOL had a higher value per customer - slightly more than two to one.

Bermuda is rapidly establishing itself as the leading offshore e-commerce jurisdiction leveraging the island's strong e-commerce expertise, world-class infrastructure and convenient strategic location. The eCC Bermuda 2000 will provide today's e-commerce entrepreneurs with a unique forum to address the issues and concerns facing their business. The conference will run until Wednesday, September 20th and will focus on the benefits for ecommerce companies in doing business in offshore jurisdictions like Bermuda.

This year's organizing sponsors are The Bermuda International Business Association (BIBA), The Bermuda Chamber of Commerce and Logic Communications, along with a very strong committee of local industry partners who are ensuring world-class delivery of eCC Bermuda.

The Bermuda International Business Association (BIBA) is a volunteer business organization of Bermuda resident service providers who provide quality banking, legal, accounting, financial, trust, management and e-commerce services and products to the international client. BIBA works with the private sector and Government to develop and promote the island as the pre-eminent offshore business and financial services jurisdiction.