PureEdge Powered Application Receives Another Industry Award; San Jose's Online Permit Website Given Civic 50 Award.

Business Editors/Technology Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 2, 2001

The City of San Jose's online building permit site has been honored with a Civic 50 Award from civic.com.

This is the second award received by jspermits.org since it was launched May 12, 2000. The site uses software from PureEdge Solutions, the leading provider of transaction security products and services, as the paper replacement in an application process that combines secure and auditable electronic documents and digital signatures.

San Jose was the first city in California and perhaps the nation to issue permits via the Internet using digital signatures. The web site, which received a Best of Web Award last year from Center for Digital Government and Government Technology Magazine, enables contractors and homeowners to apply online for 22 residential building permits where a technical review is not required. These permits are regularly issued for work such as roofing, piping, and water heater replacements. Approximately 5,000 of these permits are issued annually.

The PureEdge Internet Commerce System(TM) (ICS) was selected for its ability to interface with the city's database, securely store complete transactions in a single file, and document intelligence that eliminates the error rate of paper-based applications.

Contractors have been extremely satisfied with the system as it shortens the application process from weeks to minutes, and they are no longer handcuffed to making applications during regular City Hall business hours. The majority of traffic to the site, which processes about 400 permits per month, comes before and after regular business hours.

From the City's perspective, administration costs are lower because employees no longer have to manually validate addresses, check credit card information, verify payment of city business license taxes, or confirm the contractor's license status.

"We have worked very hard to make it easy for the residents of San Jose to do business with City Hall, and this award recognizes San Jose's commitment to its customers," said Permit Center Manager Scott Troyer. "We rely on industry-leading technology from visionary firms like PureEdge as we continue to improve customer service and eventually allow applicants to apply for any development permit over the Internet."

Mr. Troyer said an upgrade for the site is scheduled in the next six months to add the availability of commercial and industrial permits.

"Winning multiple awards with a single application is a remarkable feat, and the City of San Jose is to be congratulated for its vision and innovation," said PureEdge CEO Eric Jordan. "We look forward to continuing the innovative process and working with the City as it moves ahead with enhancements to the system."

In announcing the awards, civic.com said the 50 honorees express a strong message that the Internet is improving government services, making jobs easier and lives better. The Civic 50 awards began last year to acknowledge innovative public information technology projects, systems, and programs that improved government -- either by making it run more smoothly or by improving service for citizens. Last year's winners list represented a diverse assortment of projects from a wide variety of public agencies.

According to civic.com, "this year has been even more eye-opening. Even the judges couldn't help but notice how much more sophisticated the winners are and how projects seem to be reaching the next bar."

Intergraph Corporation developed San Jose's system, which also uses digital signatures from Digital Signature Trust Company and real-time credit card processing from CyberSource.

About PureEdge

PureEdge Solutions is the first company to provide secure software and services that enable organizations to create Trusted Digital Relationships(TM) with customers, trading partners, employees, citizens, and other important parties. The company delivers open, standards-based infrastructure and complete solutions that remove the friction associated with the formation and management of significant online commercial relationships. PureEdge products are based on XML and include the award-winning Internet Commerce System(TM) and Assured Enrollment(TM), a real-time digital customer enrollment solution for the brokerage industry. PureEdge customers include the Securities & Exchange Commission, JP Morgan Chase, FedEx, General Electric, and the Department of Defense. PureEdge partners include VeriSign (Nasdaq:VRSN), CACI (Nasdaq:CACI), Entrust (Nasdaq:ENTU), AT&T (NYSE:T), PricewaterhouseCoopers, Interleaf (Nasdaq:LEAF), and Optika (Nasdaq:OPTK). PureEdge software and services are available through its website (www.PureEdge.com) and through its direct sales force and affiliates around the world.