Smart World Technologies Launches FreeXDSL High-Speed Internet Access for Consumers and Small Businesses.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2000

Becomes First Provider with a Fully Operational National Network

to Offer Free ADSL Service

Smart World Technologies, the first Internet service provider to offer no monthly fee Internet access through Freewwweb(TM), today announced it is launching the first no-cost, high-speed Internet service for consumers and small businesses using ADSL technology on its fully operational national network.

&uot;In 1996, the world laughed when we launched the first no-monthly fee dial-up Internet service. But now millions of users have switched from paid service providers to the free access model,&uot; said Steven Daum, CEO of Smart World Technologies. &uot;Introducing free broadband access to the market on an unprecedented national scale - a service that is otherwise expensive and not widely available - will clearly revolutionize the industry again.&uot;

In addition to free high-speed Internet access, subscribers gain total web access, full e-mail, news and chat groups, stock quotes and technical support, along with Netscape's Communicator browser. The service is compatible with all operating platforms including Win 95, Win 98, Win 2000 and Mac. Subscribers can sign-up for the freeXDSL(TM) service at www.freexdsl.com.

&uot;Offering subscribers no-cost high-speed Internet access with free installation and an ADSL modem, plus the complete range of content and services offered by paid providers, will enable us to further penetrate the booming ISP market. Today, speed is king,&uot; he continued.

The freeXDSL(TM) service will also be offered to the company's private-label customers, including major consumer brands such as MBNA and Pepsi, which use Smart World Technologies to offer Internet access to their customers.

ADSL connections are up to 200 times faster than dial-up modems. freeXDSL(TM) service is capable of connections of 8Mbps compared to lighter DSL versions, which typically operate at 128K. DSL services from others cost about $50 per month and currently are only available in areas within 17,000 feet of a telephone central office. Smart World Technologies is introducing freeXDSL(TM) to its network, which covers over 95% of the United States and most of Canada, making ADSL access available for free on a widespread basis for the first time.

&uot;Unlike some start-up no cost DSL providers, we are an Internet service provider with an expansive network already in place, a solid track record for supporting our subscribers and keeping their personal information private, and are currently adding several hundred thousand new users per month,&uot; he added.

Like Freewwweb(TM), the freeXDSL(TM) service is supported by a patent pending software tool called Focused Information Retrieval Services Technology (FIRST) through which advertising and marketing applications allow companies to target their ads exclusively to users who have indicated interest in certain products or service categories. Current Freewwweb(TM) advertisers include Amazon.com, Barnes &Noble and CD Now.

One of the largest ISPs in the world, Smart World Technologies provides a total Internet solution for end users via the Smart Network, an established Internet Service Provider and World Wide Web host with local access coverage in more than 95% of the United States and most of Canada.