WorldPoint Launches Multilingual Web Site for NTT; WorldPoint Passport Creates 10-Language Site for Japan's Largest Telecommunications Company in 72 Hours.

HONOLULU--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 21, 1998--WorldPoint, the only company to provide scalable Web site globalization solutions, today announced the launch of the Asian Multimedia Forum multilingual Web site (http://www.worldpoint.com).

The Asia Multimedia Forum (AMF) is a non-profit organization and open forum for organizations and individuals to share in promoting the acceptance and implementation of multimedia services/applications/technologies across Asia.

With a diverse group of member organizations in over 15 different Asian countries, a multilingual Web site for AMF addresses the organization's need to communicate with members, media and employees in multiple Asian languages. The 10-language Web site, translated into English, Japanese, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Thai, Malay, Tagalog, Vietnamese and Indonesian, was commissioned by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT), a founding member of the Asia Multimedia Forum.

The success of AMF's multilingual Web site is a clear indication that human language Web site translation is critical for organizations looking to promote ideas, extend influence, and communicate with constituents in the new online marketplace.

"AMF's new multilingual site, created by WorldPoint Passport, enables the organization to overcome language barriers and foster communication between leading telecommunications and multimedia companies rapidly expanding across Asia," said Hiroshi Abiko, manager of NTT's Global Multimedia Business Division.

"As Japan's leading telecommunications service provider, NTT is a strong proponent of the Asian Multimedia Forum's mission to encourage the development of multimedia business opportunities across Asian borders."

How WorldPoint Passport Works

A multi-language Web content management tool, WorldPoint Passport is the only system with the ability to create a site in one language and deploy it in many. WorldPoint Passport's decentralized system allows users to add, modify, and expire multilingual pages through simple browser based forms.

When the system detects textual modifications it automatically routes changes to WorldPoint Human Translators, a network of over 6,000 translators for 75 different languages, which then translate the text and automatically publish it on the site, keeping multilingual versions synchronized with the source version.

WorldPoint Passport offers as single-click language addition, speedy language importation, an automatic language search engine and site map generation, all features necessary for multilingual site management.

"WorldPoint delivered a complex, dynamic, 10-language Web site for AMF in just 72 hours, which is unheard of in the language translation market," said Massimo Fuchs, president of WorldPoint. "WorldPoint's speed, accuracy and scalability proved to AMF that we could make a strategic difference in their business objectives, enabling them to communicate more effectively and immediately with their business partners across Asia."

Unique AMF Site Features

Because WorldPoint Passport is the only language translation software solution to support both single and double byte characters (which are used in many Asian and Far Eastern languages), WorldPoint Passport was NTT's obvious choice for developing AMF's multilingual site.

Due to the complexity of the languages involved, WorldPoint equipped the AMF site with advanced features, including extensive double-byte character search engines in each language, automatic viewing of different language versions, and the ability to automatically detect a user's preferred language.

In addition, by using WorldPoint Passport, NTT was able to cut expenses by approximately 90%, compared to the cost of creating 10 single language Web sites. The WorldPoint solution also afforded the reduction of staff content developers and graphic artists, as well as the elimination of dedicated software, hardware, and networking equipment.

About AMF

The Asia Multimedia strives to identify specific needs for multimedia services/applications in Asia, develop appropriate services/applications, create network/application platforms necessary for cross-border interoperability, and promote the implementation and usage of the platforms, services and applications in the region.

In addition to Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT), founding members of AMF also include: China Telecom, Hong Kong Telecommunications Ltd., PT INDOSAT and PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia, International Digital Communications Inc., Internet Initiative Japan Inc., Japan Satellite Systems Inc., Hyosung Group, Korea Telecom, Binariang Sdn Bhd, Multimedia Development Corporation, Telekom Malaysia Berhad, Smart Communications Inc., 1-Net Singapore Pte Ltd, Singapore Technologies Telemedia Pte Ltd., Telephone Organization of Thailand and The Communications Authority of Thailand.

About NTT

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) is the world's leading telecommunications company and a pioneer in its field. Established over 100 years ago, NTT today is the principal telecommunications company in Japan, with 60 million subscribers and over 200 branches throughout the country.

Globally, over 3,200 multi-national companies look to NTT for leading-edge solutions to their telecommunications requirements and the new need for information communications services that go far beyond conventional telephony. NTT's multimedia related revenues currently amount to 600 billion Yen annually and the company is targeting multimedia revenues of 1 trillion Yen by 2001. NTT is also a founding member of The Asia Multimedia Forum.

About WorldPoint

WorldPoint (http://www.worldpoint.com) is an Internet globalization company that combines multilingual content management systems and Internet translation solutions with the world's largest network of professional language translators for the reliable, cost effective deployment of global communications. The company's flagship product, WorldPoint Passport, is an award winning Web site globalization solution for creating, managing, and delivering complex multilingual Web sites.