iPlanet AND SAS TO HELP ONLINE BILLERS

Companies that deliver bills over the Internet will find it easier to predict customer requirements and requests, sharpen marketing strategy and improve customer care with a new solution being developed and marketed by iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions, a Sun-Netscape Alliance, and SAS Institute, a market leader in e-intelligence and data warehousing.

SAS and iPlanet announced they have begun integration of SAS e-Intelligence, data mining and analytical customer relationship management (CRM) software with the iPlanet BillerXpert software, a comprehensive Internet bill presentment and payment (IBPP) solution. As a result, the iPlanet BillerXpert enterprise customers will be able to access, manage and analyze their customer and billing data to predict customer behavior more precisely, evaluate and segment customers more accurately, and understand customer preferences more fully.

SAS will add an e-Intelligence layer - including analytical CRM components for marketing automation/campaign management and personalization - specifically tailored for billers and billing-service providers offering services over the Web. This layer, built with the company's award-winning SAS/Warehouse Administrator data warehouse and Enterprise Miner data mining software packages, will provide billers with a repository of analytical models to apply to billing data gathered in the iPlanet BillerXpert database.

"To remain a leader in the Internet billing space means offering valuable capabilities that benefit billers and end-users alike," said Pat Turocy, principal analyst with Doculabs, an independent industry analyst firm. "One such area is providing end-customers with highly personalized information and targeted services. Paper billing channels and Internet marketing firms long ago figured out how to evaluate their customers and target them accordingly, and Internet billing solution providers should take that cue and do the same."

"Integrating SAS data mining and e-Intelligence capabilities with iPlanet BillerXpert will enable banks, retailers and other companies engaged in online billing to better understand their customers and to build stronger relationships with them," said Andre Boisvert, president and COO of SAS. "SAS provides software solutions that help companies turn their customer information and other data into better business decisions. We look forward to working closely with iPlanet, a proven Web-based billing services leader, and demonstrating our cross-platform capabilities and powerful set of e-Intelligence solutions."

The iPlanet BillerXpert application enables a new level of service and convenience that allows a user to view bills online through virtually any browser at any time through a common Web-based portal. It is a comprehensive bill presentment and payment solution for direct billers, consolidators and billing service providers. Features include flexible payment options, e-mail notification of the arrival of new bills, past-due payments, special offers, e-mail promotions and personalization options which allow viewing and searching of statements based on user preferences. The just-added customer intimacy component will bring added-value services to the iPlanet BillerXpert software.

"The relationship between iPlanet and SAS, a leading provider of data mining and e-intelligence, will add unique value to iPlanet BillerXpert," said Mark Tolliver, president and general manager of iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions. "Knowing the history of these customers will enable iPlanet BillerXpert customers to target new services to the end user. We see this as a way to personalize services and thereby enhance the end user's experience. This further strengthens the iPlanet next-generation business-to-business commerce platform, announced last month."

Pricing for the SAS e-Intelligence and CRM components for iPlanet BillerXpert depends on several factors, including the platform and the scope of the application. Both products must be purchased separately. Initially, the SAS components will be offered as an add-on option for the iPlanet BillerXpert customers. Professional services are also available from iPlanet, Sun Microsystems, SAS and selected global system integrators.

About iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions

iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions, a Sun-Netscape Alliance, was established in March 1999 by America Online Inc and Sun Microsystems Inc to power the next wave of the Net Economy through thought leadership, technical innovation, expert services and the creation of exceptional customer satisfaction. The iPlanet Internet Service Deployment Platform is the industry's leading software environment designed to enable rapid assembly and deployment of scalable Internet services. Based on best-of-breed, open and proven technologies, the platform includes the world's ##1 Messaging, Directory, Web and Application Servers. For more information, consult the iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions Web site at www.iplanet.com.

About SAS

SAS is the world leader in e-intelligence software and services, enabling its customers to turn raw data - including the vast quantity generated by e-business - into usable knowledge. Software from SAS, the world's largest privately held software company, is used at more than 35,000 business, government and university sites in 110 countries. SAS' 1999 revenues totaled $1.02 billion. For more information, visit www.sas.com.

Contact SAS Institute, Mike Nemecek, 919-531-5140, Mike.Nemecek@sas.com or iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions, Lois Long, 408-276-5699, llong@iplanet.com.