MSN Carpoint and American Isuzu Motors Inc. Announce Licensing Agreement For Leading Internet Lead-Management Tool

REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 2, 2001 — The MSN® Carpoint™
online automotive service, the most visited car-buying and car-ownership site on the Web, today announced it has signed an agreement with American Isuzu Motors Inc. to license DealerPoint, its customer relationship management tool, to Isuzu’s nationwide network of dealers. Through this relationship, Carpoint will provide a private-label version of its comprehensive lead-management tool called Isuzu Dealer Link to Isuzu dealers, giving them the Web-based tools and technology they need to quickly respond to car buyers and track and manage their Internet and offline sales leads.

Through Isuzu Dealer Link, dealers will be provided with Web-based tools to consolidate and better manage their Internet and off line sales leads from all sources. Isuzu Dealer Link will deliver a secure, Web-based environment for dealership management and sales staff. Features include lead distribution and prospect management, a daily task list, e-mail templates, and real-time reporting on sales performance.

“Isuzu is in the business of selling vehicles,”
said Gary Tucker, vice president of Marketing for Isuzu.
“We recognize the benefits of leveraging the Internet to drive customers into dealer showrooms, to accommodate the growing number of consumers using the Web to research and buy our cars. Carpoint’s DealerPoint service will enable our dealers to use the most advanced tool available to ensure that our customers are receiving the best car-buying experience, from start to finish.”

“Carpoint is excited to expand our relationship, which currently includes advertising and dealer referrals, with an industry leader like Isuzu to license our DealerPoint technology,”
said Todd Weatherby, director of industry services for MSN Carpoint.
“This agreement furthers our commitment to working with the automotive industry to deliver the tools and technology that enable more cars to be sold, more efficiently.”

In addition to Isuzu, DealerPoint is currently active on the desktops of 7,000 dealers nationwide, including all Honda, Acura and Ford dealers. Compatible with more than 100 lead-generation services, DealerPoint provides dealers with easy-to-use tools to help them track and manage their online customers.

About MSN Carpoint Inc.

Launched in October 1995, Carpoint Inc. ( http://www.carpoint.com/ ) is the most visited online automotive marketplace, receiving more than 6 million consumer visits each month. From product reviews and surround video features to pricing of new and used cars, the Carpoint site helps consumers find the car they love at a price they can afford. With details on more than 10,000 models and 100,000 used vehicles, visitors can research and compare cars of virtually every make and model, identify local dealers, and receive instructions for post-purchase service and maintenance.

Carpoint generates more than $8 billion (U.S.) in auto sales each year for its network of more than 6,000 affiliated dealers nationwide. The American International Automobile Dealers Association exclusively endorses Carpoint. Carpoint also powers the Autos Channel on the MSN

network of Internet services ( http://www.msn.com/ ). MSN is the most popular destination on the Internet, attracting more than 230 million unique monthly visitors worldwide.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.

Microsoft, MSN and Carpoint are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owner.

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