E-Stamp Selects Microsoft and ClearCommerce To Manage World’s First E-Commerce Postage Site

REDMOND, Wash., and AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 20, 1999 — Microsoft Corp. and ClearCommerce Corp. today announced that E-Stamp Corp., the first company to sell postage over the Internet, selected Microsoft® Site Server 3.0 Commerce Edition and the ClearCommerce® Merchant Engine TM to manage the nation’s first e-commerce postage site. Through E-Stamp ( http://www.e-stamp.com/ ), Internet users can purchase U.S. postage in the form of a digital stamp and print their postage directly onto envelopes or labels for delivery through the U.S. postal system.

E-Stamp chose Microsoft’s platform including SQL Server TM 7.0 and Site Server 3.0 Commerce Edition because of its reliability and scalability as well as its openness to best-of-class enhancements.
“Using Microsoft’s Windows DNA design architecture gave us the ability to quickly deploy and easily expand the site as our needs change and grow,”
said Martin Pagel, chief technology officer for E-Stamp.

The ClearCommerce Merchant Engine was selected by E-Stamp because of its seamless integration with the Microsoft Site Server 3.0 Commerce Edition and because it provides secure online transaction capabilities while processing up to 40 transactions per second. The ClearCommerce Merchant Engine also has advanced fraud protection. Other capabilities include shipping and tax calculation, real-time transaction processing with all major credit card processors, business reports for merchants, APIs to businesses’ existing ERP or inventory systems, and Electronic Softgoods Downloads (ESDs).

“Microsoft is contributing to a technological first by working with E-Stamp to manage this historic new way to purchase postage,”
said Marcus Schmidt, industry manager for e-commerce at Microsoft.
“Microsoft’s platform for Internet business, along with the ClearCommerce Merchant Engine, provides a reliable, scalable and performance-driven solution for e-commerce success. Thanks to E-Stamp, ClearCommerce and Microsoft, buying postage has never been easier – or more convenient.”

A comprehensive Internet commerce server, Microsoft Site Server 3.0 Commerce Edition is used by hundreds of companies around the world to build dynamic and personalized business-to-consumer and business-to-business e-commerce sites on the World Wide Web. The ClearCommerce Merchant Engine is a proven technology that seamlessly integrates with Microsoft technology to fully automate the sales cycle. Together with Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 and the Visual Studio TM 6.0 development system, these Windows NT® operating system-based products form a complete enterprise e-commerce solution.

“Being selected by the leading provider of Internet postage sales is a validation of the reliability, availability and scalability of our e-commerce technology,”
said Robert Lynch, president and CEO of ClearCommerce.
“The ClearCommerce Merchant Engine allows e-commerce businesses to save on transaction fees, integrate with Microsoft products and helps keep credit card fraud under control.”

About ClearCommerce

Austin, Texas-based ClearCommerce has developed fraud-protected, scalable and easily integrated back-end transaction solutions for e-commerce applications, providing storefront integration, fraud protection, real-time credit card payments, shipping and tax calculation, Electronic Softgoods Downloads, online reports and an open API for business process integration and automation. Online businesses and e-commerce service providers rely on ClearCommerce’s capability to supply the transaction processing component as well as integrate storefronts and legacy systems. With high-profile venture funding, ClearCommerce has a growing international presence and intends to continue advancing secure electronic commerce solutions with the global implementation of its Merchant and Hosting Engines. For more information about ClearCommerce, please visit http://www.clearcommerce.com/ .

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft, Visual Studio and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

ClearCommerce is a registered trademark and Merchant Engine is a trademark of ClearCommerce Corp.

Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages.

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