NEW YORK, March 21, 2000 — Lisa Ling of ABC’s
“The View”
will join Microsoft Corp. at New York’s Grand Central Terminal today to help visitors sign up for a free trial period of MSN TM MoneyCentral TM Bill Pay and leave their old-fashioned checkbooks behind. The event kicks off the MSN MoneyCentral Money Madness online sweepstakes*, which will give people across the country a chance to have all of their bills paid for a year, up to $35,000, by signing up for a free trial of Bill Pay at http://moneycentral.msn.com/ by April 30.
MSN MoneyCentral, a complete one-stop online resource for consumers to manage their money and make smart financial decisions, is part of Microsoft’s vision of the Everyday Web to make the Web indispensable and relevant to every person every day. In addition to helping consumers easily manage their personal finances online, Bill Pay allows them to trade writing checks, buying stamps, licking envelopes and going to the post office for a convenient, safe and secure online option.
Forrester Research predicts that in five years 21 million households will pay bills electronically. One of the most popular personal finance sites on the Internet today, MSN MoneyCentral already attracts more than 6 million unique users per month.
MSN MoneyCentral offers consumers two easy options for paying bills online. The standard service, which is free for six months and only $2.95 per month thereafter, allows users to pay 750 companies online. The premium service allows users to pay 750 companies plus anyone with a mailing address – even a day-care provider or landlord – online. The first three months of premium service are free, with subsequent months costing $5.95. (Connect-time charges may apply. Complete offer details can be found on the Web at http://moneycentral.msn.com/ .)
About MSN MoneyCentral
MSN MoneyCentral, located at http://moneycentral.msn.com/ , is a complete online personal finance resource delivering leading financial tools and information in nine key areas: Investor, News Desk, Saving & Spending, Banking and Bills, Family & College, Retirement & Wills, Taxes, Insurance and Real Estate. The award-winning site offers consumers the ability to complete a wide range of everyday financial tasks, such as paying bills, tracking investments and staying informed on the latest financial news, in one convenient place online – any time, anywhere. MSN MoneyCentral helps enable people at all levels of experience to take control of and feel comfortable with their finances, helping them make smart financial decisions.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software 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.
*No purchase necessary. Game ends April 30, 2000. Open to U.S. and Canadian residents 18 years of age or older at time of entry. Void in Puerto Rico, Quebec and where prohibited by law. The
“bills paid for a year”
prize will be awarded as a one-time payment of $35,000 to the grand prize winner. Full contest rules can be found at http://moneycentral.msn.com/ .
Microsoft, MSN and MoneyCentral are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual products mentioned herein may be the 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.
