MSN Carpoint.ca and kanetix.com Give Consumers Access To Competitive Insurance Quotes

REDMOND, Wash., and TORONTO, Dec. 19, 2000 — Carpoint.ca and kanetix.com, Canada’s first and only online insurance marketplace, today announced a strategic alliance. Through this agreement, users of the MSN® Carpoint.ca online automotive service, the Canadian version of the most visited U.S. car-buying and car-ownership site, will be able to receive real-time quotes from Canada’s leading insurance provider.

As the exclusive auto channel for MSN.CA, Carpoint.ca will now offer 3.5 million monthly visitors instant access to kanetix.com’s Quotemaker directly from the Carpoint.ca homepage. Using Quotemaker, visitors will be able to search kanetix.com’s network of insurance providers and find the best quote and insurance plan to suit their needs.

“We’re excited to work with kanetix.com to provide our users with such a comprehensive array of insurance providers in Canada,”
said Ruth D’Souza, general manager of Carpoint.ca.
“Carpoint.ca is committed to providing the broadest range of choices to consumers, and this relationship enables us to provide a full suite of insurance information for consumers purchasing a car.”


kanetix’s seamless integration with
Carpoint.ca empowers consumers to comparison shop and get the best value for their insurance dollar,”
said Gregory Ellis, co-founder of kanetix.com.
“We look forward to working closely with MSN Carpoint.ca to collectively deliver a great user experience to online insurance shoppers.”

Carpoint.ca, available in French and English, provides Canadian consumers with comprehensive new car-buying services, up-to-date news and reviews, and safety information, all tailored to the unique needs and interests of Canadians. The site is modeled after the U.S. site’s technology and design.

About kanetix.com

Launched in October 1999, kanetix.com ( http://www.kanetix.com/ ) is Canada’s first and only full-service online insurance marketplace. The kanetix.com insurance information and shopping service allows consumers to compare auto, life and property insurance quotes from a variety of Canada’s leading providers. Users can select the insurance policy of their choice and complete the purchase online.

About Carpoint

Launched in October 1995, the MSN Carpoint™
service ( http://www.carpoint.com/ ) is the leading online automotive marketplace, receiving more than 6 million consumer visits each month. From product reviews and surround video features to new- and used-car pricing, the Carpoint site helps consumers find the car they love, at a price they can afford. With details on more than 10,000 car 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 5,000 affiliated dealers nationwide. Carpoint is exclusively endorsed by the American International Automobile Dealers Association.

About MSN.CA

On one Web page, MSN.CA makes available to Canadians compelling Internet services, information, entertainment and a variety of communication options, including the MSN Hotmail® Web-based e-mail service, the world’s leading globally accessible, free,* Web-based electronic mail service. MSN.CA also provides such high-quality interactive services as Zone.com, MSN Web Communities, MSN Messenger Service and MSN Search for users of the Microsoft® Windows® operating system and Apple Macintosh. The Web site address is http://www.msn.ca/.

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.

* Connect-time charges may apply.

Microsoft, MSN, Carpoint, Hotmail and Windows 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 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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