Interesting company...
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Friday October 29, 6:36 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Ultradata Systems, Inc.
DriveThere.com Launches Driver's Ultimate Web Site
Portal Will Consolidate All the Services and Information Motorists
Need On and Off Road
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting today, owning and enjoying a vehicle is easier, safer, less expensive, and a lot
more fun.
That's because noon CDT today marks the launch of DriveThere.com ( www.DriveThere.com ), a site that provides the best
services and information the Web has to offer the 180 million Americans who drive a car, truck, motorcycle or RV. Never
before has there been so much information all in one place for everything related to driving. Best of all, registration in
DriveThere.com is free.
DriveThere.com is partially owned (33%) by Ultradata Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: ULTR - news).
Driving directions, ideas for great weekend drives, comparisons of insurance and loan rates, buying a car, road conditions, tire
purchasing, emergency roadside assistance, hotel reservations, car rentals and travel discounts -- all that and more can be easily
found at DriveThere.com.
The site will also help members obtain turn-by-turn directions while en route, keep in touch with friends and family via e-mail,
obtain discounts for a wide range of motoring-related products and services, and buy and sell vehicles and apply for the best
financing. All of these services come at no cost.
``We intend to provide for motorists' every need, starting with the day they get their drivers license,' said Craig Kaminer,
president of DriveThere.com. ``We're using the Internet to make road travel exponentially better for motorists.'
In April 2000 DriveThere.com will begin offering a preferred members program that will provide much more extensive services
for a minimal annual fee. The new services will include a roadside assistance program, detailed information about roadside
services at every Interstate exit in the U.S., and the ability to pay traffic tickets online. Even after this new level of service is
introduced, free members will always have a reason to visit DriveThere.com -- the site will continue to offer valuable services
and information at no charge.
DriveThere.com has affiliations with some of the most powerful e-businesses on the Web, further enhancing the value and ease
of use. The site is affiliated with CNN, Amazon.com, and Dell Computers to offer members information, services and product
discounts. The site is also partnered with:
-- Insweb, to help members find the best rates on insurance;
-- Roomsaver.com, which offers the largest selection of hotel discount
coupons on the Web;
-- MapQuest, to quickly and easily provide highly detailed turn-by-turn
directions and trip planning information;
-- CarWizard, the most accurate and robust car research site on the Net;
USA Hotel Guide, a comprehensive guide and reservation system for
hotels;
-- 4anything.com, the easiest way to get the best links on the Web;
-- Weather.com, the Weather Channel's site for accurate weather forecasts
across the country;
-- The Learning Company, which offers a number of educational toys to
keep children occupied during trips; and
-- iGo, supplier of mobile electronic equipment;
DriveThere.com is also innovative in that it is one of the first Web sites to cater to users who want instant information while on
the road. Motorists able to access the Web through laptops, personal digital assistants (PDAs) or mobile phones will find a
wealth of information that is very useful during a trip. Roadside assistance numbers, weather information, nearby rest stops and
on-the-road play ideas for kids are all a few clicks away for the user with mobile Internet access.
Much of the information on DriveThere.com is divided geographically for the convenience of travelers crossing state
boundaries. Instead of having to call or visit Web sites state by state to gain road or weather information, DriveThere.com
offers a single entry point to find local and regional information.
The Future of Vehicle Ownership and Enjoyment
The extensive information on DriveThere.com today is just the beginning. In the coming months, the site will help motorists:
pay many kinds of traffic tickets online;
apply for and renew a driver's license;
find extensive information about roadside services such as
restaurants, hotels and gas stations along every highway in the U.S.;
check current traffic conditions;
sell vehicles and apply for financing; and
keep an online maintenance record for their vehicles and schedule repairs online.
These are just a few examples of the extensive list of services DriveThere.com will help motorists find easily.
Soon DriveThere.com also will offer a text-only option for easier use via mobile phones and PDAs that lack a graphic display.
For those without mobile Internet access, the site also includes information that users can download onto their PDAs and take
with them.
``The Web is at its most powerful when it has a profound effect on the way people think about some aspect of their lives,' said
Kaminer. ``This site will change the way people think about vehicle ownership. We're making vehicle ownership fundamentally
better. We recognize the needs of the more than 180 million motorists in this country, and we're using the Web to create a new
level of service for them.'
For detailed information about the services found through DriveThere.com, visit the site at www.DriveThere.com .
DriveThere.com was created by Influence, LLC, a leading e-business developer and incubator in the Midwest. Future sites
under development at Influence include CanoeThere.com, CampThere.com, LearnThere.com, and WonderThere.com.
Influence owns 67% of DriveThere.com.
About Ultradata Systems, Inc.
Ultradata Systems, Inc., founded in 1986 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is primarily engaged in development,
manufacturing and marketing of portable computers used for location, navigation and trip planning. Its products utilize the
Company's patented data compression technology, proprietary databases with thousands of destinations along highways and in
major metropolitan areas, as well as real-time Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system, and are targeted for personal and
business automobile travelers. Ultradata recently strengthened its competitive position in the industry by forming strong strategic
alliances focused on product distribution through traditional consumer channels and closely incorporating the Internet
technology into its corporate strategy.
Statements in this release that are not strictly historical are ``forward-looking statements' and subject to risk and uncertainty.
Factors that effect actual events or results materially include, but are not limited to: (i) the Company's ability to obtain
subsequent financing to further its current and future business strategies; (ii) the Company's ability to attract and retain key
technical employees; (iii) the Company's success against competitive products and services; (iv) the effects of business,
economic, and market conditions; and (v) factors that influence the supply/demand for the Company's publicly traded common
stock generally. The risk factors and other information contained in the Company's audited financial statements and other public
disclosure documents should be considered in evaluating the company's prospects and future financial performance. |
