news out on LAHA
Inc. (OTC BB:LAHA, www.accentmortgage.com) (commonly known as
"Accent"), a national mortgage brokerage services provider, and
HelloNetwork.com (www.helloNetwork.com), a privately-held interactive
technology-based service provider, today announced a strategic alliance
for the joining of HelloNetwork.com's unique streaming video technology
and exceptional Internet marketing expertise with Accent's extensive
mortgage broker network and mortgage marketing expertise to produce
what they believe will be the most powerful mortgage business strategy
on the worldwide web. Both parties believe this alliance will create
enormous competitive advantages for Accent in the on-line mortgage
brokerage industry by providing Accent's customers with a more
enjoyable, informative and personal experience in obtaining a mortgage
loan through the Internet. Additionally, it is believed that the
mortgage lending community will want to be a part of this experience.
HelloNetwork.com ("Where the Web Comes Alive") offers on-line consumers
a highly interactive toolkit of easy-to-use streaming media
technologies that are the most lightweight, cost-effective tools on the
market today. Those tools are designed to empower Internet consumers
and businesses with streaming video options, while removing barriers to
entry typically associated with streaming media solutions, such as
software downloads and plug-ins. Accent will be employing
HelloNetwork.com's Hello Operator solution for offering online live
customer support.
Web sites today lack the most basic element of good customer service -
the personal attention of a live operator. Studies show that 90% of
on-line shoppers prefer human interaction when purchasing products or
services over the Internet. This personal interaction is particularly
important for major purchases such as a mortgage.
Accent, by utilizing Hello Operator live customer support solution will
offer a level of personalized customer service unheard of in today's
on-line mortgage industry. With Hello Operator, a visitor to Accent's
web site (which the parties are completely redesigning to incorporate
and feature HelloNetwork.com's technology) will be able to instantly
access a live Accent customer service representative with just a click
of the mouse. The Accent customer representative can then answer
questions and provide personalized information and direction to the
mortgage client through an interactive chat window using live video
with audio.
How It Works
Here's the simple, yet revolutionary Hello Operator scenario: on-line
mortgage shoppers decide they need help. They click on a "Live Help"
link. An Accent customer care agent automatically appears on the
monitor to assist the shoppers. It's that easy. No software or plug-ins
to download and install - just instant live, fast, friendly customer
service, the ease of modern technology coupled with the age-old appeal
of personal service. Hello Operator offers click and watch live video
with audio, bringing the human touch to every conversation in the
Internet mortgage process, from on-line application to on-line credit
approval to on-line scheduling of the loan closing. Accent's alliance
with HelloNetwork.com should set a new standard for "Clicks and Mortar"
mortgage shopping. The Gartner Group, a highly respected Internet
research firm, has stated that the most successful Internet marketers
in the future will be those who combine a traditional bricks and mortar
presence (which Accent already offers) with a strong on-line presence
(which HelloNetwork.com's technology will provide). Furthermore, the
strategic alliance will allow Accent to utilize the breakthrough
technology of HelloNetwork.com to offer mortgage customers a broad
array of products and services that are related to the home buying and
home improvement experiences, such as home furnishings and appliances.
In this way, Accent can parlay the Internet mortgage experience into an
on-line one-stop shop for the major products and services that
homebuyers and home "fixer-uppers" typically want or need.
L. Scott Demerau, Chairman and CEO of Accent, commented: "This alliance
with HelloNetwork represents a true turning point in the life of our
company. It positions us to become the premier Internet mortgage
brokerage company and enhances tremendously management's ability to
communicate in person, real time with our branch operations. By using
Hello Operator to streamline and personalize the on-line mortgage
business, we believe we can make the on-line mortgage experience a
truly pleasurable one for the customer, resulting in more loan
applications, but, more importantly, a greater volume of loan closings
for our customers. Accent welcomes the recent entry of Microsoft into
the on-line mortgage business as a validation of the increasing
importance of this business, and we consider ourselves very fortunate
to be able to partner with HelloNetwork to fully capitalize on this
enormous opportunity."
"Hello Network is thrilled to provide Accent Mortgage with its Hello
Operator solution for online sales and support within the mortgage
industry," said Craig Ellins, CEO of HelloNetwork.com. "We're certain
Accent Mortgage's new dot com strategy will revolutionize the online
home buying process."
According to Ellins, customers with inquiries today must rely on costly
text chat solutions, e-mail requests or a telephone call. "With Hello
Operator, customers can get real time answers from a live operator that
they can see, hear and interact with, making the online experience an
incredibly personal one, without any technological barriers."
More About Accent
Accent operates a nationwide mortgage brokerage organization and has
an on-line mortgage presence at www.accentmortgage.com. Accent's goal
is to become the recognized leader in the mortgage brokerage industry
by continuing to open new branches at a rapid pace, acquiring existing
mortgage operations and using new and revolutionary Internet-based
technology to significantly increase loan closing productivity.
More About HelloNetwork.com
HelloNetwork.com ("Where the Web Comes Alive"), which is privately
held, offers a unique suite of interactive Web-based technology
products. The company is rapidly becoming a premier streaming video
provider on the Internet by providing state-of-the-art, cost-effective
and user-friendly streaming video solutions for retailers,
corporations, organizations and individuals. Visitors can view a
demonstration of HelloNetwork.com's technology by visiting
www.hellonetwork.com.
Statements made in this press release, other than those concerning
historical information, should be considered forward-looking and
subject to various risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking
statements are made based on management's belief as well as well as
assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management
pursuant to the 'safe harbor' provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Lahaina Acquisitions, Inc. actual
results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these
forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors,
including those identified in Lahaina Acquisitions, Inc. Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999 and it's
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange. |
