Guaranteed On-Time Payment Attracts MSN Bill Pay Registrants, Survey Shows
Analyst Predicts Growing Adoption of Online Bill Pay; Findings Reveal MSN Bill
Pay Subscribers More Satisfied
REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Guaranteed on-time
payments(1) and the ability to pay anyone were the most important features to
consumers deciding to enroll in the MSN(R) Bill Pay service, according to a
recent survey(2) conducted by The Marketing Workshop Inc. with CheckFree Corp.
(Nasdaq: CKFR). More than 1,000 respondents revealed that MSN Bill Pay users
are more satisfied with the service (88 percent) than consumers using other
online bill-pay services (80 percent). The survey also found that scheduling
payments ahead of the due dates, tracking payments and paying multiple bills
at once are the most-used MSN Bill Pay features.
(Photo: newscom.com )
"Online bill pay has officially hit the mainstream," said James Van Dyke,
principal and founder of Javelin Strategy and Research. "To take full
advantage of this now-proven capability, consumers will benefit by choosing
bill-pay providers that offer consolidated bill-pay services along with
sophisticated tools for budgeting and tracking spending habits."
According to an October 2002 Jupiter Research study, 52 million households
will pay at least one bill online by 2006 -- an increase of 30 million
households from the 2001 forecast. In line with the increasing adoption of
online bill pay, January garnered the most MSN Bill Pay registrants yet,
representing a 96 percent increase from last year, as consumers more
frequently turn to the Internet to manage day-to-day finances.
"For many consumers, life without online bill pay would be like
functioning without an ATM," said Chris Jolley, director of product management
for the Financial Products Group at Microsoft Corp. "Streamlining what is
often considered the most tedious financial task, MSN Bill Pay provides
consumers with a fast and easy alternative to buying stamps, mailing bills and
licking envelopes."
Saving Time and Money With MSN Bill Pay
Encouraging consumers to start realizing the benefits of online bill pay,
Microsoft is offering one year of free(3) online bill-pay service to consumers
who register to file their 2002 tax return via CNBC on MSN Money, or who
acquire Microsoft's award-winning personal finance software, Money Deluxe
2003. In addition to the free(3) plan, MSN Bill Pay offers the following
subscription options(4):
-- The MSN Bill Pay Standard plan allows consumers to make an unlimited
number of bill payments free for the first three months, and then $2.95
per month thereafter. Money transfers are $1.50 each. This plan is free
to MSN 8 subscribers.
-- The MSN Bill Pay Premium plan allows consumers to make payments to
anyone with a U.S. Postal Service address. This plan is free for the
first three months, and then $5.95 per month thereafter. A combined
total of 15 bill payments and money transfers is included in the $5.95
monthly fee, after which the cost is 50 cents for each additional bill
payment and $1.50 for each additional money transfer. MSN 8 subscribers
can sign up for this plan for only $2.95 per month.
About CNBC on MSN Money
CNBC on MSN Money, located exclusively on MSN, is a complete online
personal finance service that combines award-winning finance tools and content
from Microsoft, the worldwide leader in software, with exclusive investment
news and analysis from CNBC, the world's most popular financial cable news
network. CNBC on MSN Money offers consumers the ability to easily complete a
wide range of everyday financial tasks, such as paying bills, viewing account
balances, tracking investments, planning for retirement and staying informed
with the latest financial news, in one convenient place online -- any time,
any place.
CNBC on MSN Money enables people at all levels of experience to take
control of and feel comfortable with their finances, helping them make smart
financial decisions. Leading industry publications, including Barron's, Forbes
Magazine, Money Magazine, PC Magazine and PC World Magazine, consistently
applaud the sophisticated personal finance tools and information from
Microsoft. The service is available at cnbc.com or
money.msn.com , or by visiting MSN at msn.com .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (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.
(1) MSN Bill Payments are managed by CheckFree Corp., which offers the
CheckFree Guarantee. If you pay your bills electronically through a
CheckFree-powered service, the CheckFree Guarantee protects you against late
fees resulting from processing delays. CheckFree will bear the responsibility
for any charges (up to $50) related to late payment as long as you schedule
the transaction in accordance with the service's terms and conditions.
( billpay.msn.com )
(2) The survey, conducted by The Marketing Workshop Inc. from Oct. 22 to
Nov. 18, includes a +/-3.0 percent confidence level.
(3) Complete details on the rules and restrictions can be found at
hrblock.com .
(4) See billpay.msn.com for plan and free offer
details. Certain offer restrictions apply.
NOTE: Microsoft and MSN 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.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
-0- 02/25/2003
/NOTE TO EDITORS: If you are interested in viewing additional information
on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft(R) Web page at
microsoft.com on Microsoft's corporate information
pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of
publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance,
journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or other
appropriate contacts listed at
microsoft.com ./
/CONTACT: Danielle Adams, +1-425-452-5412, or dadams@webershandwick.com,
or AnnMarie Coe, +1-425-452-5463, or acoe@webershandwick.com, both of Weber
Shandwick Worldwide for Microsoft/
/Photo: NewsCom: newscom.com
AP Archive: photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, 1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840/
/Web site: microsoft.com /
(MSFT CKFR)
CO: Microsoft Corp.; CheckFree Corp.; The Marketing Workshop Inc.
ST: Washington
IN: CPR ECM MLM STW
SU:
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