Digital River Partners With Block Financial Corp. to Deliver Tax Programs Online
Downloadable Software Provides Consumers With Last Minute Filing Opportunities For 1999 Tax Season
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 2, 1999-- Digital River (Nasdaq: DRIV - news), the leader in electronic software delivery (ESD), has announced an online distribution partnership with Block Financial Corp., publisher of Kiplinger TaxCut, the tax software rated No. 1 by Money magazine and the Wall Street Journal.
Through the partnership, Block Financial's software is available for electronic download and physical sales at taxcut.com. This year's download offering includes TaxCut Federal, which includes free electronic filing, and individual State Editions for all states with an income tax.
The partnership also includes the addition of Block Financial's other top-selling products, including Kiplinger's NetWealth, Kiplinger's Home Legal Advisor, Kiplinger's Small Business Attorney and Names and Dates, to Digital River's expansive online inventory of more than 100,000 software products.
''Digital River provides an integrated, turnkey solution to handle the growth in Block Financial's ESD business,'' says Gene Goldenberg, Vice President and Publisher for Block Financial. ''Through our partnership with Digital River, we can address markets that otherwise would have been unavailable. Additionally, Digital River's established relationships with other software publishers provides us with the option of reselling or bundling select products through our online store. Digital River offers exactly the kind of opportunities that we look for in a strategic partner.''
''Block Financial carries one of the best tax software products available in the marketplace today and our online reseller channel provides exceptional new market and revenue opportunities for them,'' said Joel Ronning, CEO of Digital River. ''With tax season underway, the ability to download Block Financial's software presents a great opportunity for consumers to purchase and receive a leading tax software quickly
and at the last minute.''
About Block Financial
Started in 1993, Block Financial Corp., an H&R Block company, develops and provides technology-driven financial solutions. Block Financial's Software Division develops and licenses software programs for distribution through the retail channel and online sales.
About Digital River(a)
Digital River, Inc., (Nasdaq: DRIV - news), based in Minneapolis, offers the world's largest online database of software products. The company provides more than 2,500 software publishers and online retailers with its proprietary technology for Internet delivery of more than 100,000 digital products which includes 30,000 software applications. For more information, visit Digital River's Web site at digitalriver.com.
(a) Except for the historical information contained herein, this press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements containing the words, ''believes,'' ''anticipates,'' ''expects'' and similar words. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: the Company's limited operating history and variability of operating results; market acceptance of electronic software delivery; the Company's ability to maintain relationships with software publishers and online retailers; competition in the electronic commerce market; and other risk factors referenced in the Company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Contact:
Digital River, Inc., Minneapolis
Jodi Baumann, 612/253-8396
jbaumann@digitalriver.com
or
Technology Solutions, Inc., New York
Karen Blondell, 212/320-2267
kblondell@tsipr.com |
