CheckFree and Cox Communications Sign Agreement for Electronic Billing and Payment
ATLANTA, May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- CheckFree (Nasdaq: CKFR - news) and Cox Communications, Inc. (NYSE: COX - news), one of the nation's leading broadband communications companies, today announced an agreement that will soon provide nearly 3.8 million Cox customers access to online electronic billing and payment (EBP) through a central Web site of their choice.
With this new agreement, the first of its kind in the cable industry, Cox Communications customers will be able to receive their monthly cable, local and long-distance telephone statement electronically on their personal computers and pay it with a click of the mouse.
Starting September 1st, consumers will be able to send their Cox Communications payments electronically by visiting the CheckFree E-Bill(SM) Web site (https://www.mybills.com/ebill ) or the many other financial service providers' Web sites that offer EBP.
''With this agreement, Cox demonstrates innovation in meeting customer needs and delivering leading technology among providers of communications services,'' said Scott Hatfield, vice president and chief information officer for Cox Communications. ''As we continue to advance our long-standing strategy to be a full-service telecommunications provider to businesses and residences, we want to ensure that we offer customers the highest level of service and convenience.''
As part of its high commitment to customer service, Cox Communications will install the automated customer care component offered by CheckFree E-Bill's third-generation version, launched last December.
According to Matt Lewis, senior vice president of Electronic Commerce Product Management and Marketing for CheckFree, ''Electronic bill delivery turns the typical monthly bill into another powerful customer communications instrument. Cox will be able to deliver customer-specific information in each e-bill, establishing an interactive communication with their customers.''
With the Cox Communications signing, CheckFree now has contracts with 49 of the nation's top 100 billers, including Ameren (Union Electric), American Electric Power, AT&T, Avista Utilities (Washington Water Power), BellSouth, Boston Edison, Chase Credit Card & Chase Mortgage, Columbia Gas of Ohio, Consumers' Energy, Countrywide Home Loans Inc., CUNA Mutual Group, Florida Power & Light, GPU Energy, GTE, HomeSide Lending, Illinois Power, International Billing Services, MCI WorldCom, Nevada Power, Northeast Utilities (Connecticut Light & Power and Western Massachusetts Electrical Company), Northern Illinois Gas (Nicor), Public Service Company of New Mexico, PGE, Small Business Administration, Southern California Edison, Southern Co., and Total System Services Inc. (TSYS).
About Cox Communications
Cox Communications, Inc. is among the nation's leading broadband communications companies, serving 3.8 million customers. As a full service provider of telecommunications products, Cox offers an array of services, including cable television under the Cox Cable brand; local and long distance telephone services under the Cox Digital Telephone brand; high speed Internet access via Cox@Home; advanced digital video programming services under the Cox Digital TV brand; and commercial voice and data services via Cox Business Services. Cox is an equity owner of Sprint PCS, the nation's first national wireless personal communications service (PCS); and also is an investor in numerous programming networks, including Discovery Channel.
About CheckFree
Founded in 1981, CheckFree, the operating subsidiary of CheckFree Holdings Corp., is the leading provider of electronic commerce services, software and related products for more than 2.8 million consumers, 1,000 businesses and 850 financial institutions. CheckFree designs, develops and markets services that enable its customers to make electronic payments and collections, automate paper-based recurring financial transactions and conduct secure transactions on the Internet.
SOURCE: CheckFree Corporation
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