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Technology Stocks : Intuit -- What's Its Future? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Larry S. who wrote (1236)	8/10/1998 7:55:00 AM
From: AugustWest	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1546

Money 99 debuts Monday, as Microsoft bets on the Web to one-up Quicken August 10, 1998 ZDNet News via NewsEdge Corporation : Microsoft Corp. will take another try at unseating Intuit Corp.'s Quicken when it releases Money 99 on Monday, adding more Internet, personalization and financial planning features. Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT) is also hoping the upgrade will drive more traffic to its Web offerings, particularly its MS Investor site. Microsoft has already said it plans to combine its Web offerings together under its Smart site, including MS Investor financial guide. "As our portal strategy develops you'll see a tight integration," said Richard Bray, product unit manager of Microsoft's desktop finance division. His division oversees both the financial software packages and the Microsoft's financial areas online. "You'll see a real blending between capabilities." With Internet stocks reaching the stratosphere, financial sites are turning out to be some of the Web's most popular destinations. While the portal sites have financial areas, and Intuit (Nasdaq:INTU) has a Web site, Microsoft is the only company that has both the portal and the software. "That's probably the next wave," Rob Enderle, an analyst at Giga Information Group. "Microsoft has a big advantage." Portal-like look The Money 99 upgrade will automatically send users onto Microsoft's Investor site for stock quotes and financial news. Money 99 also allows users to search Investor's database of stocks and mutual funds. And the Money 99 Financial Suite comes with a six-month subscription to the fee-based section of Investor. The Money software also looks more like a Web portal -- sites characterized by their aggregations of wide-ranging links -- than the standard financial management package, with an interface that plays off a checkbook metaphor. It's even called the "home page" by Microsoft and includes links to more than 350 banks and financial institutions. By linking to their banks, users can update their account statements automatically. This "active statements" feature is also available from certain brokerages and credit cards companies, eliminating the need for users to re- enter information. The software also includes links for online bill presentment, which sends a user to his or her bank to see a list of bills that can be paid online. Missing piece Premium versions of Money 99 include financial planning, developed with American Express Financial Advisors, and a calculator for taxes. While the software handles tax planning and tax reduction, Microsoft does not yet offer tax preparation. "That's the one thing they're missing today," said Enderle. While Microsoft has reportedly been working on tax software, officials would not comment on any plans. The software will be priced at $64.95 with a $25 rebate for the entire suite. Money 99 basic, which does not include the financial planning or the free Investor service, will be priced at $34.95 with a $10 rebate. <<ZDNet News -- 08-07-98>> [Copyright 1998, Ziff Wire]