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To: BarbaraT who wrote (46606)	1/25/1999 11:24:00 AM
From: Mr. Big	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 119973

ZDNET ARTICLE TODAY IDT To Launch Portal By Kathleen Cholewka January 20, 1999 5:42 PM ET IDT, an Internet telephony service provider and software developer, will launch a portal on Feb. 1 that aims to make e-commerce easier for international Internet users via Internet telephony. The site, EZsurf.com, which is be launched by IDT's Net2Phone Interactive division, will enable international customers to interact with e-commerce companies via IDT's Net2Phone Internet telephony application. "We give users resources that they wouldn't be able to get easily on their own," said Sarah Hofstetter, vice president of corporate communications at IDT. For example, with 800 Flowers, if users do not live in the U.S. they can't contact the company toll-free, because they can't access 800 numbers internationally. EZsurf.com gives users the option of reaching the company via the Net2Phone, which is available on the site. Other informational portals, such as Excite and Yahoo!, have already integrated IDT's Internet telephony applications into their directories, but EZsurf.com users can contact retailers directly via telephony means without having to visit each company's site while online. EZsurf.com also will include information on companies that sell goods and services via the Internet that is specifically useful to international users. For example, the site will list a company's phone numbers, whether it accepts money orders, where to send payment, whether it has a bilingual site, whether it is publicly traded, whether it ships internationally and whether the company conducts secure transactions via encryption. "These are really important value adds," Hofstetter said. Another advantage to the site is the time is saves. "On Dell Computer's Web site you can spend up to an hour to find out if Dell does international shipping. They don't, and we list that information on the site," she said. The site, which will be available in six languages, also will provide links to multilingual sites. "It's part of the move we're making globally," Hofstetter said. The categories of companies include Books, Music, & Video, which features details on Amazon.com; to Money & Investing, which includes E-Trade details; Computers, which features Gateway information; and Toys, where users can get information on shopping Disney online. IDT hopes the site promotes Internet telephony, and make money on advertising on the site. "The more people that use IP telephony, the better it is for us," Hofstetter said. EZSurf also will integrate voice, speed dialing, graphics and eventually video and push technology to enhance the online shopper's experience. Future releases of IDT's Net2Phone app, which is distributed via agreements with major Internet service providers and other portals, will include embedded links to EZsurf.com.