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To: LANCE B who wrote (3819)	3/23/1999 9:06:00 AM
From: Wayne Rumball	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 13776

FECC news (about time); HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 23, 1999--Peoples Telephone Company Limited (Peoples Phone) of Hong Kong, First Ecom.com, Inc. (First Ecom) (Nasdaq-OTC-BB:FECC) and USWeb/CKS Asia Pacific (USWeb/CKS) (Nasdaq:USWB) today jointly announced all three companies will participate in a pilot project to evaluate and develop an electronic bill presentment and payment (EBPP) system for Peoples Phone, which would become the first such EBPP system of its kind in Asia. The project, which begins immediately and should last approximately 30 days, involves assessing Peoples Phone's existing information and billing systems. During this phase, USWeb/CKS will develop a detailed design and implementation plan. The companies expect this to lead to the development of a complete EBPP system. When the final Internet billing system is in place, Peoples Phone customers will be able to open and access their accounts, and make payments over the Internet using their credit cards. The EBPP platform used for processing credit card transactions is a global system, enabling any international credit card to be used for payment, regardless of where the issuing bank is domiciled. "The ease and cost efficiency of using the Internet to receive bills, access accounts and make payments will enable Peoples Phone to offer customers a unique and valuable feature," said Jim Pratt, CEO of Peoples Phone. "We're excited by the options that the eventual Internet billing system can bring to our existing and new customers." "This project is particularly exciting for First Ecom as it clearly demonstrates the potential for our system beyond conventional merchant sales of goods and services over the Internet. It represents a massive new online application for credit cards that, to the best of our knowledge, has never before been implemented," said Gregory Pek, CEO of First Ecom. "We believe there is a readiness on the part of phone companies, utilities, cable companies and government departments to adopt EBPP systems. As we have the only practical processing platform applicable globally, First Ecom is well positioned to capture most of this type of business throughout Asia and beyond." "We are excited about this opportunity to work with Peoples Phone and First Ecom as this is the first project of its kind in Asia," said Cody Cain, Partner at USWeb/CKS Asia Pacific. "The FEC platform enables Asian merchants for the first time to accept credit cards over the internet. This project offers an excellent opportunity for USWeb/CKS to put our extensive ecommerce expertise to work in the Asian market, and we expect this to be just the first of many such projects for USWeb/CKS." About Peoples Telephone Peoples Telephone Company is Hong Kong's first PCS operator. With a fast roll out of the network throughout Hong Kong and a highly dedicated customer care organization, Peoples Phone positioned itself in less than two years among Hong Kong leading mobile operators. With a fast growing customer base of more than 200.000, Peoples Phone is quickly acquiring market share in Hong Kong's highly competitive market. After establishing a respected reputation in offering the best value for money, Peoples Phone's strategy for the coming years is to be the first operator in adopting new technologies which will truly enhance the perceived value of the mobile service portfolio offered to its customers. For more information contact Peoples Phone at 852-2945-8000 or on the Web at www.peoplesphone.com.hk. About First Ecom First Ecommerce Asia Limited (FEC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of First Ecom.com, Inc., a U.S. company trading on NASDAQ OTC-BB under the symbol FECC. FEC is a Hong Kong-based company providing online credit card transaction processing services for merchants outside of North America. Through a series of strategic alliances, FEC approves merchants and processes transactions in a tax-neutral jurisdiction without the need for using U.S. banking institutions or U.S.-based ISPs. Using First Data Corp.'s processing platform, FEC offers online credit card processing solutions for merchants in their preferred currency. For more information, contact First Ecom at 888/305-8233 or on the Web at ir@firstecom.com. About USWeb/CKS USWeb/CKS (Nasdaq:USWB) is a professional services firm that works with clients to define strategies and implement innovative ways to build their businesses through the combination of expertise in strategy, Internet technology and marketing communications. USWeb/CKS helps clients differentiate their products and services, strengthen customer relationships, leverage human capital, and improve business efficiency in the new electronic economy. With more than 2,200 professionals, USWeb/CKS has helped hundreds of businesses advance their marketing communications programs as well as their traditional IT and Internet systems. The Company provides a broad selection of services from brand development and advertising to business process automation and e-commerce solutions. The Company's headquarters are in Santa Clara, Calif. Additional information about USWeb/CKS is available by calling 408/987-3200 or on the Web at www.uswebcks.com. Safe Harbor Statement Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking" statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995). Because such statements include risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. --30--jh/sf* CONTACT: First Ecom Investor Relations, 888/305-8233