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Technology Stocks : CheckFree Holdings Corp. (CKFR), the next Dell, Intel? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Benny Baga who wrote (4302)	4/6/1999 7:46:00 AM
From: AugustWest	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 20297

what's your take on this? Is ckfr part of it? 'Net'-izens in UI's Service Territory...UI New Internet Program Makes Paying Electric Bills Painless April 6, 1999 NEW HAVEN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE) via NewsEdge Corporation -- The United Illuminating Company is pushing the envelope - in cyberspace that is! The New Haven-based electric utility now gives customers the option to receive and pay their monthly electric bills on-line when they sign up for the new UI EnerNet(sm) Pay program. With a simple point and click of a computer mouse, customers may view their monthly UI bill, check their billing and usage history and take advantage of other on-line billing features, such as direct debit, without writing checks, buying stamps or mailing bills. UI is the first utility in Connecticut to provide its customers with Internet bill presentment and payment - a term that describes online billing and among the handful of companies nationwide to offer this end-to-end service. "This is an exciting opportunity for UI customers," said Anthony J. Vallillo, UI's group vice president-client services. "On-line billing provides customers with a new level of convenience, while helping them reduce the time and costs involved in paying bills. "In an increasingly competitive marketplace, it's more important than ever that UI provide the highest level of service possible to our customers," he added. The technology behind UI's new Internet bill payment capabilities is Pitney Bowes Inc.'s D3 or Digital Document Delivery System. The D3 technology allows UI to use its existing mainframe billing applications to post bills to a web site managed by Pitney Bowes the instant they're processed. An E-mail message is sent simultaneously to customers announcing their bill is available for viewing and payment. As a result, customers no longer receive paper bills in the mail. Once a UI customer authorizes payment, UI debits the customer's checking account, records the transaction immediately, and credits UI's own commercial account. Funds are transmitted electronically through the nationwide Automated Clearing House (ACH) bank transfer network. The enrollment process for this secure service is easy: customers register by accessing UI's web site at www.uinet.com/enernetpay and filling out the on-line enrollment form. The use of customer-selected user identification and password assures confidentiality. For many utilities and large billers nationwide, electronic bill presentment and payment is the wave of the future as they seek innovative methods to enhance customer service and accelerate customer bill payment processing, said John Prete, general manager - client fulfillment. To discuss the new UI EnerNet(sm) Pay program and how on-line payments improve customer relationships, representatives from UI and Pitney Bowes will participate in a two-day international conference in London this summer, addressing European telecommunications, utility and banking industry executives. "Receiving this prestigious invitation illustrates two important UI qualities," said Prete. "First, it shows the company's decision-making process is efficient, effective and forward-thinking. And second, it reinforces our ongoing commitment to providing value-added services and options in an evolving marketplace." As electric restructuring takes effect in Connecticut next year, UI is considering expanding this on-line service so customers may one day have the ability to choose their power supplier electronically. Beginning January 1, 2000, 35% of Connecticut's electric customers will be able to choose their own power provider. The remainder will be able to do so six months later. Pitney Bowes Inc. is a $4.2 billion global provider of mail and messaging management. For more information about the company, visit www.pitneybowes.com. UI is a New Haven-based utility that provides electricity and energy-related services to more than 313,000 customers in municipalities in the Greater New Haven and Greater Bridgeport areas. UI's World Wide Web address is www.uinet.com and the company is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol UIL. Note to Editors: Interested in an interview with a UI EnerNet(sm) Pay expert or a demonstration of the new UI EnerNet(sm) Pay program? Then call Fran Mayko at 203-499-2817 to arrange for one. <<Business Wire, 04-05-99, 13:17 Eastern>> CONTACT: The United Illuminating Company, New Haven \| Fran Mayko, 203-499-2817 \| Sandra Ahearn, 203-499-2175 \| After Hours, 203-499-2812 \| or \| Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford \| Sheryl Battles, 203-351-6808 [Copyright 1999, Business Wire]