Ecount News & Press Releases

PrivateBuy.com Allows First Ever Anonymous Shopping Capabilities Anywhere on the Web

Ecount extends its payment platform to provide online shoppers ultimate discretion, privacy and security

PHILADELPHIA - August 28, 2000 - Ecount, an industry leading e-commerce payments company, today unveiled PrivateBuy.com, the first and only product that facilitates anonymous purchases anywhere online. ANorther extension of Ecount's flexible payment platform, PrivateBuy.com allows consumers to buy whatever they want, anywhere on the Web without revealing personal or credit card information to merchants.

The perfect solution for consumers who wish to make discreet purchases, send anonymous gifts and donations, or have concerns about Internet privacy or identity theft, PrivateBuy is a private debit account which enables anonymous, secure purchases online. It requires no special software or downloads and any e-tailer that accepts credit cards can seamlessly and readily process PrivateBuy transactions.

"Internet privacy is an important issue with consumers. Some individuals are reluctant to interact online because they want to protect personal information, and they are ideal targets for solutions that meet this demand," said James Van Dyke, Senior Analyst, Jupiter Communications. "Solutions with privacy and anonymity features address this need and will help drive consumers to transact online."

"We believe that our privacy application will fundamentally change the electronic payments space. For the first time, consumers can transact online anywhere without revealing their identity," said Matt Gillin, CEO and co-founder of Ecount. "PrivateBuy provides consumers with greater levels of security, privacy and discretion so they can feel more comfortable shopping on the Web. With this addition to Ecount's extensible payment platform, we continue to deliver enabling technologies, which provide the industry with the most functional and innovative payment applications."

PrivateBuy is easy to use and free to sign up. Log on to www.PrivateBuy.com and follow three simple steps:

• Complete the sign up form - Users select a user name and password I.D. They are issued the name "Private Buyer" and given a 16-digit debit account number and an anonymous billing address. This account information is simply used in place of the shopper's name, credit card number and billing address when making purchases.
• Load funds - Users can add funds to their accounts via major credit cards. Funds can instantly be added anytime for $3.95. Through the convenient PrivateBuy ShopBarŠ, users can even add funds at the merchant's point-of-purchase.
• Start shopping - PrivateBuyers can shop online anywhere MasterCard is accepted. Users can take their anonymous account information and go directly to merchants' Web sites to make purchases, or can shop through the PrivateBuy.com "Hot Shopping Guide."

PrivateBuy provides consumers with:

• Ultimate Shopping Protection - consumers can buy online without revealing their name, billing address or credit card information. PrivateBuy protects against identity theft and credit card piracy.
• Anonymity - consumers are unidentifiable and unknown to marketers, merchants and advertisers.
• Confidence - purchases are kept private and off credit card statements. This provides consumers with peace-of-mind to privately buy whatever they wish.
• Universal Acceptance - stores recognize PrivateBuy as a MasterCard and therefore accept it just as they would a credit card purchase. This means that consumers can shop at any of their favorite stores on the Web.
• Trust - PrivateBuy guarantees that consumers' personal information and online purchases remain 100% private. Proven technologies and safeguards ensure that consumers are protected at all times.

PrivateBuy is certified by the leading names in Internet privacy and security, including Truste and VeriSign.

Visit www.PrivateBuy.com today for more information or to sign up for a PrivateBuy account.

About Ecount Founded in 1997 as C/Base, Ecount is an industry-leading e-commerce payments company, which offers "next generation" transaction products and services to portals, Web communities, financial institutions, wireless service providers, affinity groups, and other businesses, through its proprietary payment platform. The Ecount platform enables companies to cost-effectively acquire, incent, and retain customers through the issuance of online debit-based payment mechanisms, which facilitate payments of any type: person-to-person, person-to-merchant, and business-to-person.

Today, the Ecount platform powers payment products developed exclusively for MSN, NBC Internet, and others. In addition, the platform has been utilized by 17% of the Fortune 100 to support various innovative customer acquisition, retention and payment initiatives. Ecount's payment platform also supports the company's suite of branded payment products: ecount.com, the first online payment account for instantly sending, spending and receiving money online; Webcertificate.com, the only online gift certificate that can be used at any online or offline merchant; and PrivateBuy.com, the only product that enables consumers to shop anonymously anywhere on the Web.

Based in Conshohocken, Penn., Ecount is privately held. The company is actively expanding its payment platform for wireless applications and international growth.