BarPoint.com Acquires Synergy Solutions to Broaden Mobile Device Software Expertise
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — November 15, 1999 — BarPoint.com (OTC Bulletin Board: BPNT), the company that is redefining universal product barcodes to connect consumers with what they want anytime, anywhere today disclosed the acquisition of Synergy Solutions, Inc. Based in New York City, Synergy Solutions has focused on building commercial applications for Palm Computing(TM) devices and over the past two years has successfully marketed several business and consumer applications for the Palm Computing platform. Synergy Solutions' products are currently sold by major online, retail, and catalog software vendors. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of BarPoint, Synergy Solutions will drive the core development of handheld applications and mobile e-commerce solutions that will further enable consumer buying decisions and shopping experiences through the ubiquitous universal product code (UPC). Additionally, Synergy Solutions will continue to provide the powerful Palm OS applications its customers have come to expect.
Following the acquisition, Alan Pinstein, Synergy Solutions' President, will join BarPoint as Vice President, Mobile Devices, overseeing product development. The division will coordinate the mass distribution of BarPoint's free application software, for Palm organizers and other mobile devices, which will be available later this Fall.
Synergy Solutions has market-proven expertise in delivering user-friendly applications for handheld devices. The new subsidiary of BarPoint.com will be able to immediately translate its user interface and application expertise into a consumer advantage as they develop commerce-based applications for BarPoint.com.
"It's all about the user experience," stated Leigh Rothschild, chairman and CEO of BarPoint.com, Inc. "The use of handheld devices in a consumer-based e-commerce environment has to be as natural as asking a clerk for assistance and more valuable than what the clerk would tell you. Synergy Solutions brings us the application development strength and our database of information of millions of product UPCs will deliver the information consumers need to make more informed purchasing decisions. We are very excited about their joining BarPoint.com."
"Over the past two years, we have seen the explosive growth of the handheld device market," commented Alan Pinstein, president of Synergy Solutions, Inc. "Much of this explosion has been in the personal application space with software products that enhance day-to-day tasks. This is where we have significant experience and our new association with BarPoint.com will allow us to further the market's growth in exciting new ways."
About Barpoint.com
BarPoint.com is the single, authoritative source for mobile Internet commerce; bridging the gap between the broad selection of products offered online with the confidence and satisfaction of retail shopping. Using BarPoint's comprehensive Internet database and a handheld device, consumers can instantly obtain comparative pricing, product and manufacturer information, etc. for millions of items, using a product's unique barcode. Whether using a handheld device to scan or manually enter the product's UPC or even accessing BarPoint's website from a desktop computer, BarPoint.com is the most direct route to better, more informed purchasing decisionsanytime, anywhere.
BarPoint.com has recently announced the BarPoint Shopper(TM) web clipping application for the Palm VII wireless connected organizer, based on the company's patent-pending UPC-based search technology that enables consumers to easily obtain product-specific information armed only with a product's unique barcode.
BarPoint does not use "key words" or "search phrases" to find a product. This removes the complicated and time-consuming process of "drilling down" through layers of search results and information that is typically associated with finding information on the Internet. The immediacy in many buying decisions makes this focus a critical benefit.
BarPoint.com is located at: One East Broward Boulevard, Suite 410, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. For information, contact BarPoint.com at: (954) 745-7500 or via the web: www.barpoint.com. Synergy Solutions, Inc. is located at: 44 Wall Street, 12th Floor, New York City, NY 10005. The web address is: www.synsolutions.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding the Company s business strategy and future plans of operations. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific to the matters discussed in this press release. These and other important factors, including those mentioned in various Securities and Exchange Commission filings made periodically by the Company, may cause the Company s actual results and performance to differ materially from the future results and performance expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to provide public updates, revisions or amendments to any forward-looking statements made herein to reflect changes in the Company s expectations or future events.
Note to Editors: Palm Computing is a registered trademark and Palm and Palm OS are trademarks of Palm Computing, Inc. and 3Com Corporation. BarPoint and BarPoint.com are trademarks of BarPoint.com, Inc. BarPoint technology is patent pending.
CONTACT:
A&R Partners (for BarPoint.com)
Lisa Auslen, 650/363-0982 Ext. 3905 (Editorial) [email protected]
or
Lippert/Heilshorn
Jerry Meyer, 212/838-3777 (Financial) [email protected]