DALLAS (February 1, 1999)... Businesses will now be able to offer their customers the convenience of receiving and paying bills via direct e-mail because of an electronic billing breakthrough developed by Brinkman Technologies, Inc. (BTI). BTI's NextBill system offers businesses and government agencies an in-house alternative to the expensive "third party toll-way" model currently in existence, benefiting businesses and consumers with no transaction fees and more control over the bill payment process.

Using their existing e-mail service, consumers will receive billing statements directly from their vendor as an e-mail attachment. To pay the bill, consumers will simply click on a hyperlink to their online billing statement, where they will be able to select from several payment options. With NextBill, the biller now has the ability to process the payment on the date specified by the customer without third-party intervention or the need to hold an account at a participating financial institution. This process marks a revolutionary shift in an industry dependent upon such companies since the inception of the electronic bill payment.

With lower front-end costs, no ongoing transaction fees, and complete in-house control over their electronic billing system, this new bill presentment and payment model will attract businesses that previously found the cost of electronic billing prohibitive. The current electronic billing model requires businesses to make a substantial up-front investment and pay ongoing transaction fees for the privilege of using a third party processor (such as CheckFree and TransPoint) to send billing information, debit the customers' bank accounts and collect payments. NextBill allows companies to automate this process and keep total in-house control over their billing systems and customer data. The system converts the current flow of paper bills and checks into electronic media.

"Technology should make our lives easier and businesses more efficient, therefore reducing costs to businesses and consumers" said Mark Brinkman, BTI president. "Unlike the current electronic billing model, NextBill allows businesses to keep their customer data private and avoid ongoing transaction fees that would eventually be passed on to the consumer. The bottom line benefits are the cost savings and enhanced security for consumers, making NextBill a superior choice for businesses."

Public Relations Contact:
Kevin Doel
Talon Strategic Communications