HOTBAR.COM TEAMS-UP WITH ALTAVISTA TO OFFER INTERNET USERS UNIQUE 'SURFING' EXPERIENCE Hotbar Provides Users with Instant Access to the Internet's Most Popular Search Site New York, New York, October 17, 2000 The Internet's most colorful, user-friendly toolbar now even further combines style with substance by offering users the immediate Web searching capabilities of AltaVista, the leading search and information marketplace on the Internet. The new relationship was announced today by Hotbar.com, Inc., the dashboard to the Internet and creator of the free plug-in that integrates communication, content, commerce, color and creativity. Hotbar users will now have instant access to AltaVista's search capabilities through a separate field located on their customized toolbars. This new agreement will allow Hotbar users to easily navigate through the Web's most comprehensive and up-to-date content. "AltaVista is committed to unlocking the richest and most relevant information available on the Internet for our users," said Ken Neibaur, vice president of marketing, AltaVista Company. "Our relationship with Hotbar allows a number of additional people to access AltaVista search technology." Hotbar offers e-businesses a new and creative way to cut through Web clutter and effectively reach their target audience. By partnering with Hotbar, AltaVista has integrated their search services into millions of customized browsers, fully leveraging the Hotbar plug-in's extensive, already-established user-base of 7.5 million. "Hotbar's goal is to provide our users with the best sites and services on the Web," said Hotbar.com co-founder and CEO, Oren Dobronsky. "As one of the most popular referral engines on the Internet, AltaVista can provide the best search function for Hotbar's users." Hotbar has formed relationships with some of the Internet's highest-profile providers of content, e-commerce and Internet services. AltaVista joins Amazon.com, Keen.com, OnAir.com, Quios and McAfee virus protection software, among others. The extraordinary interactive capabilities available to Hotbar's users demonstrate the company's commitment to using strategic alliances to place the timeliest information and most wanted services on the Web at its users' fingertips. About AltaVista AltaVista Company is the leading search service and information marketplace at www.altavista.com. Building on its strong search heritage and patented technology, AltaVista software and services are used to unlock the full potential of the Internet for web users and to turn unstructured data into valuable information for businesses. AltaVista performs more than 50 million web search queries on average per day throughout the world. AltaVista offers users informative services including AltaVista Search, Raging Search, AltaVista Shopping.com, and vertical search centers. AltaVista licenses its patented search technology and powers more than 1,000 of the world's leading e-commerce firms, portals and enterprises. Headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif. About Hotbar.com Hotbar is the dashboard to the Internet, integrating communication, content, commerce, color and creativity all in one free toolbar. Hotbar is a privately held company with sales and marketing based in New York City and research and development in Tel Aviv, Israel. The company was founded in 1999 by chief executive officer Oren Dobronsky and president Gabriella Karni. Thousands of Hotbar Skin centers exist on the Web to date, featuring personal skins created by Hotbar.com users. For more information, please visit www.hotbar.com.