Cutting-Edge Business Tools Heat Up Small Biz Market
HotOffice® and U S WEST Team to Help Small Businesses Maximize Productivity Online

BOCA RATON, FL (May 8, 2000) - When U S WEST small business customers sign up for a high-speed data line through June 30, they will be directed to HotOffice.com to set up a free virtual office. HotOffice.com is an award-winning online service that provides communication and collaboration tools that link workers at home, on the road or in remote offices, accessible from any PC with an Internet connection. U S WEST ensures the critical connection to customers and vendors with high-speed access in the office; HotOffice provides an office anytime, anywhere for on-the-go businesses.

HotOffice and U S WEST are joining forces to give small businesses these critical high-tech tools to streamline administrative tasks, ease team communication and facilitate sales. The initiative combines a special offer on U S WEST high-speed data lines - DSL, ISDN and Frame Relay - with HotOffice's powerful Web-based virtual office tools, making obsolete the expense of complicated software and hardware.

The companies also announced an ongoing marketing alliance to bring their customers the most effective package of services in a simple, cost-effective way.

For a sales organization, productivity of representatives travelling hundreds of miles apart can be critical. HotOffice Document Management can mean no more isolation or lugging cumbersome files and laptops from client to client. Salespeople can safely access all important client information, sales documents or product specs at their company's HotOffice site with a click of a mouse.

Like salespeople, real estate agents are constantly on-the-go. In a hot market, open houses, sales, contracts and closings move quickly. Without up-to-the-minute information, it can be easy to lose a sale and miss an opportunity. HotOffice Online Conference Room and Bulletin Board make it easy to schedule weekly status meetings, get the latest updates and connect clients.

Telecommuters, those working from home or a remote location, know how challenging it can be to stay current with the latest company developments. With HotOffice Reminders, remote workers automatically receive alerts when new documents or updates are posted. In addition, staying connected is easier than ever with features that schedule group notices.

For any start-up, investing in technology to run a new business can be a daunting-and expensive-prospect. HotOffice Web-based Intranet Service provides high technology capabilities and free features without the burden of an up-front investment in hardware, software and technical support.For a new venture, this means savings and staying current with the latest Web technology, without upgrades or investments in new servers. And the HotOffice Business Center is filled with vendors and services to help a start-up grow.

About the HotOffice Service
Designed to improve the way teams communicate and collaborate, the HotOffice service allows any team member to connect via a private intranet with colleagues and clients from any Internet connection. With document and contact management, e-mail, calendaring, and other tools, the HotOffice service helps teams maximize productivity with improved communications and real-time collaboration. HotOffice is available in both a free version, which is supported by ads, and an affordable monthly subscription service.

Other cutting-edge features of the strategic alliance include:

• High-speed Internet access - Via DSL, ISDN or Frame Relay
• Document Management - Securely store all your company and personal files in a central location for remote access, revision control and keyword search
• Group Calendar - Easily organize your group's schedule and prioritize projects
• Private Bulletin Boards - Share ideas on your private company bulletin boards
• Enhanced Web E-mail - Consolidate all your e-mail into one Web-based service accessible anywhere without computer reconfiguration; use search and sort functions and view HTML pages
• Web Publishing - Securely upload files & documents to HotOffice®. No software download required!
• Group Contact Manager - Give your team access to shared contacts while maintaining a private list.
• Intellisync® for HotOffice® - Easily synchronize HotOffice® Contact Manager with Outlook 97/98 and Palm Pilot®
• Online Document Viewer - View documents, spreadsheets, presentations and graphics without downloading or needing original software
• Online Conference Rooms - Hold private online meetings in your company chat rooms
• Business Center - Quickly find vendors and services to help you save money and grow your business
• Web Links - Bookmark your favorite Web links for easy access from any computer
• Access Rights - Control which users have access to department and project documents, folders and bulletin boards
• Reminders - Schedule group or personal electronic reminders for today or anytime in the future

Customers with multi-location businesses or collaboration needs throughout U S WEST's 14-state region are eligible for the discounted line rate and access to the free version of the HotOffice service. For more information on this special offer, call U S WEST at 1-800-443-1585. HotOffice.com also offers users an ad-free paid subscription version.

About U S WEST
U S WEST (NYSE: USW) is a leading broadband and communications service provider, with more than $13 billion in annual revenues. U S WEST leads the industry in deploying next-generation broadband ADSL and VDSL Internet access and data/video services; offers the nation's first and only 'one-number' advanced wireless service that integrates customers' home or business phones with their wireless PCS; and provides multimedia advertising services, including Internet & print directories. The company has nearly 2 million miles of deployed fiber in the U.S., provides local exchange services to more than 25 million customers in 14 states, and provides wireless services to more than 500,000 customers and data services to more than 800,000 customers nationally. U S WEST is merging with Qwest Communications International Inc. For more information about U S WEST, go to www.uswest.com.

About HotOffice
HotOffice (http://www.hotoffice.com) aims to maximize the productivity potential of the Internet for small businesses and teams through smart and secure Web-based teamware tools. To help small businesses thrive in the digital economy, HotOffice.com has partnered with Staples and other innovative companies to offer special packages of solutions and services specifically designed to meet the needs of small businesses and teams. HotOffice has received the PC Magazine Editors' Choice Award two years in a row, a "Four Star Award" by PC Computing, and was listed as the Best Small Office Internet Solution in the Gadget Guru's "Guide to the Best." Based in Boca Raton, Fla., HotOffice.com is funded in part by Intel Corporation, Staples Inc. and TBG Information Investors, a partnership of Blumenstein/ Thorne Information Partners and GS Capital Partners II, an affiliate of Goldman Sachs Group.

HotOffice, the HotOffice logo, and the tagline "Anytime Anywhere Officing" are trademarks or registered trademarks of HotOffice Technologies, Inc.