Press Releases

VIPdesk Expands Web-based Personal Assistant Service To Wireless Devices

24-hour Personal Assistant Service Now Accessible Through Web-Enabled Phones and PALM Devices

Alexandria, VA, June 25, 2001 – VIPdesk, the leading Internet concierge service, today announced the launch of their online personal assistant platform into the wireless market, offering enterprises the ability to provide their customers with wireless access to local city information and a live, personal assistant. With this expanded service, customers can now review local city content and access live concierges through Web-enabled phones and PDAs using PALM operating systems.

With VIPdesk's wireless application, an end-user can contact a live concierge anytime, anywhere who can help them conduct countless personal and business tasks. VIPdesk's highly-trained network of concierges can do everything from simple tasks including making last-minute reservations at a five-star restaurant and ordering theater tickets to more complex endeavors such as planning the perfect weekend "get-away." In addition, during the initial roll-out, a customer can access pre-screened information that provides customized content on fourteen major cities. This pre-screened content will be expanded to fifty-two cities during phase-two to be completed the end of July.

"In an increasingly mobile society comprised of growing numbers of overwhelmed consumers, we anticipate the wireless coordination of personal and convenience services to be a leading customer retention and loyalty tool for today's companies," says VIPdesk CEO, Mary Naylor. "VIPdesk's foray into wireless confirms our dedication to providing our corporate partners with the most high-quality, easily accessible, expedient service to help their customers to more effectively and effortlessly manage their everyday tasks."

VIPdesk currently provides its concierge services through co-branded Web sites with blue chip partners including Freddie Mac, MasterCard, Citibank, e-Tenants.com and Diners Club. Through e-mail, live chat and telephony, VIPdesk's professional, trained concierges serve more than 10 million users.

"Several large companies have turned to VIPdesk as an incentive tool because of its ability to go beyond high-quality content and bring a live, interactive service to the Internet," says Naylor. "We anticipate that expanding this personal, customized service into the wireless arena will continue to increase usage and attract consumers. Moreover, we are finding that the wireless carriers are intrigued by our high tech, high touch offering which provides a value-add service for their customers while providing revenue opportunities for the company."

About VIPdesk (www.vipdesk.com)

VIPdesk helps busy people get things done through real-time web-based coordination of personal and convenience services. The VIPdesk concierge program combines state-of-the-art technology, a broad range of valuable products and services, exceptional personalized convenience services, deep technical expertise and industry experience to create a truly unique value-added service for customers and/or employees. Users can access the service via phone, e-mail, web site, live chat, and wireless devices 24 hours a day, seven days per week. This innovative technology and centralized infrastructure of local concierges acts as a powerful retention and productivity tool that currently serves more than 10 million users. Founded in 1997 by Mary Naylor, a 14-year veteran of the concierge industry, this personal assistant infrastructure platform serves clients including, Freddie Mac, MasterCard, Citibank, e-Tenants.com and Diners Club.

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