Cambridge, MA - October 6, 1998 - General Interactive,Inc., "The E-Mail Company" today announced that their EchoMail^TM technology was awarded "Best of Class" for web based Customer Service and Fulfillment by the Internet Commerce Expo (ICE) during the ICE/LA Expo98 show held in Los Angeles September 23-25.

EchoMail automatically reads, stores, classifies, routes, logs, tracks and responds to e-mail using advanced pattern recognition and classification technology. It is a powerful internet based platform that delivers immediate electronic customer care, direct marketing, lead management and data-mining solutions. Clients include; Allstate, AT&T, Compaq, IBM, Internet Commerce Expo (ICE), JCPenney, John Hancock, Lycos, Nike, Reel.com, Unilever and others.

"EchoMail has been a great tool for our organization. It has greatly facilitated the planning, implementation and precision of our marketing programs, resulting in a more efficient deployment of staff time and resources", says Michael Twohig, vice president Business Operations, Internet Commerce Expo.

A prestigious panel of more than fifty industry leaders, consultants, publication executives, and technology columnists gathered together at the ICE/LA Expo98 show and served as judges. They worked in teams assigned by application category. EchoMail judges included Alan Alper - Editorial Advisor, Gomez Advisors, William Cullifer, Executive Director, National Association of Webmasters, Mariana Danilovic, Manager, Strategy Consulting, KPMG Consulting, Annick Teninge, General Manager, Animation World Magazine. Evaluation criteria included technical/business innovation, user-friendliness, user-efficiency, security/trust attributes, platform flexibility, visual impact, and cost-effectiveness/end-user business benefit impact.

Entries competed for "Best of Class" distinction in categories of Web-enabling and Web-based business applications, solutions and services. Sponsored by Solutions Integrator, an IDG publication based in San Mateo, CA, many of the industry's leading Internet commerce, Intranet computing and Extranet solution specialists competed. Vendors, systems integrators, software development companies, consulting firms, and VAR's/business partners - many in partnership with sponsoring vendors and organizations - distinguished themselves in this unique program.

"The measurable value that organizations receive by utilizing EchoMail creates a great cross selling environment for electronic commerce implementation. Winning the ICE award will assist us in expanding our marketing program and allow us to showcase EchoMail nationally through shows, advertising, and magazine articles" says V.A. Shiva, president & CEO, General Interactive.

Internet Commerce Expo (ICE) and Solutions Integrator are International Data Group (IDG) companies. IDG is the world's leading provider of information services for the information technology industry. IDG publishes 290 newspapers and magazines in 80 countries and publishes more than 700 book titles and foreign translations in 28 languages.

About General Interactive
General Interactive, Inc., fuses art and information technology to create award-winning intelligent messaging and relationship marketing solutions. GII president and founder, V.A. Shiva, known throughout the industry as Dr. E-Mail, pioneered the early development of e-mail technology and intelligent messaging solutions. GII's primary markets include customer-focused enterprises such as electronic commerce, high-technology, financial services, retail and the entertainment industry. Their professional services division is dedicated to creating state-of-the-art interactive designs and thematic concepts. Web-sites, multi-media e-mail campaigns, 2D and 3D animation, banner advertisements and educational programs are standard offerings.

Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company has additional offices in Washington, D.C and Madras, India. For more information about General Interactive, visit the company's World Wide Web site at http://www.echomail.com or contact EchoMail, Inc., 66 Church Street, Cambridge, MA 02138; phone (617) 354-8585; email: Press@EchoMail.com.