LOS ANGELES, CA, May 2, 2001 – Vertical Computer Systems, Inc. (OTCBB:VCSY) reported today that representatives of leading organizations of expatriate Americans and a senior US Congressman have enthusiastically joined forces with theUSBridge.com to use the Internet to serve the needs of some 6 million U.S. citizens living abroad.
At a National Press Club meeting in Washington DC on April 25, 2001, Congressman David Dreier (R-CA), chairman of the House Rules Committee, stated, “theUSBridge.com is to be congratulated on focusing on the needs of Americans abroad.” He added that Congress is currently studying several pieces of legislation designed to better serve Americans living and working in foreign countries.
Basil Nikas, spokesman for theUSBridge.com and a veteran of expatriate causes, said “We are committed to providing essential information and channels of communication for Americans around the world and their families and helping them access the web sites of public and private sector organizations.”
Organizations pledging cooperation with theUSBridge.com campaign included global women’s clubs and Foreign Service family support groups as well as business and professional associations. Mette Beecroft, President of the auxiliary representing families of foreign service employees in more than 250 foreign posts, told the group “there has been tremendous improvement in the past 30 years but we still need help in several key areas. This program is certainly a positive step in that direction.”
John W. Adams, who is the author of the leading book in the field, Expatriate Handbook, and editor of a global newsletter offering tips to business leaders living around the world, said, “Millions of Americans living and working overseas need considerably more information and support. Clearly, theUSBridge.com is undertaking a most worthwhile initiative with professionalism.”
Dale Koepenick, who represented the federation of international American women’s clubs, echoed his enthusiasm, saying, “Americans overseas need more information and assistance in voter registration, taxation and employment issues and in tracking what is happening at home.”
In announcing theUSBridge.com’s commitment to expatriates on behalf of its parent company, Vertical Computer Systems, Inc., President Richard Wade stated, “There is an entire community of retirees, students, military personnel with dependents and other folks working in the private sector, that has been largely ignored. We are determined to use theUSBridge.com as a gateway for all of them and their families to stay in touch and keep them informed. It is a classic example of the Internet’s potential at its best.”
A new feature on theUSBridge.com, the “Expatriates Resource Center” will serve the interests of Americans around the world by providing current and useful online news and information about their home country, including travel and relocation services, voting and taxes, insurance and healthcare, education, retirement and citizenship issues.
Under its motto “Your Home Away From Home,” theUSBridge.com offers a special new feature for web users, including the expatriates worldwide: a free Family Web Page with a customizable template and easy access to e-mail, forums, chat features and organizers to keep in touch with families back home in the U.S. This free Family Web Page allows each user to:
In addition to its new “Expatriate Resource” features, theUSBridge.com features:
A Web cast of the April 25th meeting is available in the Company’s electronic archives at www.theUSBridge.com.
Vertical Computer Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of Web-based multilingual gateways, developer of proprietary software and e-commerce solutions. The company is based in the United States. VCSY's products and services, technology and distribution channels complement each other and are supported by its e-commerce business model, the Home Country Gateways (HCGs).
Utilizing its growing global network of online HCGs, the company offers B2B, B2G and B2C solutions through its wide range of accessible resources that specifically cater to the needs and desires of targeted communities around the world. VCSY has also acquired Globalfare.com -- a complete online travel information center at www.globalfare.com.
At present, VCSY has five HCGs in operation: www.theWorldBridge.com, www.theIndiaBridge.com, www.theUSBridge.com, www.theBrazilBridge.com, www.theChinaBridge.com, and is working to establish other HCG partnerships, including www.theKoreaBridge.com.
The company is continuously developing Emily(TM) Solutions, (www.emilysolutions.com), proprietary XML-based technology providing unique software for e-commerce, information technologies, Web-based data management and process control. VCSY also offers a free, easy and personalized e-mail service for all Web users (www.thepostmaster.net). For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.vcsy.com.
This release contains, in addition to historical information, forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, competition from other portals, the company's ability to integrate and market the Emily(TM) software, the market reception to VCSY'S new products, the potential benefits to customers, the conversion of sales leads into customers and the ramp-up of ASP users and other factors over which VCSY may have little or no control such as those described in the company's filings with the SEC.