LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 10, 2000--Vertical Computer Systems Inc., (OTCBB:VCSY - news), a leading multi-lingual portal provider, software developer and e-commerce solutions company, announced today it has acquired the Internet travel site Globalfare.com. Terms of the sale, completed by issuance of Vertical stock, were not disclosed.
Through its network of current and additional joint-venture international portals, Vertical Computer Systems plans to provide guidebook-style content for Globalfare.com, so as to create the world's most complete source of online information for travelers.
Richard S. Wade, president of Vertical Computer Systems, said Globalfare.com will compete with popular travel sites like Sabre's Travelocity and Microsoft's Expedia.
``Because Globalfare.com's content will be written by our international joint venture partners in the local language and will draw on rich and constantly updated information, our coverage of places to go and sites to see will be unprecedented in travel literature,'' Wade said. ``It will be a true insider's guide to travel destinations.''
``In Brazil, one of South America's premier tourist destinations, VCSY will launch a Brazilian travel portal, Globalfare.com.br, through our partners ZapQuote S.A. While this site will cater to the Brazilian traveler, it will also feed information that will be available to all users of Globalfare.com,'' Wade commented.
``This will be a product that is coupled with each joint venture as we develop sites in other countries,'' added Wade. ``After Brazil and China, other countries will be added to Globalfare.com until a worldwide network of locally produced Internet portals are in place. All will be accessed centrally at Globalfare.com. In addition to offering information about many nations, Globalfare.com already includes the ability to make transportation, hotel, bed and breakfast and attraction reservations. VCSY will build a search engine for Globalfare.com using our proprietary computer language (MLE) that we believe will give Globalfare.com unmatched search capabilities.''
``These are exciting times for the Company,'' Wade said. ``April saw the launch of our new Portuguese-language portal, the BrazilBridge.com, (http://www.thebrazilbridge.com/). The site was developed using Emily (MLE), our proprietary Markup Language Executive software, which allows the creation of websites capable of intercommunication. This gives us powerful capabilities to search multiple databases on the World Wide Web to locate the best travel deals. With the ongoing success of our first major site, the ChinaBridge.com, (http://www.thechinabridge.com/) this latest portal, Globalfare.com, is a continuation of our mission to build a worldwide online community through global Internet development.''
David Scott, co-founder and chief executive officer of Globalfare.com, said of joining the Vertical Computer Systems Inc. team: ``We've been waiting for the right partner to help take our travel service to the next level. Soon, Globalfare.com will have not only breadth, but depth travelers won't be able to find anywhere else.''
Globalfare.com is a one-stop travel center dedicated to simplify online travel reservations through strategic alliances with some of the world's largest travel discounters. Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, it offers travelers information on transportation, hotels, restaurants, and attractions.
Vertical Computer Systems Inc., is a leading multi-lingual portal provider, software developer and e-commerce solutions company based in the US. The company provides a full range of Internet services that include building e-commerce solutions nationally and internationally, distributing content via multi-lingual portal networks (http://www.thebrazilbridge.com/) (http://www.thepostmaster.net/), and Internet services (http://www.thepostmaster.net/). Through its wholly owned subsidiary Externet World Inc., the company provides online shopping services (http://www.shoppinginternet.com/). The company is also a leading developer of proprietary software for the Internet, including the Emily (MLE) Framework, a programming language that enables the creation of websites that intercommunicate via XML and HTTP, and online gaming software (http://www.ccpsoftware.com). For more information, visit the company's website at www.vcsy.com.