LOS ANGELES, CA, February 14, 2001— Vertical Computer Systems Inc. (OTCBB:VCSY) today announced that the United Nations' Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, has honored international sports celebrity and business executive Vijay Amritraj by naming him United Nations Messenger of Peace.
Amritraj, who serves as chairman of Vertical Computer Systems' joint venture, theIndiaBridge.com, became the eighth person ever to receive such a prestigious appointment. He joins seven other prominent personalities, including Muhammad Ali and Luciano Pavarotti, as special representatives of the Secretary-General to help focus worldwide attention on the work of the United Nations.
Amritraj is often referred to as ``India's Global Ambassador,'' with an unprecedented record of 20 continuous years playing in the Davis Cup, 17 consecutive years at Wimbledon and as five-term President of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour.
Amritraj has also been associated with numerous Indian-American charitable and community organizations. Most recently, through theIndiaBridge.com in cooperation with the State Bank of India, donations are being collected in the name of the ``Gujarat Earthquake Relief Fund'' to assist victims of the recent earthquake in India.
``I am honored to represent the Secretary-General and the United Nations in this very special effort to promote world peace, and very proud to support the essential work of the United Nations,'' stated Amritraj.
``Vijay Amritraj is a renaissance global leader. He is matching his achievements in sports with a dynamic business career and his dedication to worthwhile causes,'' stated Richard Wade, president of Vertical Computer Systems Inc.
theIndiaBridge.com is a joint venture between VCSY and Amritraj, president of First Serve Entertainment Inc. (FSE). At present, in addition to theIndiaBridge.com, VCSY has four additional HCGs in operation: http://www.theworldbridge.com, http://www.theusbridge.com, http://www.thebrazilbridge.com, http://www.thechinabridge.com, and is working to establish other HCG partnerships.
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 Gateway (HCG).
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 http://www.globalfare.com.
The company is continuously developing Emily(TM) solutions, (http://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 (http://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.