""We'd Like To Thank The AcademyÖ"" Web Marketing Association Titles etown.com Best Of Industry For 1999

This week there is more than one set of awards that people are talking about. etown.com (www.etown.com), the online source for consumer electronics information and shopping, has been named Best of Industry in the Consumer Goods category by the Web Marketing Association, sponsor of the 1999 WebAwards. There won't be any red carpets, Chanel gowns costing more than most mortgages, or after-parties attended by the rich and famous. However, for the internet industry these awards can be almost as important. Each of the over 700 sites entered in this year's competition were judged against seven criteria: design, innovation, content, interactivity, navigation, ease of use and use of technology. With this format, the 1999 WebAwards competition allows Web sites to compete head to head with other sites in their industry as well as against a standard of excellence.The etown.com Web site is designed to help consumers enjoy finding the right consumer electronics product through a refined, seamless research and purchase process and to enable manufacturers to present a comprehensive selection of products. With more than 4,700 product profiles and reviews, the IDA shopping advisor and product comparison features, etown.com allows consumers to research their needs thoroughly and then purchase the product that is right for them at the best price. Additionally, etown.com offers people interested in consumer electronics the most comprehensive information currently available on the Internet. ""etown.com is known for having the most comprehensive consumer electronics information available online,"" said etown.com CEO Robert Heiblim. ""It is always a challenge to deliver so much data in an organized and engaging manner that makes it easy and time-efficient for consumers. We are happy to know that we are doing it right.""The sites awarded Best of Industry received the highest scores when compared to the other sites entered in the industry category. The multiple independent judges were selected from independent Internet professionals representing the various relevant disciplines of Web site development. Judges included members of the media, advertising executives, site designers, corporate marketing executives, content providers and webmasters. With 70 points representing a perfect score, etown.com received a total score of 67.Other accolades earned by etown.com include being hailed as ""Best of Breed"" in the online consumer electronics category by Entertainment Weekly, being named one of the top five technology Internet sites of the year by Popular Science magazine, and recognition from Time magazine as ""one of the best sites on the Web - to buy the right gift right now.""About Web Marketing Association The Web Marketing Association (www.webaward.org) was founded in 1997 to help set a high standard for Internet marketing and corporate web development on the World Wide Web. This Boston, Massachusetts-based organization is made up of Internet marketing, advertising, public relations and design professionals from around the country who share an interest for improving the quality of advertising, marketing and promotion used to attract visitors to corporate Web sites. About etown.com Founded in 1995, etown.com is the leading online information and shopping resource for buyers of consumer electronics (CE) products. Through its Web site, etown.com provides consumers with the most comprehensive, award-winning CE content, commerce, and community in any medium. Its DealerWebô of fulfillment partners gives consumers access to the Internet's largest selection of consumer electronics gear. Additionally, etown.com provides state-of-the-art customer support on and off-line, before, during and after any purchase. Co-branding and content partners include Yahoo!, Lycos, ZDNet, and Time Warner. etown.com has offices in New York, New York and San Francisco, California. For more information visit www.etown.com.