Jun 13, 2000

Western Union Selects Talkway to Deliver Streaming Audio/Video Messaging Service; Talkway's Technology Enables Launch of Western Union Video Telegram

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. and PALO ALTO, Calif., June 13, 2000 -- Western Union^® Commercial Services, the nation's leading provider of high value, high quality message services, and Talkway, a leading Video Service Provider (VSP), today announced an exclusive agreement for Talkway to provide Western Union with its MarketingTalk(TM) audio/video streaming technology and service.

Through this agreement, a new Web-based Western Union Video Telegram(SM) service is being launched, allowing businesses, governments and non-profits to "spread the word" to customers and constituents with electronic speed and the impact of integrated video and audio.

The Western Union Video Telegram is a video email broadcast service that enables Western Union clients to send streaming video and audio messages to thousands of their customers, constituents or employees quickly and easily. The service is the newest addition to Western Union's growing catalog of messaging tools and exemplifies the company's commitment to being the Total Message Solutions(TM) provider. Under the partnership announced today, Western Union will handle all marketing, sales and fulfillment of the service, while Talkway will maintain the technology behind the product, conduct quality assurance and make system enhancements when needed. To sample the service and technology click here: www.talkway.com/pr/wu.

"Western Union focuses upon staying a step ahead of the changing needs of its customers and the methods they use to communicate," noted Carlan Dodson, Director of Product Development at Western Union Commercial Services. "We already provide mail, fax and voice messaging services; offering the added dimension of streaming video and audio over the Internet is a logical next step. Talkway's simple, yet powerful technology allows us to deliver a variety of innovative audio/video enabled services, while maintaining the high level of speed, reliability and security that customers have come to expect from Western Union."

The new Western Union Video Telegram is designed to meet the business-to-customer messaging needs of many industries, ranging from health and life improvement, travel, pharmaceuticals and automotive to advertising, public relations, non-profits and political parties. Ideal uses for the Western Union Video Telegram service include product launch announcements, research studies, employee information, promotions, get-out-the-vote messages, campaigns and alumni or membership news.

Talkway technology complements the Western Union Video Telegram Service, because unlike other audio/video streaming solutions it does not require special software or hardware for play back. An additional advantage is that it functions at connection speeds as low as 28.8kbps, making it accessible to nearly everyone with a computer and an Internet connection.

"Our exclusive agreement with Western Union is a strategic win for Talkway and solidifies our position as a leading enabler of video direct marketing services," said Fabrice Hamaide, president and CEO of Talkway Communications. "Talkway is not only providing a service that is customizable and scalable, but we are also managing and supporting the integration process. This will allow Western Union to focus on their customers, while we focus on the technology."

Talkway's MarketingTalk service is backed by a comprehensive technology and support infrastructure, which includes video playback technology, hosting and distribution, video encoding, expert customer support and data analysis. This allows Western Union to quickly and seamlessly create an array of video-enabled offerings that can generate new revenue streams for its customers.

Companies, associations or groups wishing to use or learn more about the Western Union Video Telegram service should contact Carlan Dodson at 720/332-3571.

About Western Union

Based in Englewood, Colo., Western Union is a worldwide leader in money transfer and messaging services. Famous for its pioneering telegraph services, the original Western Union dates back to 1851 and introduced electronic money transfer service in 1871. Western Union Commercial Services is a division of Western Union Financial Services, which is a subsidiary of First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC). Atlanta-based First Data Corp. helps move the world's money. As the leader in electronic commerce and payment services, First Data serves more than two million merchant locations, 1,400 card issuers and millions of consumers, making it easier, faster and more secure for people and businesses to buy goods and services. For more information about First Data, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.firstdatacorp.com.

About Talkway Communications

Talkway Communications is a Web-based, Video Service Provider (VSP), that leads the industry in delivering audio/video content to and from virtually anyone, anywhere. Talkway's PersonalTalk(TM) and MarketingTalk(TM) services enable companies to simply and easily incorporate audio and video content into a variety of Internet applications, including email, direct marketing, employment sites, personals, greeting cards and banner ads. Talkway's customers are supported by a comprehensive audio/video-enabling infrastructure that includes video playback and recording technology, video hosting and distribution, streaming video encoding and expert customer support. Located in Palo Alto, Calif., and New York, Talkway was initially founded in 1997. For more information about Talkway, please visit the company's Web site at www.talkway.com.