"In addition to managing accounting data, businesses need to manage enormous amounts of non-financial data," said Scott Cook, Intuit founder and executive committee chairman. "QuickBase is yet another proof point of how Intuit is extending beyond accounting to help businesses manage their entire operation in revolutionary new ways."

Unlike most desktop and server database applications, QuickBase gives businesses an easy, flexible and affordable way to organize, manage and share critical business information entirely over the Internet. Key benefits include:

• Easy to Use: QuickBase is fast and easy to use. With little or no experience, the average user can set up a database in about 10 minutes.
• Accessible from Anywhere: Because QuickBase is Web-based, users can access their data from virtually any computer with a browser and Internet connection.
• Versatile Platform: QuickBase is easily customized for a variety of information management needs. It is also as an excellent platform for developers seeking to deliver customized database applications and templates for small businesses and workgroups.
• Shareable: QuickBase can be shared with any user who has a Web browser and Internet connection. No client software is required.
• Breakthrough Price: The service is free to anyone invited to access a QuickBase database. Only the database creator pays for the service, which is priced at $14.95 per month for up to 15 database; $49.95 per month for up to 50 databases. For a limited time, users can create up to three databases for free.

QuickBase can be used to help manage virtually any kind of information, ranging from inventory and customer lists to calendar and vendor contact information. Users can also create databases to help manage and share critical business documents like construction plans, reports, invoices, employee resumes or contracts.

Intuit hosts all QuickBase databases, relieving small businesses of the administrative burden of having to purchase, configure and maintain servers. Intuit employs industry-recognized security safeguards to help protect companies' data. Intuit also uses Secure Socket Language (SSL) technology to encrypt QuickBase information during transmission over the Internet to shield entrepreneurs' private information.

Intuit provides access to the application programming interface (API) for QuickBase to third-party developers to allow them to build and customize industry-specific databases and applications. By making the API available, Intuit expects that in the future small businesses will be able to choose from hundreds of industry or category specific templates and applications.

Customer Examples
Intuit tested QuickBase with thousands of users and developers around the world. Following are some creative examples of how a few small businesses and developers have utilized QuickBase.

• Office of Michael Rosenfeld Architects- Replaced previous database solution with QuickBase to share and track modifications to building drawings with clients, contractors and employees at a significant cost savings. "The cost of ownership for less effective applications is in the $5,000-plus range, in addition to the fees for training, annual support and upgrades, and none are fully Web sharable to date," said Paul Woyda, AIA, IT Manager for Michael Rosenfeld Architects.
• Mid-Atlantic Venture Association - Created a Web shareable database using the project manager template to organize events attracting more than 1,000 attendees. "QuickBase allows our staff of five to accurately track the types of individuals who come to our conferences in a way that's quick, efficient and easy for us," says Associate Director Carmen Christiana.
• telezoo.com - Used the QuickBase contact manager template to create a special database to track potential customers, partners and investors. "I love the way that I can create a database from scratch or from another application like Excel in under five minutes and have it be useful and accessible to my co-workers," says Marie-Louise Murville, vice president of business development.
• Millipore Corporation - Uses QuickBase to manage projects within a team of twelve cutting the turnaround time of their projects from one week to two days. "QuickBase is so easy to use that in a couple of hours I created my own template and within a day my team of 12 people was already logged-on and using the service," says Donna Sammarco, e-commerce administrator.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
QuickBase is available immediately and offers a tiered pricing model. Customers can create up to three QuickBase databases for free. For $14.95 a month, customers can create up to 15 databases using up to 20MB of online storage space. For $49.95 a month, customers can create up to 50 databases using up to 100MB of online storage. Paying customers will receive access to the QuickBase API as well as receive a free 90-day trial of the service. For a limited introductory period, customers will receive a free 90-day trial of the service.

Customers can sign up for QuickBase by visiting http://quickbase.intuit.com/. QuickBase will soon be accessible from within QuickBooks 2001 software and QuickBooks for the Web. QuickBooks for the Web is available immediately. QuickBooks 2001 is expected to be available by the end of the year. Optional services may require additional subscription or service fees. Internet access required. Terms, conditions, features, service options and pricing are subject to change. Web developers interested in creating applications for QuickBase can visit the site http://developer.quickbooks.com to obtain more information.