Progressive Scores a 'Hat Trick' of Wireless Technology Firsts in 2001

The company expands wireless payment capability, joins the Sprint PCS Wireless
  Web and receives first payment via Web-enabled personal digital assistant

    MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio, March 15 The Progressive
Corporation today announced that its customers may now make
insurance payments by connecting to progressive.com using their Web-enabled
cellular phones. Earlier this week, progressive.com became the first auto
insurance Web site available on the Sprint PCS Wireless Web.  And, last month,
the company became the first auto insurance company to receive a wireless
payment made by a customer using a personal digital assistant (PDA) device.
    Progressive is one of the nation's largest auto insurance companies and is
a technology leader in the insurance industry.
    "Making it easier for customers to pay using WAP technology and their
Web-enabled cellular phone is a very important step for us," said Fred Khoury,
Wireless Internet Manager, Progressive. "Technology and choice are what drive
Progressive. We're using technology to offer customers more choices in how
they wish to access and control their accounts and pay their insurance
premiums."
    On March 12, 2001 Progressive became the only auto insurance company
available on the Sprint PCS Wireless Web, giving more than one million Sprint
PCS customers instant access to progressive.com .
    On February 6, 2001, David Richter, 28, of Gainesville, Florida, became
the first Progressive customer to make a wireless payment using a Palm(TM)
VII, a Web-enabled PDA. Previously, Richter made payments through
personal.progressive.com, Progressive's online customer service center. He
recently downloaded an application from personal.progressive.com that allowed
him to pay through his Web-enabled PDA.
    "I travel quite a bit, and my Palm VII is my link to home while I'm on the
road.  I was thrilled to be able to enter my credit card number and instantly
pay for my auto insurance," said Richter.  "It's a very smooth process; I'll
do it again."
    In September 2000, Progressive became the first insurance company to
introduce Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) for Web-enabled cell phones,
allowing them to log on to progressive.com. WAP is the same technology that
allows consumers to purchase their favorite book or check stock quotes
instantly online using the same devices.
    When Progressive debuted wireless access, consumers were able to use
Web-enabled cell phones to locate nearby independent agents and contact the
company to report claims. In December 2000, the company added features that
enabled customers to pay their insurance premiums using PDA devices and now,
the ability to pay via cell phones. Future Progressive WAP developments
include the ability to check automobile-related recall information and to find
a local body shop.
    Progressive.com leads the insurance industry in consumer-friendly
innovations.  It was the first auto insurance Web site (1995), the first to
offer online quoting and comparison rates (1996), first to offer instantaneous
online purchase of an auto policy (1997), and first to offer after-the-sale
service (1998).
    Progressive Insurance , headquartered in Mayfield Village,
Ohio, is the nation's fourth largest auto insurance company.  In business
since 1937, the company provides all drivers with competitive rates and
24-hour, in-person services. The company sells its products over the phone at
1-800-AUTO-PRO(R), on the Internet at progressive.com and through more than
30,000 independent agencies throughout the U.S. More information about
Progressive can be found at http://www.progressive.com .