MSN Carpoint and iCARumba.com Team to Create One-Stop Service Center For Online Car Maintenance and Repair

    Seven Million Monthly Visitors to Carpoint Can Now Save Time and Money
   Scheduling Repairs Online at More Than 17,000 Service Centers; One Lucky
              Consumer Can Win a 'Personal Mechanic for a Year'

    REDMOND, Wash., April 30 MSN(R) Carpoint(TM) online
automotive service, the most-visited car-buying and -ownership site on the
Web, today announced an agreement with iCARumba.com, a developer of the
leading automotive services portal. Through this new relationship, the
7 million monthly visitors to Carpoint now have the ability to make online
service appointments on Carpoint.com through a national network of more than
17,000 service centers.
    Users can simply log onto Carpoint.com and select "Service/Repair" to
schedule appointments for services ranging from oil changes and tire
alignments to tuneups and general car maintenance, in just minutes. After
inputting information about their car and location, users are directed to a
local service center to schedule an appointment. In addition, consumers can
receive expert advice regarding car care and news about common service
questions, from determining if tires are properly inflated to tips on tuneups.
To launch the new service center, Carpoint is offering consumers the
opportunity to win a "Personal Mechanic for a Year."*
    "We're excited to add the iCARumba service to our suite of ownership
features and will continue to expand our leadership as the most comprehensive
auto destination for consumers," said Ryan Hamlin, general manager for MSN
Carpoint at Microsoft Corp. . "This alliance further
demonstrates our commitment to providing our 7 million monthly visitors with
the broadest range of services to make it easier to buy and own a car every
day."
    According to recent Automotive Service Association research, 75 percent of
Internet users would like to schedule appointments online if they could. "This
is the wave of the future, because it frees up telephone time and is quick and
easy for both the customer and the service shop," said Scott Parker, owner of
Scott Parker Motorsports in Pleasanton, Calif.
    "We're thrilled to have been selected by Carpoint to deliver value-added
services and online appointment scheduling that will benefit its users and
iCARumba member shops," said Bob Allison, executive vice president of
corporate development at iCARumba Inc. "It is our goal, on behalf of our
member shops, to provide consumers with the best possible automotive service
experience."
    The ownership features of Carpoint are designed to help consumers maintain
detailed information relevant to their car-care needs. Consumers using these
services have access to local traffic reports, used-car lemon checks, consumer
ratings and reviews, recall and service reminders, Kelley Blue Book values,
and the repair estimator tool.