New Business Wire Connect Streamlines Online Process to Submit Releases, Creates New Opportunities for Information-Sharing, and Facilitates Multimedia Usage

SAN FRANCISCO--Business Wire has introduced an enhanced version of Business Wire Connect, its secure online order-entry system, that streamlines the process of submitting news releases and regulatory filings, facilitates collaboration among authorized account users, and provides convenient access to archived news releases, saved distribution options, measurement reports and a Multimedia Library for future reference and use.

Business Wire's in-house technical team, under the direction of Mark Wehrmeister, vice president, web services, spent more than 18 months developing Business Wire Connect's time-saving features and improved flexibility options. Business Wire Connect is both intuitive and user-friendly; several Connect Tools sections have pull-down bars, radio-buttons and/or clickable headers displayed at the top to enable members to sort the information by date, name, asset type, etc.

Key upgrades include:

++ A Quick Submit Box that can be accessed directly from the businesswire.com home page. This short-cut feature enables users to expeditiously upload their news releases and regulatory filings to Business Wire for distribution worldwide, or to more than a dozen regulatory disclosure networks in North America or Europe.

++ Saved Distributions can now be shared with other account users, if desired. The ability to create new lists, modify existing lists, or copy and share lists with colleagues has never been easier, allowing for greater organizational communications and improved workplace productivity.

++ Business Wire's popular Logo Library has been expanded into a full-scale Multimedia Library. Business Wire members can store and share logos, photos, spreadsheets, graphics, podcasts, and other multimedia elements, selectively using these digital assets at their discretion to accompany appropriate news releases.

++ A new "My Reports" Center, a robust ready reference repository of past news releases, NewsTrak measurement reports, as well as pending order details. A convenient corporate archive of corporate communications and corresponding online coverage, instantaneously accessible in a centralized clearinghouse to registered Business Wire Connect users.

"We listened to the many thoughtful comments and suggestions of our members, and we labored to incorporate the most viable ideas into our development plan," noted Wehrmeister. "Our latest iteration of Business Wire Connect represents a major enhancement of the user experience, further simplifying the online submission process. The reality is that Business Wire Connect is a permanent work in progress; we will always be receptive to our members' ideas for additional improvements."

About Business Wire

Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is utilized by thousands of member companies and organizations to transmit their full-text news releases, regulatory filings, photos and other multimedia content to journalists, news media, trade publications, institutional and individual investors, financial information services, regulatory authorities, Internet portals, information web sites, business-to-business decision-makers and consumers worldwide. With a news distribution network spanning 150 countries and 45 languages, Business Wire's multi-channel delivery network, has access to some 60 international and national news agency networks throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

The Business Wire news network is powered by its patented NX high-speed data platform and supports XML, XHTML and XBRL code to deliver the most sophisticated news file to enhance news release interactivity, customization and search engine optimization. Business Wire has 30 bureaus in cities including New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Miami, Paris, Frankfurt, London, Brussels, Tokyo and Sydney with reciprocal offices throughout the world. Business Wire was founded in 1961 by Chairman Lorry I. Lokey, veteran journalist and public relations executive. Cathy Baron Tamraz is president and CEO.