ATLANTA, February 8, 1999 -- Equifax today announced a new product, Equifax Account Acquisition Services, a custom front-end risk management software solution developed by Equifax that provides complete account application processing for wireless, land line telecommunications and utilities providers.

The core of this new solution is the Equifax APPLY^SM software. This state-of-the-art client-server software processes applications, assesses risk, and activates applicants into the providers’ internal or external account systems. APPLY is capable of accessing and interfacing with up to 256 other systems and is designed to render fast and consistent decisions. This software can be used as the single front-end system needed to initiate wireless, landline telecommunication and utility service.

Uniquely, Account Acquisition Services offers a flexible on-line system that enables immediate application evaluation and workflow management that includes credit override and application storage for subsequent analysis and reporting.

"The Account Acquisition System has features and benefits not offered by any other product on the market." said David Gary, Equifax senior vice president, telecommunications & utilities solutions. "By using this new system, our clients can quickly move the knowledge necessary to assess risk, establish accounts and activate service at the point of account acquisition."

In addition to the Equifax APPLY software, the Account Acquisition Services product can include access to a fully functional world class call center staffed with customer care professionals who facilitate inbound application processing calls using APPLY. Also, the service allows access to Equifax’s state-of-the-art production center where a system support staff maintains and updates the Equifax APPLY system architecture. The support staff is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Use of the production center and call center are optional product offerings of the Equifax Account Acquisition Service. This service is part of Equifax Total Solution, a growing suite of innovative products and services providing better customer service while reducing time and expenses.

Some of the key features of the service include the following:

• Single-inquiry on-line access to all major consumer and commercial credit information companies;
• Comprehensive application workflow management through the use of a sophisticated queue management system;
• On-line statistical reporting of current and historical queue activities;
• Custom data entry, screen, scorecards, credit bureau access, work-flow queues, policy rules, decision rendering, letter writing and security parameters;
• Custom letter writing system with no manual intervention or additional keying;
• One-time data entry for databases;
• A fully functional inbound application processing Call Center and
• A 24x7 world class Production Center.

For a live demonstration visit us at Wireless ’99 sponsored by CTIA, booth number 3469, in New Orleans February 8th - 10th.

EQUIFAX (NYSE: EFX) is a worldwide leader in shaping global commerce by bringing buyers and sellers together through its information, transaction processing, consulting and knowledge-based businesses. Equifax serves the banking, financial, retail, credit card, telecommunications/utilities, transportation and healthcare industries and government. Founded in 1899, Atlanta-based Equifax today has 14,000 employees in 18 countries and sales in more than 45 countries. Revenues for the year ended December 31, 1998, were more than $1.6 billion. For more Equifax information, visit the company's Internet web site at www.equifax.com.