Business Wire Enhances News Release Delivery

XHTML Retains Key Style Features and Functionality of Original Documents

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Business Wire is the first news wire to distribute news via Extensible HyperText Markup Language (XHTML), it was announced today by Cathy Baron Tamraz, president and CEO of the company.

“This will enable PR and IR professionals to have more control of the look and feel of their news release.”

XHTML is recognized as the industry standard language for online publishing and combines the best qualities of HTML (designed to display data) with XML (which describes the data). It is flexible for multiple platforms (net access via computers, cell phones or hand-held devices) and works on the current World Wide Web as well as the next generation (Web 2.0).

"XHTML enables Business Wire members to stylize and optimize their news," said Tamraz. "This will enable PR and IR professionals to have more control of the look and feel of their news release."

The most obvious features of XHTML are quite visible as they pertain to the formatting of a news release and include the ability to:

• Bold, italicize, underline text
• Control text alignment: centering headlines, for example
• Utilize bullet points
• Embed SmartLinks (hyperlinked keywords/anchor text)
• Superscript/subscript text and footnote marks
• Support wider financial tables
• Create subhead headlines
• Support unique language font characters
• Support special font characters

Another benefit of XHTML is its relationship to content optimization. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) professionals recommend stylizing content as one part of improving visibility on the web. Adding a few well placed, pertinent SmartLinks and including bolded text when applicable are two such methods cited by these experts.

All a Business Wire member has to do to take advantage of the XHTML newsfeed is simply format the styles and SmartLinks in a word processing, spreadsheet or other application and submit it via Business Wire Connect. The accepted styles then will be transmitted over Business Wire. The $95 value for XHTML is currently being offered to Business Wire members at no charge.

Business Wire XHTML newsfeeds display on sites that accept this format, such as BusinessWire.com and Google.

About Business Wire

Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company, was founded in 1961 by Chairman Lorry I. Lokey, veteran journalist and public relations executive. Cathy Baron Tamraz is president and CEO.

The company's multi-channel delivery network, with access to some 60 international and national news agencies, financial information providers and Web-based news services throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, provides real-time, simultaneous access to key audiences - the news media, trade publications, institutional and individual investors, business-to-business decision-makers and consumers.

Business Wire electronically disseminates some 1,000 full-text news releases daily to the media, the Internet, online services and databases, and the global investment community in 150 countries in 45 languages. Business Wire has 24 U.S. offices, Paris, Frankfurt, London, Brussels, Tokyo and Sydney offices, and reciprocal offices throughout the world. Additional information can be found at www.BusinessWire.com.