SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 22, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Kurant Corporation, the leading provider of e-business software for small and medium-size businesses, today announced a partnership with E-Commerce Exchange (ECX), merchant credit card account provider, to integrate ECX's virtual merchant application into Kurant's award winning e-business solution, StoreSense(TM). StoreSense is a complete suite of powerful e-business tools that are designed to help small businesses get started selling online quickly and easily.

Under the agreement, ECX's virtual merchant application is integrated into the store setup wizard and administrative areas of StoreSense, allowing merchants to easily apply for and obtain a merchant account and payment gateway. This saves merchants the time and expense of having to separately acquire store and merchant accounts, and later integrate the two. All service, support and billing of the merchant account and gateway, including credit card accounts and equipment, and secure online processing will be directly provided to the merchant by ECX.

"With ECX, we now offer merchants an even easier way to obtain a merchant account within the store building process," said Curtis Pierce, CEO of Kurant. "In addition, the combined solution offers both small and large merchants extremely aggressive rates. Our small merchants now have the opportunity to obtain rates that only the larger merchants had access to, making this feature very cost effective."

"Our partnership with Kurant greatly simplifies the store building and credit card payment processes for merchants," said Clay Howard, director, agent/business development for ECX. "In addition, this partnership benefits ECX with greater expansion of our customer base by enabling Kurant to provide its resellers with a comprehensive solution at a competitive price."

About StoreSense

StoreSense's rich feature set ranges from simple wizard-driven Web site and e-store capabilities to sophisticated site design tools, advanced commerce functionality and high-end e-business management. In addition, for the first time, smaller merchants can now manage the entire process of posting and selling products on eBay using the intuitive interface they use to manage their online StoreSense stores. StoreSense also provides merchants with the tools to better reach and retain customers with the support of several popular online shopping search engines, including Yahoo! Shopping, Shopping.com, Froogle, and BizRate.

Offered on a cost-effective monthly subscription basis, StoreSense is available from Kurant's reseller partners throughout the U.S., Canada and the world. To pick a reseller right for you, please go to www.StoreSense.com.

About Kurant

Kurant Corporation provides software that enables small businesses to conduct business online through dynamic, interactive Web sites. StoreSense, Kurant's flagship product, is a comprehensive e-commerce platform that allows companies to easily add commerce to an existing Web site or create a sophisticated Web Store including: inventory management, supplier communication and integration with Quickbooks. StoreSense is delivered to small businesses through Kurant's global resellers of financial service organizations, Web hosting companies and trusted small business partners, such as Homestead, Website Pros, Hostopia, E-Commerce Exchange, SerraHost, and Bank of America. Incorporated in 1998, San Francisco-based Kurant is privately held. For more information, contact Kurant at www.kurant.com or (888) 463-2696.

About E-Commerce Exchange (ECX)

E-Commerce Exchange offers its services primarily to Internet-based merchants, including small and home-based businesses. With a 97% approval rate for merchant account applications, ECX's rapid processing allows merchants to accept credit cards through either it's QuickCommerce or QuickCommerce Pro secure payment gateways within days. ECX offers a variety of products and services including merchant credit card accounts, secure online processing, online shopping carts, electronic check and check guarantee processing, complete website packages, credit card equipment, software and leasing. For more information on E-Commerce Exchange, visit our company website at www.ecxoc.com.

NOTE: Brands and products referenced herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

SOURCE: Kurant Corporation

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