Commtouch ® (Nasdaq: CTCH ­ News), a global developer and provider of proprietary anti­spam solutions, announced today its spam detection engine is now embedded in Hotbar`s desktop applications and that Hotbar will be offering an anti­spam capability for a fee to some 10 million existing users of its applications that convert static E­mail clients (such as Microsoft Outlook) and Web browsers into powerfully dynamic and personalized instruments of enhanced functionality and visual appeal.
Hotbar, headquartered in New York City, makes emails unique with hundreds of animations, backgrounds and more. Users of the application can design and send free eCards, incorporate images and business cards within their emails without disrupting their current email infrastructure.
Gabriella Karni, co­founder and President of Hotbar, said, "As Hotbar was looking for a winning anti­spam technology, accompanied by an easy­to­integrate interface, we found Commtouch to be the ultimate OEM partner. Unlike client­only alternatives, our integrated product enjoys the most powerful spam­detection center­based technology offered by Commtouch. The integration with Commtouch`s Anti­Spam Engine proved to be most painless: within less than a week the embedded Anti­Spam product was up­and­running. "
Added Karni: "Commtouch`s easy­to­implement and easy­to­use spam fighting component fits perfectly with the human­friendly value that Hotbar applications bring to Outlook email and Internet Explorer browsing."
"Commtouch`s spam detection engine to Hotbar applications marks yet another successful integration of Commtouch`s anti­spam technology, following on the heels of Sybari and Europe`s Waterford Technologies recent validation of our approach for enterprise applications," said Gideon Mantel, Commtouch`s CEO. "Commtouch`s proven RPD (Recurrent Pattern Detection) technology is identifying spam in real­time, without email recipients having to alter their behaviors, and blocking the unwanted emails with nearly zero false positives."
Mantel added that revenues from the OEM partnership with Hotbar are expected to be realized in 2004.
The Commtouch Anti­Spam OEM program offers vendors of messaging and security applications a simple way to augment their filtering solutions with real­time spam blocking services, enjoying the following benefits of Commtouch technology: Content­independent spam detection technology­immune to spammer tricks Detecting spam in any language ­ best solution for international companies Suitable for integration into hardware appliances, servers and desktop­applications Well packaged for integration
About Hotbar
Hotbar.com, Inc. is a New York City­based Internet company dedicated to customizing and maximizing the Web`s interactive potential. Hotbar is a patent pending revolutionary browser and email add­on that instantaneously converts static Web browsers and email services into powerfully dynamic and personalized instruments of enhanced functionality and visual appeal. For the individual Hotbar user, this translates into a more personalized, enhanced surfing and email communication experience while fulfilling a basic human need for aesthetics and fun; for the e­business, a more profitable Internet.
Partners who have already recognized Hotbar`s value proposition include: Findwhat, Overture, Travelocity, Dealtime and Hotwire. Founded by Oren Dobronsky and Gabriella Karni in October 1999, Hotbar is a privately held company with sales and marketing based in New York City and research and development in Tel Aviv, Israel. About Commtouch

Commtouch Software Ltd. is a developer and provider of proprietary anti­spam solutions. The company`s core technologies reflect its decade of experience as a leading vendor of email software applications and provider of global messaging services. Commtouch is headquartered in Netanya, Israel and its subsidiary, Commtouch Inc., is based in Mountain View, CA. The company was founded in 1991 and has been publicly traded since 1999 (Nasdaq: CTCH ­ News). To learn more about Commtouch`s solutions visit our web site at http://www.commtouch.com. Note: Commtouch® is a registered trademark of Commtouch Software Ltd. Other terms and product names in this document may be trademarks of others. Outlook 2003 and Exchange Server are registered trademarks of Microsoft®.