(AREA-51/SRI-STRATEGIC) Interactive & Technology Leaders Plan New Internet Services Alliance

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 14, 1997--Area 51 Interactive SRI Strategic Resour Area 51 Interactive Inc. and SRI Strategic Resources Inc. (SRI) today announced a strategic alliance which creates one of Canada's largest Internet marketing and technical services groups with the ability to provide complete Internet, Intranet, IVR or Kiosk solutions for local and international clients.

"We're excited about the agreement. SRI's technical expertise together with our marketing and creative strength will result in a powerful resource within our dynamic industry for business and government clients," said David Schulz, President of Area 51.

"The synergy between the two companies will allow us to continue to provide clients with our award-winning technical solutions enhanced by the creative and marketing solutions of our new partners," said David Leung, President of SRI, a subsidiary of BC TELECOM, with over 70 professional staff headquartered in Burnaby.

This alliance provides more than 100 experts in graphic and creative design, Internet marketing, programming, software development, Intranet and telecommunications solutions.

Both companies expect to continue to serve large Canadian corporations and government clients as well as develop new clients across North America. "B.C. has a growing talent pool of software developers, technology innovators, and creative and technical experts," Schulz added. "We intend to grow our alliance into a North American leader in Internet application solutions," said Leung.

SRI provides seamless technology solutions and integration through Internet, IVR phone technology, paging and touch-screen Kiosks. Its clients include CHARA Health Care Society, ICBC, City of Vancouver, City of Richmond, City of Victoria, Dairyworld Foods, and the Vancouver Stock Exchange.

Innovations by SRI allow taxpayers in several western Canadian municipalities to pay parking tickets, renew business licenses, enter utility meter readings, and order tax certificates via phone, Internet or Kiosk. The City of Yellowknife has won this year's GFOA Award of Excellence based on technological solutions developed by SRI.

Area 51 is a subsidiary of Palmer Jarvis Inc., western Canada's largest communications group with offices in Vancouver, Victoria, Edmonton, Calgary, Regina and Winnipeg. The company provides creative, graphic, programming and strategic Internet marketing services for clients including Richmond Savings, Save-On Foods, Pacific Press.

Area 51 has created many innovative Web sites with features such as: online Appeal consumer magazine for Save-On Foods; Humungous Bank for Richmond Savings which was picked as "Site of the Day" by USA Today and "Pick of the Week" by Yahoo; the online version of The Vancouver Sun and The Province newspapers for Pacific Press; a virtual fashion boutique for Christine & Company; and an interactive golf game and training center for Eaglequest Golf Centers.

--30--ba/sf* CONTACT: Area 51 Interactive Inc. David Schulz, 604/ 608-4451 or SRI Strategic Resources Inc. David Leung, 604/ 435-0627