A Progressive Auto Insurance Policy Is a Mouse-Click Away for New York's Online Shoppers

        Leading Auto Insurer Introduces Real-time Internet 'Buy Button'                        to Consumers in the Empire State    

NEW YORK, July 31 /PRNewswire/ -- New York consumers now have the option of shopping for rates and purchasing their auto insurance policies over the Internet. Progressive (NYSE: PGR), the nation's fifth largest auto insurance company, today announced the introduction of its Internet "Buy Button" functionality to consumers throughout the Empire State. The feature enables consumers to compare rates available to them from up to four companies, and to buy Progressive auto insurance real-time, at the company's Web site, progressive.com.

The addition of New York brings the total number of states in which consumers can instantly buy Progressive auto insurance over the Internet to eight. Other states with "Buy Buttons" include California, Florida, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.

"Consumers tell us they want choices in the ways they shop for auto insurance," said Alan Brannan, general manager, Progressive. "Increasingly, people are using the Internet to shop for products and services, and they want the choice of completing the sale over the Internet, in person or over the phone. Progressive is pleased to offer New York consumers all three options."

In addition to the company's Internet purchasing option in eight states, consumers in most U.S. states can visit Progressive's Web site to compare auto insurance rates available to them from Progressive and other market leaders. The Internet-based service is identical to Progressive's telephone-based 1-800-AUTO-PRO(R) shopping service.

On the Internet or over the phone, consumers can receive a quote on their auto insurance from Progressive, and comparison rates for up to three other leading insurers, including State Farm and Allstate. Independent Agents representing Progressive can also help customers understand what other auto insurance companies would charge for the same policy.

Because rates vary widely, Brannan encourages consumers to regularly compare insurance prices before purchasing auto insurance.

"The auto insurance industry is very competitive in New York," said Brannan. "Because the price of auto insurance can vary hundreds of dollars, it pays to shop around to see what a number of companies will charge for an identical policy. For example, we recently lowered our rates in New York by more than four percent and received approval to lower rates an additional three percent. Progressive makes it easy for consumers to shop and compare -- through the Internet, by calling 1-800-AUTO-PRO or by going to an Independent Agent."

Today, Progressive's Web site has more functionality than any other auto insurance company. Consumers can visit progressive.com to find out about auto insurance and auto safety, including vehicle recalls and safety ratings. Consumers can also use the site's "Find An Agent" function to find a local Independent Agent who can help them with their insurance needs.

The company's Web site received the "Best of Insurance" award from Financial NetNews, a publication of Institutional Investor, Inc. The publication wrote of Progressive's Web site: "The auto insurer is pushing the envelope in an industry that has largely been slow to go online."

Progressive serves the auto insurance needs of more than 331,000 New Yorkers, operating 20 offices and employing more than 650 people throughout the state. In business since 1937, Progressive provides consumers throughout the U.S. and Canada with competitively priced automobile insurance and 24- hour, in-person services via the phone, Internet and more than 30,000 Independent Agents across the country, making it the nation's largest writer of auto insurance through Independent Agents. The Progressive company writing auto insurance in New York receives an A++ rating -- the highest available -- from A.M. Best, the independent company that rates the financial conditions of insurance companies. The Progressive Corporation's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: PGR). More information about the company can be found on the World Wide Web at progressive.com.

  SOURCE  Progressive Corporation       -0-                             07/31/98   

/NOTE TO EDITORS: The company's New York General Managers are available for interviews on this and other auto insurance related subjects. They are: Downstate: Alan Brannan, 732-726-5621; Capital Region/Hudson Valley: Victor Politzi, 518-862-5112; Western New York (Rochester/Buffalo) Robin Harbage, 716-463-3137; Central New York (Syracuse), John Barbagallo, 315-453-6483./

/CONTACT: Leslie Kolleda, 904-947-5158, or Donna Marquard, 440-446-2361, both of Progressive/

      /Web site:  http://www.progressive.com/     (PGR)  CO:  Progressive Corporation ST:  New York IN:  INS MLM AUT SU:  PDT      JS-KB -- CLF008 -- 9909 07/31/98 13:42 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com   

Research from M. Madhan and Co-Authors Provides New Data about General Science.

According to the authors of a study from Bangalore, India, "Most of the papers published in the more than 360 Indian open access journals are by Indian researchers. But how many papers do they publish in high impact international open access journals? We have looked at India's contribution to all seven Public Library of Science (PLoS) journals, 10 BioMed Central (BMC) journals and Acta Crystallographica Section E: Structure Reports."

"Indian crystallographers have published more than 2,000 structure reports in Acta Crystallographica, second only to China in number of papers, but have a much better citations per paper average than USA, Britain, Germany and France, China and South Korea. India's contribution to BMC and PLoS journals, on the other hand, is modest at best," wrote M. Madhan and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "We suggest that the better option for India is institutional self-archiving."

Madhan and colleagues published their study in Current Science (Use made of open access journals by Indian researchers to publish their findings. Current Science, 2011;100(9):1297-1306).

For more information, contact S. Arunachalam, Center Internet & Society, 194, 2nd C Cross, Domlur 2nd Stage, Bangalore 560071, Karnataka, INDIA.

Publisher contact information for the journal Current Science is: Indian Acad Sciences, C V Raman Avenue, Sadashivanagar, P B #8005, Bangalore 560 080, India.

Keywords: City:Bangalore, Country:India, Region:Asia, General Science

This article was prepared by China Weekly News editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, China Weekly News via VerticalNews.com.

O3B NETWORKS SIGNS DEAL WITH MAVONI TECHNOLOGIES, SOUTH AFRICA.

multi-year, multi-million dollar deal with Mavoni Technologies Africa, a leading provider of information technology in South Africa focused on enterprise IT solutions and outsourcing services to the corporate and public service sectors.

South Africa has the most developed telecommunications infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa with multiple submarine cable networks and an extensive national fiber network. However, while users in cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town can enjoy high-speed broadband, users in the more remote areas are still largely disconnected from the global internet backbone.

"In choosing to work with O3b Networks, Mavoni Technologies is now better positioned to bring end to end, cost effective IP broadband connectivity services to government municipalities and schools located in poorly served areas of South Africa. Mavoni Technologies intends to cooperate with various government agencies to help them achieve universal service objectives and have selected O3b Networks as their strategic connectivity partner. We are pleased to work with such an organization and look forward to supporting them to deliver a quality and sustainable product to their end customers." said John Finney, Chief Commercial Officer, O3b Networks.

"Our mission as an organization is to help our clients turn knowledge and innovation into real value. Through this partnership with O3b, we are going to deliver high-speed connectivity at fiber like speeds to places like Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape. These are traditionally areas that fiber networks are not able to reach. In partnership with the provincial government of Limpopo, we intend to connect more than 500 schools in rural areas. We are also working with the Department of Education in Northern Cape Province to provide connectivity to over 1,500 schools. This will impact the lives of more than 185,000 students." said Tinyiko Valoyi, CEO of Mavoni Technologies.

About O3b Networks Ltd.

O3b Networks is building a new fiber-quality, satellite-based, global Internet backbone for telecommunications operators (telcos) and Internet service providers (ISPs) in emerging markets. The O3b Networks system will combine global reach and the speed of a fiber-optic network. With investments and operational support from SES, Google, Liberty Global, HSBC Principal Investments, Northbridge Venture Partners, Allen & Company, Development Bank of Southern Africa, Sofina and Satya Capital, the O3b system will provide telcos and ISPs with a low-cost, high-speed alternative to connect their 3G, WiMAX and fixed-line networks to the rest of the world. This will allow billions of consumers and businesses in more than 150 countries to benefit from high-speed Internet connectivity for educational, medical and commercial applications. O3b Networks' headquarters is in St. John, Jersey, Channel Islands.

About Mavoni Technologies

Mavoni Technologies is an empowered Information Technology service provider focusing on the provision of enterprise IT solutions and outsourcing services to the Corporate and Public Service sectors in South Africa. Mavoni's focus is in helping organizations to leverage technology to streamline their business processes, achieve productivity gains, lower their operational costs and ultimately win market share.

For more information please visit http://www.mavoni.co.za.

This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. Any public offering of securities to be made in the United States will be made by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from the issuer and that will contain detailed information about the issuer and management, as well as financial statements. The company does not intend to register any part of the present offering in the United States.

O3b Networks Ltd.

Luisa Sorrentino VP, Marketing Communications

luisa.sorrentino@o3bnetworks.com

www.o3bnetworks.com.or

Mavoni Technologies

Tinyiko Valoyi, CEO

tinyiko@mavoni.co.zawww.mavoni.co.za

KEYWORD: Europe Jersey South Africa Africa

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: Education Other Education Technology Data Management Networks Software

CATEGORY KEYWORD: Contract/Agreement

Source: O3b Networks

Copyright Business Wire 2011

ASIA PULSE nt 31-05 1620

jcpenney Designer Takes Top Honors at DIFFA/Dallas Gala.

Award Showcases jcpenney's Style Authority and Underscores Company's Commitment to Local Communities

PLANO, Texas, May 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Reinforcing jcpenney's style authority, Geoffrey Henning, jcpenney's divisional vice president of design, took home the coveted Excellence in Design award from the Design Industry Foundation Fighting Aids (DIFFA) at the organization's Dallas Chapter's recent benefit gala. A supporter of DIFFA/Dallas since 2003, jcpenney's participation in the gala not only emphasizes the brand's commitment to giving back to its local communities, it also served as a key opportunity to showcase its strong in-house design talent among the design community.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110511/DA00548)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110222/DA51975LOGO )

"Geoffrey's recognition represents the exceptional talent of our in-house designers who create the high-quality, fashion-forward looks that make jcpenney a first-choice style destination," said Ken Mangone, executive vice president of product development, design and sourcing at jcpenney. "We are delighted to be a part of DIFFA/Dallas's cause in giving back and are pleased that Geoffrey's talent has been recognized by the design community."

Henning also designed two looks - a "Black Swan" and a "White Swan" jacket - which were showcased in the gala's silent auction. Additionally, a jacket designed by Henning and his team was the highest bid item during the gala's silent auction, helping to raise $9,000 for DIFFA/Dallas.

"As a designer, I'm honored to be recognized by such as inspiring organization as DIFFA/Dallas, who has long been the leader in mobilizing the immense resources of the design community to provide education and funding for treatment and care to those living with HIV/AIDS," said Henning.

Henning was just one of 15 designers representing jcpenney at the benefit gala in Dallas. Additional in-house jcpenney designers as well as jcpenney design partners Michele Bohbot, Nicole Miller and Charlotte Ronson also designed and submitted fashionable jackets for the auction. jcpenney's home design team also created a chic lounge for guests to mingle at the event.

For images from the event please visit http://www.jcpenney.net/about/jcpmedia/n3_comp_info/diffa/diffa.aspx

About J. C. Penney Company, Inc.

J. C. Penney Company, Inc., one of America's leading retailers, operates over 1,100 jcpenney department stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as one of the largest apparel and home furnishing sites on the Internet, jcp.com. Serving more than half of America's families each year, the jcpenney brand offers a wide array of private, exclusive and national brands which reflect the Company's vision to be America's shopping destination for discovering great styles at compelling prices. Traded as "JCP" on the New York Stock Exchange, the $17.8 billion retailer is transforming its organization to support its Long Range Plan strategies to build a sustainable, profitable enterprise that serves its customers, engages its associates and rewards its shareholders. For more information visit, www.jcpenney.net.

jcpenney media contact:

Rebecca Winter and Kate Coultas; 972-431-3400; jcpcorpcomm@jcpenney.com

SOURCE jcpenney

PENNSYLVANIA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO $4.4 MILLION VOIP FRAUD SCHEME.

TRENTON, N.J. -- The following information was released by the Newark Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation:

A man who pretended to be an Internet telephone service wholesaler today admitted his role in a scheme to steal more than $4.4 million from multiple Voice Over Internet Protocol service providers, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Harjeet Bhambhani, 39, of East Stroudsburg, Pa., pleaded guilty this morning to an Information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Bhambhani entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan in Trenton federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Voice Over Internet Protocol ("VOIP") services transmit telephone calls over high-speed Internet connections rather than over traditional land-based telephone lines. They do not usually travel directly from a caller to a recipient's computer, but rather through computers belonging to several layers of intermediary VOIP service providers, or wholesalers. VOIP wholesalers charge different rates, typically by the minute, to transmit VOIP calls.

Bhambhani, Vinod Tonangi, 32, of Guttenberg, N.J., previously charged in a separate Complaint, and others held themselves out as the owners and operators of Paradise Communications ("Paradise"), Reach Communications ("Reach"), and Airtel Holdings ("Airtel") - companies that purported to be established VOIP wholesalers. The companies were shell companies with no operations, the sole purpose of which was to induce companies that sold VOIP services - including ATandT, Cordial Communications, Digerati Networks, France Telecom, Iristel, Keywest Communications, Maxcom Telecomunicaciones, Pipeline Telecom, Primus Communications, Surfcreek Communications, and Verizon - into providing those services to Bhambhani and his co-conspirators on credit.

Bhambhani and his co-conspirators ultimately sold the VOIP services that they stole to legitimate VOIP wholesalers and shared the profits.

To make it appear as if the shell companies were legitimate VOIP wholesalers and to induce the victim providers to extend credit to the companies on favorable terms, Bhambhani and his co-conspirators took several fraudulent steps, including establishing fake business addresses for the shell companies at prominent New York locations, including the Empire State Building.

The co-conspirators also used Internet-based answering services that purported to connect callers to the shell companies' various departments, such as accounts receivable and marketing, but really connected to cell phones controlled by the co-conspirators.

Bhambhani and his co-conspirators created shell company e-mail accounts in the names of non-existent employees for communicating with victim providers; websites that contained false information, such as the names of non-existent employees and the companies' fabricated qualifications to serve as VOIP wholesalers; and aliases to negotiate the purchase of VOIP services.

They also fabricated year-end financial reports that bore the logo of a national accounting firm in order to give the appearance that the shell companies' financial reports had been reviewed by that firm.

When the victim providers sold VOIP services to the shell companies on credit, Bhambhani and his coconspirators would "bust out" the account by causing the companies to use substantially more VOIP services than the companies had been approved to buy in such a short period of time. The co-conspirators would do this over weekends and holidays so that the providers would not notice.

When the invoices for the services came due, the co-conspirators would send fake wire transfer confirmations via e-mail or submit small payments to keep the victim providers from cutting off service.

If victim providers sued or threatened to sue the shell companies, Bhambani and his coconspirators would respond in legal pleadings or letters that they prepared in the name of a non-existent attorney, Frank Soss. Bhambhani and Tonangi created and used a fraudulent United States passport in the name Frank Soss by downloading and altering a exemplar passport image and photograph from the Internet.

As a result of their conspiracy, Bhambhani and his coconspirators defrauded the victim providers of more than $4.4 million in VOIP services.

The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is currently scheduled for August 24, 2011. The charge against Tonagi remains pending.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward in Newark, with the investigation leading to today's guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Kosto of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.

As for Tonangi, the charge and allegations contained in the Complaint are merely allegations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

11-171

Defense counsel: Donald Horowitz, Esq., Hackensack, N.J.

WISEKEY NOMINATED BY THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM AS A GROWTH CO.(Company overview)

(Full text of statement. Contact details below.)

MEDIA RELEASE PR41163

WISeKey Nominated by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as One of the Global Growth Companies

GENEVA, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --

WISeKey, the leading eSecurity and Digital Trust company, has been nominated by the World Economic Forum as a Global Growth Company. The World Economic Forum's Global Growth Companies (GGC), founded in 2007, nominates leading enterprises from around the world that have the potential to become tomorrow's industry leaders and a driving force of economic and social change. The GGC Community has admitted, as of June 2010, 250 companies from over 50 countries and from all sectors. These rapidly growing emergent multinationals are supported by the GGC as they navigate new geographies, markets, cultures and regulatory systems to become a major driving force in social and economic development.

The GGCs, Technology Pioneers and Young Global Leaders are the three pillars that form the Forum's Community of New Champions.

Companies selected as Global Growth Companies must demonstrate an annual growth rate exceeding industry and regional average by 15 per cent, a minimum turnover between US$ 100 million and US$ 5 billion depending on the industry, a demonstrated growth potential, the capacity and intent to build a global business and exemplary executive leadership.

WISeKey is the global leader on Digital Identification and Trusted Secure Electronic Transactions over the Internet. WISeKey's disruptive technology and business model excel at knowing the digital identification and transaction market, staying close to customers, and using this technology to contribute to the Web and communications over the long term by improving every kind of trusted data exchange.

"We are honored that the World Economic Forum has again nominated WISeKey as a Global Growth Company this year. This nomination is the recognition that WISeKey is making a profound contribution to securing the Net and to allowing hundreds of million of users equipped with WISeKey technologies to perform highly secure electronic transactions over the Internet" said Carlos Moreira, founder and CEO of WISeKey. "This recognition is also proof that Geneva, Switzerland is emerging as one of the hottest places in the world to start and develop a tech company."

Mr. Pierre-Francois Unger, Minister of the Department of Economy and Health added that, "Geneva is in itself a sort of natural incubator that allows innovation that stems from our specialized schools to be brought to the forefront in the creation of new technologically advanced companies."

WISeKey was also part of the founding members of the World Economic Forum's Community of Global Growth Companies, formed in 2007 to engage dynamic high-growth companies with the potential to be tomorrow's industry leaders and to become a driving force of economic and social change.

The Global Growth Companies will be meeting at the "Summer Davos" in Asia's Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2010 Tianjin, People's Republic of China 13-15 September.

SOURCE: WISeKey SA

CONTACT: WISeKey SA Olivia Ward oward@wisekey.com +41(0)22-594-300

ASIA PULSE nt 13-09 1221

PTI Holding Sales To Increase in Excess of 100% for the Third Quarter

HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON, N.Y., Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- PTI Holding Inc. (Nasdaq: PTII) announced today that net sales for the third quarter will exceed $4 million. The third quarter's revenues will be in excess of 100% greater than the prior years revenues of $1,906,634 for the quarter ended September 30, 1995. While the company did not release an earnings estimate for the quarter as it could not be determined at this time, it expects earnings to increase significantly over the same period last year.

Warren Schaeffer, President of PTI stated: "We are extremely pleased with our sales performance during the third quarter. This years growth in the third quarter was due to increased sales in the accessory business as well as increases in helmet sales. New accessory items shipped for the first time in the second quarter have been selling through nicely. This has led retailers to give us significant reorders on our new product lines. The increasing role of accessory items has been quite dramatic in the growth of the company. Accessory items for 1996 will account for approximately 30% of sales, up from only 5% last year. Our growth has come from our ability to continue to develop new value oriented products that we can sell through our existing distribution channels. We see the growth rate in our non-helmet sales out- pacing the continued growth in helmets in 1997 as we expand and diversify our product lines."

PTI manufactures and distributes a full line of bicycle helmets and bicycle accessories as well as children's bicycle accessories sold under the Playskool(TM) brand name. PTI products are sold nationwide at Toys "R" Us, Target Stores, Sports Authority and Sam's Club.

SOURCE PTI Holding, Inc.

     -0-                             10/09/96 

/CONTACT: Karl Foust, Financial Relations, 800-484-6552, pin #7071, or Meredith Birittella, CEO, 914-478-8200, or http://www.growth.com/MENU/PTII -- Internet, both of PTI/

(PTII)

CO: PTI Holding Inc. ST: New York IN: TEX SU: SLS

BS-LH -- NYW051 -- 2392 10/09/96 10:40 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com

Ameren Reaffirms 2007 Earnings Guidance.

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ameren Corporation today announced that it will reaffirm at meetings with investors at the 42nd Edison Electric Institute Financial Conference that it expects 2007 GAAP earnings guidance to range between $2.80 and $3.05 per share. Ameren will also reaffirm it expects 2007 non-GAAP earnings to range between $3.15 to $3.40 per share.

The 2007 non-GAAP earnings per share guidance excludes a 9 cents per share negative impact from severe January 2007 ice storms; an estimated 26 cents per share negative impact of the settlement agreement among parties in Illinois to provide comprehensive electric rate relief and customer assistance; a 5 cents per share positive impact resulting from the reversal of accruals made in 2006 for low-income energy assistance and energy efficiency program funding commitments in Illinois; and a 5 cents per share negative impact of a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) order, which retroactively adjusted prior years' regional transmission organization costs. Ameren's earnings guidance for 2007 assumes normal weather for the balance of 2007 and is subject to, among other things, regulatory and legislative decisions, plant operations, energy market and economic conditions, the impact of severe storms, unusual or otherwise unexpected gains or losses and other risks and uncertainties outlined in Ameren's Forward-looking Statements.

Ameren Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Warner L. Baxter will give a presentation to analysts on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007, at the 42nd Edison Electric Institute Financial Conference. The presentation will be at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time (9:30 a.m. Central Time). This presentation is being webcast and can be accessed at http://www.ameren.com/. A playback of the call will also be available on Ameren's web site for one year.

Ameren will release its earnings for the three and nine months ended Sept. 30, 2007, on Friday, Nov. 9, 2007, and will conduct a conference call for analysts at 9:00 a.m. Central Time on that day. Warner L. Baxter, Ameren Executive Vice President and CFO and Martin J. Lyons, Ameren Vice President and Controller, will discuss third quarter 2007 financial results and other matters related to the company. This hour-long call will be broadcast live on the Internet at http://www.ameren.com/. A playback of the call will also be available on Ameren's web site for one year

With assets of over $20 billion, Ameren serves approximately 2.4 million electric customers and almost one million natural gas customers in a 64,000 square mile area of Missouri and Illinois. Ameren owns a diverse mix of electric generating plants strategically located in its Midwest market with a generating capacity of more than 16,400 megawatts.

Regulation G Statement

The 2007 non-GAAP earnings per share guidance excludes the impact of January 2007 severe storms, a March 2007 FERC order that increased regional transmission organization costs, the reversal of accruals made in 2006 for low-income energy assistance and energy efficiency program funding commitments in Illinois and the earnings impact of the 2007 settlement agreement among parties in Illinois for comprehensive electric rate relief and customer assistance. Ameren believes this information is useful because it enables readers to better understand the impact of these factors on Ameren's results of operations and earnings per share.

Forward-looking Statements

Statements in this release not based on historical facts are considered "forward-looking" and, accordingly, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. Although such forward-looking statements have been made in good faith and are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that the expected results will be achieved. These statements include (without limitation) statements as to future expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies, objectives, events, conditions, and financial performance. In connection with the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we are providing this cautionary statement to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. The following factors, in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this release and in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking statements:

   -- regulatory or legislative actions, including changes in regulatory      policies and ratemaking determinations, such as the outcome of pending      AmerenCIPS, AmerenCILCO and AmerenIP rate proceedings or future      legislative actions that seek to limit rate increases;   -- uncertainty as to the implementation of the Illinois electric      settlement agreement on Ameren and its Illinois utilities and      generating companies, including in respect of the new power procurement      process in Illinois for 2008 and 2009;   -- changes in laws and other governmental actions, including monetary and      fiscal policies;   -- the effects of increased competition in the future due to, among other      things, deregulation of certain aspects of our business at both the      state and federal levels, and the implementation of deregulation, such      as occurred when the electric rate freeze and power supply contracts      expired in Illinois at the end of 2006;   -- the effects of participation in the Midwest Independent Transmission      System Operator;   -- the availability of fuel such as coal, natural gas, and enriched      uranium used to produce electricity; the availability of purchased      power and natural gas for distribution; and the level and volatility of      future market prices for such commodities, including the ability to      recover the costs for such commodities;   -- the effectiveness of our risk management strategies and the use of      financial and derivative instruments; prices for power in the Midwest;   -- business and economic conditions, including their impact on interest      rates;   -- disruptions of the capital markets or other events that make access to      necessary capital more difficult or costly;   -- the impact of the adoption of new accounting standards and the      application of appropriate technical accounting rules and guidance;   -- actions of credit rating agencies and the effects of such actions;   -- weather conditions and other natural phenomena;   -- the impact of system outages caused by severe weather conditions or      other events;   -- generation plant construction, installation and performance, including      costs associated with AmerenUE's Taum Sauk pumped-storage hydroelectric      plant incident and the plant's future operation;   -- recoverability through insurance of costs associated with AmerenUE's      Taum Sauk pumped-storage hydroelectric plant incident;   -- operation of AmerenUE's nuclear power facility, including planned and      unplanned outages, and decommissioning costs;   -- the effects of strategic initiatives, including acquisitions and      divestitures;   -- the impact of current environmental regulations on utilities and power      generating companies and the expectation that more stringent      requirements, including those related to greenhouse gases, will be      introduced over time, which could have a negative financial effect;   -- labor disputes, future wage and employee benefits costs, including      changes in returns on benefit plan assets;   -- the inability of our counterparties and affiliates to meet their      obligations with respect to contracts and financial instruments;   -- the cost and availability of transmission capacity for the energy      generated or required to satisfy energy sales;   -- legal and administrative proceedings; and   -- acts of sabotage, war, terrorism or intentionally disruptive acts.    

Given these uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events, or otherwise.

CONTACT: Analysts, Bruce Steinke, +1-314-554-2574, bsteinke@ameren.com, or Missouri-National Media, Tim Fox, +1-314-554-3120, tfox@ameren.com, or Illinois Media, Erica Abbett +1-618-236-4329, eabbett@ameren.com, or Investors, Investor Services, 1-800-255-2237, invest@ameren.com, all of Ameren Corporation

Web site: http://www.ameren.com/

Banking on Bandwidth: Microsoft Holds 'Hands-on Labs' to Help Financial Firms Maximize Branch Connectivity, Security.

Microsoft ISA Server Increases Branch Bandwidth and Security With Built-In Caching, VPN and Firewall Capabilities

REDMOND, Wash., April 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp. today is kicking off a series of worldwide "hands-on labs" to help financial services institutions such as banks and investment firms bring better bandwidth and security to branch offices -- without breaking the bank.

While central offices within financial institutions boast high-speed Internet access and complex security safeguards, branch offices often suffer from limited bandwidth and are more susceptible to threats. In addition, as older branch applications rooted in 3270 green screens migrate to Web- standards- and browser-based applications, banks and other financial firms are concerned about how to maximize bandwidth at the branch, while maintaining secure connectivity to headquarters in a security-enhanced environment. A recent boom in branch build-out has exacerbated the problem, as institutions spend an increasing percentage of their budget toward labor versus IT infrastructure.

"Our surveys have shown that more than half of the 18,000 banks and related institutions nationwide have a 56Kbps connection or slower to the back office," said Jerry Silva, senior analyst, delivery channels, with financial services analyst firm The TowerGroup Inc. "Many of these are smaller community banks and credit unions. But even offices of larger financial services firms have concerns over bandwidth, and this is increasingly driven by a desire at the branch to perform videoconferencing, voice over IP or the transmission of check images due to Check 21 legislation."

Microsoft's hands-on labs, which kick off today in New York and will be held in major U.S. and European financial centers, are workshops on how to use many of the features included in the Microsoft(R) Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004 platform. As part of Microsoft's Channel Renewal initiative for financial services, the labs will teach senior IT staff and other attendees how to bolster intraoffice bandwidth via the server's caching features, while also taking advantage of ISA Server's built-in application layer firewall and virtual private network (VPN) to help secure communications between branch office and headquarters.

"Microsoft's vision for the branch office is to empower financial institutions to attain the end-user productivity benefits of a local branch server, while improving performance and cost," said Bill Hartnett, general manager of strategy and solutions for the U.S. Financial Services Group at Microsoft. "By using Microsoft ISA Server at the branch, employees gain productivity, while IT departments benefit from built-in security, and lower infrastructure and bandwidth costs."

Features of Microsoft ISA Server 2004

ISA Server 2004 offers a unique and compelling branch solution. Key benefits include the following:

    --   Application-layer filtering that helps provide deep content         inspection in addition to layer-4 firewall protection technologies    --   Increased protection against common network-layer attacks through         stateful packet filtering    --   Remote VPN access so branch employees can connect to their branch         office network while working from home or on business trips    --   Web caching for frequently accessed content to increase the         efficient use of bandwidth    --   HTTP compression that delivers a faster browsing experience while         reducing bandwidth consumption    --   Traffic prioritization that provides business-critical applications         with network precedence    --   Improved support for Microsoft Update to help ensure branch office         desktops are kept more secure in a bandwidth-conscious manner   

More information about Microsoft's branch office vision involving Microsoft ISA Server can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/solutions/branch/default.mspx .

About Microsoft in Financial Services

Microsoft's Financial Services Group provides software that helps financial firms transform the customer, employee and operations experience so they can maximize opportunities for increased market share and profitability. Microsoft software helps empower people and IT staff within financial firms -- and across key focus areas such as advisor platforms, channel renewal, insurance value chain, enterprise risk management and compliance, and payments. Through a combination of Microsoft- and partner-provided solutions, customers enable their employees to turn data into insight, transform ideas into action and turn change into opportunity.

More information about Microsoft's Financial Services Group can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/financialservices .

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

NOTE: Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: press only, Ted Ladd of Microsoft, +1-646-225-4722, or tedladd@microsoft.com; or Lisa Tryall of SS+K, +1-425-201-2045, or ltryall@ssk.com, for Microsoft

Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/