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Idiom Technologies Closes $5.25 Million First Round Venture Capital Financing

Greylock, North Bridge Venture Partners and Sigma Partners back pioneer Web globalization company

CAMBRIDGE, MA - March 29, 1999 - Idiom Technologies, the pioneer provider of Web globalization solutions, announced today that it has completed a $5.25 million first round of financing, with Greylock, North Bridge Venture Partners and Sigma Partners each investing in the company. Idiom also announced that it is strengthening its Board of Directors with the addition of Greylock's Chip Hazard, North Bridge's Angelo Santinelli and Sigma's Robert E. Davoli.

Idiom offers solutions for creating and managing global Web sites targeted at linguistically and geographically diverse audiences. Idiom's flagship WorldServer™ technology links Web infrastructure with translators and local authors to enable multilingual, geographically-targeted Web sites.

"Rapid international adoption of the Internet has created the need for companies to construct high-caliber sites targeted at global customers," said Eric Silberstein, founder and CEO of Idiom Technologies. "To meet these needs, Idiom has assembled a first-rate team that is passionate about both Web technology and linguistic and cultural issues."

Idiom's announcement comes at a time when businesses everywhere are realizing the importance of globalizing their Web presence. According to International Data Corporation 60% of Internet users and 40% of electronic commerce revenue will come from outside of the United States by 2002. Even more significantly, studies show that Web users are three times more likely to make a purchase online if they are addressed in their own language.

"To stay competitive, all companies with a Web presence will need to create local versions of e-commerce, customer service and intranet sites to better serve customers and employees worldwide," said Chip Hazard at Greylock. "Idiom's technology platform affords these companies an easy and effective way to achieve this goal. We are excited to invest in Idiom to help them take advantage of this compelling market opportunity."

"We recognize the market potential for an effective Web globalization solution and are impressed with the technology and people behind Idiom's flagship product, WorldServer," said Angelo Santinelli at North Bridge Venture Partners.

About Idiom Technologies
Idiom Technologies is the world's first provider of end-to-end technology for Web globalization. It allows multinationals, e-businesses and online retailers with far-reaching customers, employees, partners and suppliers to develop a truly international presence on the World Wide Web. Idiom's globalization technology enables increased and improved e-commerce, customer relations and corporate communications. Headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., Idiom was founded in January 1998 by Eric Silberstein. The principal executive officers bring to Idiom a wealth of experience in business and software development at Microsoft, MERL, and Internet and telecommunications start-ups. The highly talented development team, led by world-recognized computer science and math prodigy Ken Shan, combines exceptional engineering expertise, e-commerce development experience, and software localization training. For more information, call (617) 456-3000, visit http://www.idiominc.com or email to info@idiominc.com.

About Greylock
Greylock is a private venture capital firm, founded in Boston in 1965, with committed capital of over $725 million under management. Over the past 33 years Greylock has helped entrepreneurs to build more than 250 successful companies in the software, communications and healthcare industries. Greylock is available on the World Wide Web at www.greylock.com.

About North Bridge Venture Partners
North Bridge Venture Partners is an active, early-stage investment firm based in the Boston, Massachusetts area. Founded in 1994, North Bridge has particular emphasis on software, communications and Internet investments. Representative investments by North Bridge's partners include such companies as Wellfleet Communications, Cascade Communications, Redstone, SmarterKids.Com, Solid Works, and New Oak. North Bridge Venture Partners is available on the World Wide Web at www.nbvp.com.

About Sigma Partners
Sigma Partners is a privately held venture capital partnership organized in 1984 to make equity investments in businesses which offer favorable opportunity for significant growth in size and value. The partnership has a history of successful investing in entrepreneurial companies. Currently, Sigma manages four funds with combined capital of over $300 million. Sigma invests primarily in technology-based companies and has offices in Menlo Park, CA and Boston, MA. Sigma Partners is available on the World Wide Web at www.sigmapartners.com.