Apple uses 1st Virtual

[David Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

            APPLE BEGINS SELLING QUICKTIME MULTIMEDIA SOFTWARE


           OVER THE INTERNET USING FIRST VIRTUAL PAYMENT SYSTEM


     Cupertino, Calif. -- First Virtual Holdings Inc. has
announced that Apple Computer, Inc. is now selling its QuickTime
2.0 software for Apple Macintosh  and Microsoft Windows over the
Internet using First Virtual's Internet Payment System (IPS).
     "Apple chose First Virtual to manage its merchant
transactions not only because First Virtual's IPS system is
operational today, but also because it uses real money to conduct
its transactions," said Martin Haeberli of Apple's Advanced
Technology Group.  "It's a well managed global system that
supports multiple currencies while maintaining reasonably priced
transaction fees."
     The First Virtual IPS provides easy, secure transactions
over the Internet through the use of a special personal
identification number (PIN).  After opening a First Virtual
account and providing a credit card number through secure
telephone lines, anyone can receive a First Virtual PIN number to
purchase a rapidly growing number of information products on the
Internet.  The First Virtual system also goes a step further than
PINs used to confirm ATM and other cash transactions.  Once a
purchase has been made, First Virtual automatically sends e-mail
to the account holder asking them to confirm his or her purchase.
     "We're very pleased to have Apple selling QuickTime from its
own World Wide Web pages using the First Virtual Internet Payment
System," said Lee Stein, president and chief executive officer of
First Virtual. "This demonstrates that First Virtual has achieved
its goal of enabling companies of all sizes to be merchants on
the Internet.  We now have a range from solo entrepreneurs
selling newsletters and digital images on the First Virtual
InfoHaus to one of the world's largest computer companies.  This
is an important milestone in the rapidly changing world of
info-commerce.".......