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Delivering on the Promise of Web 2.0 and Better Online Shopping: GSI Commerce Forms Strategic Alliance with Allurent

10/24/2007

GSI makes an equity investment in Allurent; GSI's e-commerce platform will     leverage Allurent's solutions to deliver more dynamic and appealing shopping experiences

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. and CAMBRIDGE, Mass, Oct. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - - GSI Commerce Inc. (Nasdaq: GSIC), a leading provider of e-commerce solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with Allurent, an innovative software company powering superior online shopping experiences. Under the terms of the agreement, GSI will integrate Allurent's Rich Internet Commerce suite of products into its e-commerce platform and will leverage Allurent's Rich Internet Application (RIA) framework to offer e-commerce features that are designed to improve customer satisfaction, competitive differentiation and sales. Allurent's modular suite of products will enable GSI's partners to entice consumers with features that range from rich merchandising presentations to simpler purchasing and check-out options.

In addition, GSI has made an equity investment in Allurent, reaffirming its commitment to the future of Web 2.0 applications, and to being on the forefront of the most interactive and engaging shopping experiences on the Internet.

"GSI Commerce is a forward-thinking organization that consistently meets the changing needs of its clients," stated Joe Chung, co-founder and CEO of Allurent. "Partnering with GSI will significantly accelerate the adoption of Allurent products. Working together, we can enable GSI's retailers to transform online shopping from what's traditionally been a utilitarian activity into a fully-branded, enticing shopping experience."

Advancements in Web 2.0 technologies enable retailers and brand manufacturers to present more compelling and engaging online shopping experiences to consumers, allowing them to interact with their brands, learn more about their products, and make better purchasing decisions through advanced interactivity and intuitive design. In a recent study, "The 2007 State of Retailing Online," Shop.org and Forrester Research found that "while approximately half of retailers are using some rich Internet applications (RIAs) or flash application on their site now, 69% of retailers plan to invest even more heavily in them in the coming year." In additional September 2006 research from Forrester, Web Users Want Rich Internet Applications," the firm finds that "the majority of online consumers who have used RIAs say that these applications improve their Web experiences."

"Our current and prospective retail partners are interested in adding rich Internet applications to take online shopping to the next level for their customers," said Fiona Dias, executive vice president of partner strategy & marketing. "Working with Allurent enables us to address this need with innovative products that are faster to deploy than custom built solutions and that empower retailers to make compelling e-commerce and merchandising interactions a part of their core business strategy rather than as a one-off project."

About Allurent, Inc.:
Leading retailers partner with Allurent to create the most compelling online shopping experiences imaginable. Its innovative e-commerce products deliver rich interactions throughout the shopping lifecycle, from browsing to choosing to buying. The result is a superior shopping experience leading to more satisfied customers and greater sales. Allurent's deep experience developing world-class e-commerce software helps the company deliver intuitive and engaging products that are easily configured to match a retailer's brand and integrates with their existing e-commerce infrastructure. Allurent is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass. For additional information please visit http://www.allurent.com.

    About GSI Commerce

    GSI Commerce(R) is a leading provider of e-commerce solutions that

enable retailers, branded manufacturers, entertainment companies and

professional sports organizations to operate e-commerce businesses. We

provide solutions for our partners through our integrated e-commerce

platform, which is comprised of four components: technology, customer care,

fulfillment and marketing services. We provide e-commerce solutions for

more than 80 partners.

 

 

 
   
 
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