Note from the Editor
New features and more.

Worldbid.com headlines B2B article in Maclean's magazine
Worldbid.com receives prominent coverage in leading Canadian Newsmagazine.

New Feature: online Request for Quote [RFQ] service added
Buyers and sellers now able to place and track requests for price quotes from potential business partners.

Finding needles in haystacks: Improved Trade Leads search
Improved search functionality being introduced gradually across the Worldbid network.

SirCam and the importance of Anti-Virus protection
Quick spread of new virus underscores the need for virus protection.

Note from the Editor

The Worldbid team has been busy. This issue, we're pleased to announce improved trade lead search functionality and a new online RFQ engine and tracking service. We've also been busy establishing new business relationships and alliances with high-profile brands aimed at growing the Worldbid Network member base.

Worldbid.com headlines B2B article in Maclean's magazine

The Worldbid.com marketplace is featured in an article on B2B in the May 21, 2001 issue of Maclean's magazine.

The online version is available to be read here.

New feature: online Request for Quote [RFQ] service added

Two new features have been added recently to Worldbid.com; the RFQ Engine and the RFQ Tracker.

These features are aimed at facilitating the RFQ process by providing tools that simplify the initial request and by providing a centralized location from which to monitor responses and to conduct ongoing negotiations.

The RFQ Engine and RFQ Tracker are the subject of this issue's Focus: segment, so click here to read more about these exciting new features.

Finding needles in haystacks: Improved Trade Leads search

An improved Trade Lead search function is gradually being introduced across the Worldbid network.

The new service has a variety of new selection criteria to assist in refining your searches, including the ability to filter by Star Rating, country, private or public sector and more.

Click Here to access the Trade Leads area of the Worldbid.com site and try out the new search features.

SirCam and the importance of Anti-Virus protection

The rapid proliferation of the W32.Sircam.Worm@mm [Sircam] virus during the past week has once again brought to light the need for organizations and individuals to take proper precautions when doing business on the Internet.

Fortunately for most, the Sircam virus has proven to be only moderately damaging. One major area of concern, however, has been the virus' method of propagation. It spreads by emailing addresses found on the affected system, infecting and attaching a random document from within the Windows' My Documents folder. As many people use this folder to store sensitive business and/or personal information, the virus poses the additional threat of potentially releasing confidential information.

A complete description of the Sircam virus can be found here.

Please take precautions to ensure that your computer system and network are protected by quality antivirus software and that the virus definition list is current [most antivirus manufacturers release new definitions on a frequent basis]. Your business partners will thank you for doing so.

The Worldbid.com RFQ Engine, located in the Trade Leads and Company Directory areas, enables members to place online Requests for Quotes [RFQs] to potential business partners who are members of the Worldbid network.

Responses and ongoing communications between the parties can be followed using the RFQ Tracker, located within the Account Management area.

Upon receiving a RFQ, a response to your RFQ or a new message in the RFQ Tracker, you will be notified via email. The RFQ Tracker section on the mainpage of the Account Management area will also be updated to reflect that there are new messages.

Following are brief overviews of the features of the RFQ Engine and RFQ Tracker:

RFQ Engine - The RFQ Engine simplifies and standardizes the RFQ process by automating certain processes, such as inclusion of your contact information, and by providing check boxes to request additional information, such as Warranties and Sample Availability. You can also specify quantity, unit type [boxes, cases, etc], delivery deadline, a short product description and any additional details as necessary.

RFQ Tracker - A centralized location from which to track all RFQs that you have submitted and/or received from other members of Worldbid.com, the RFQ tracker consists of the following sections:

• RFQ Tracker - HOME On this page you will find a complete listing of all the active RFQ cases associated with your account and their current status. You may also delete RFQ cases for which you no longer need the information on this page.
  
  
• RFQ Tracker - Case Tracker - Clicking on a case number in RFQ Tracker - Home will bring you to the corresponding case's Case Tracker page where you will find information on the other party. Below this information, are links to all communications between yourself and the other party, including each message's type and current status. To respond to a received quote, simply click the Negotiate Quote button at the bottom of the quote.

Take some time to familiarize yourself with these new services. They were designed to ease the transition from locating a good lead to closing the transaction.

A  

All members of Worldbid.com whose accounts are in good standing automatically receive one star. If a confirmed Dun & Bradstreet number was supplied during the registration process, two stars are awarded.

If you did not include your Dun & Bradstreet number when you first registered with Worldbid.com and would like to provide it now, please email our Customer Service Department at service@worldbid.com. Your account will be updated once the number has been verified.

The following is a brief summary of the Star-Rating System's ranking criteria:

• one star - A registered member of Worldbid.com whose account is in good standing.
• two stars - A registered member who proves a positive history of trade on Worldbid.com and/or A registered member of Worldbid with a Dun and Bradstreet number.
• three stars - A registered member of Worldbid.com with a positive Dun and Bradstreet rating.
• four stars - Any approved government agency.
• five stars [highest rating] - A registered member of Worldbid with an excellent Dun and Bradstreet rating.

WORLDBID APPOINTS INVESTORVALUE.COM TO HANDLE CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Victoria, British Columbia, July 25, 2001 - Worldbid Corporation (NASD OTCBB: WBID). Worldbid Corporation today announced the appointment of investorvalue.com to handle corporate communications.

Roy Berelowitz, President of Worldbid Corporation, said, "We are pleased to be working with Jan Moir and investorvalue.com (http://investorvalue.com). We feel this will be a productive relationship as we move forward."

Investorvalue.com will assume responsibility of corporate communications for Worldbid Corporation, including fostering strategic relationships and expanding the visibility of the company and its business.

Jan Moir, President and Director of Corporate Development for investorvalue.com, said, "Today's marketplace is highly competitive and differentiation is a major factor in determining the success of an organization. We are excited to be working with Worldbid as they continue their initiatives in the B2B field."

Worldbid has recently announced a number of important business relationships and strategic alliances, including:

• Microsoft Canada Co. - Strategic alliance announced July 16, 2001 to provide WorldbidCanada.com's (http://www.worldbidcanada.com) trade services through the recently launched small business portal, bCentral.ca (http://www.bcentral.ca).
  
  
• Forbes.com - Business relationship announced July 2, 2001 to promote the Worldbid.com marketplace (http://www.worldbid.com) to Forbes' online readers.
  
  
• The Times Online (The Times of London) - Revenue sharing partnership announced July 7, 2001 to make Worldbid's trade lead content available through The Times Online website (http://www.thetimes.co.uk) and to promote the WorldbidUK.com marketplace (http://www.worldbiduk.com). [Click Here to Read the Full Release...]

"Thank you for your nice support, Worldbid.com staff. We have greatly increased our business dealing through Worldbid.com. Your service is very good and we have used contacts from your site to establish some business relationships with customers/partners which are very promising for our future."
Vu Tuan Giang, Director, Well Shine Co., Ltd (IMPORTER EXPORTER ), Hanoi, Vietnam [Read More...]