2009-05-26 07:31:21 - Billeo Browser Toolbar Certified Safe and Spyware-Free, Giving Users Control of Their Desktop and Their Personal Finances

SANTA CLARA, Calif. & SAN FRANCISCO--Billeo Inc. (www.billeo.com) announced on September 29, 2008 that its browser-based toolbar is the first online bill pay and shopping solution to pass the TRUSTe Trusted Download Program certification process. Billeo v.2.0 has been certified by TRUSTe to ensure informed consumer choice, honest behavior, and responsible distribution.

During the Billeo certification process, TRUSTe.com reviewed notice and consent experience for consumers, and tested the operation and behavior of the Billeo toolbar with testing partner AppLabs Technologies. A rigorous set of testing protocols were used to assess a broad range of application behavior.

“The Billeo toolbar passed the challenging certification process for the Trusted Download Whitelist with flying colors demonstrating a commitment to protecting consumer privacy,” said

Fran Maier, executive director and president of TRUSTe. “By completely informing users about the particulars of the downloads they offer up front, Billeo increases transparency and ensures that users have the ultimate control.”

Billeo streamlines the online bill payment process by giving consumers complete control over when and how they manage, organize, pay bills and shop online. Through the downloadable toolbar which powers the Billeo Bill Pay Assistant, Shopping Assistant, and Password Assistant products, Billeo quickly and easily allows users to set up a “one stop shop” bill pay center with stored account information, card data, reminders and much more. Billeo offers one-step password log-on and one-click completion of online shopping and bill pay forms. Payments are made directly to billing company and shopping websites, payments and credits are instantaneous, and electronic receipts are automatically captured, saved and filed. Nearly 6,000 billing companies across 26 categories, including utility, cable and credit card companies allow their customers to pay their bills online using Billeo. By searching the Billeo Directory users can quickly determine who accepts online payments and which payment methods they allow (credit cards, ACHA payments, etc.). And the Billeo Biller Directory is the largest available, anywhere.

“We’re pleased to be among the early companies to receive the TRUSTe Trusted Download certification,” said Murali Subbarao, founder and CEO of Billeo. “We are absolutely committed to the privacy and security of our community of users. They rely on us to manage their most important transactions and bills and to ensure their shopping transactions go smoothly and are safely recorded and stored. That commitment has not only earned their trust, but the trust of leading financial services companies such as Visa, Discover, and Chase. Each of these companies confidently feature Billeo as part of their offerings. All of our relationships are defined by trust and security.”

Trusted Download sponsors, representing leading content and search providers, anti-spyware vendors and online advertisers, offer market incentives for downloadable software publishers to become certified. CNET Networks, Microsoft, and Yahoo! will use the TRUSTe Whitelist as a tool to help make business decisions related to advertising, partnering and distributing software products. The TRUSTe Trusted Download Whitelist can be found at www.truste.org/tdp/whitelist.

Billeo’s solutions recently received the Editor’s Choice award and a Four Star rating from PC Magazine. The toolbar is available online at www.billeo.com at no charge.

About the Trusted Download Program
Trusted Download is a certification program for downloadable software, which demonstrates informed consumer choice, doesn't exhibit surreptitious activities, and is distributed in a responsible manner. A seal at the point of download reassures consumers and a whitelist elevates certified software for advertisers and distributors. The complete set of program requirements, and additional information on the certification criteria, program elements, FAQs and sponsor roles, is available on the Trusted Download website at www.trusteddownload.com.

About Billeo
Billeo gives consumers a fast, easy and intelligent way to exercise choice and control over their online purchases and payments. Billeo functions as the catalyst to make online purchases and bill paying as easy and financially rewarding as possible. Billeo was founded by experts from the EBPP, card issuer, banking, e-commerce and technology industries. Over 40 banks, 6 of the top ten card issuers and over 6,000 companies across 26 categories are part of the trusted Billeo network. Information about Billeo can be found at www.billeo.com/page/homepage.jsp?sitename=Billeo

About TRUSTe
TRUSTe helps consumers and businesses identify trustworthy online organizations through its Web Privacy Seal, Email Privacy Seal and Trusted Download Programs. TRUSTe certifies more than 2,000 Web sites, including the major internet portals and leading brands such as AOL, Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Intuit and eBay. TRUSTe resolves thousands of individual privacy disputes every year. To learn more about internet privacy visit www.truste.org.