Citibank
downloadable toolbar, powered by Obongo, that lets users shop the Internet
with single-click login, registration, form filling, searching and comparison
shopping.
The new toolbar also allows the
user to filter or forward e-mail. The application is server-based so, unlike
passwords and favorite sites stored on a local PC, a user of the Citibank
Toolbar can access his or her personal toolbar from any computer with
Internet access.
Citibank said the app uses multi-layer encryption to keep consumer
information protected.
“The Internet needs to be more consumer friendly for (consumers) to take
full advantage of it,” said Steven J. Freiberg, president and CEO of Citi
Cards in North America. “They want to be able to conduct their online
shopping and other activities in a fast, easy and secure manner and the new
Citibank Toolbar provides a tool to do just that.”
Citigroup has stated it intends to become a major player in facilitating
online consumer payments.
The Citibank Toolbar appears at the bottom of the user’s browser and offers
customization features that include: single-click login and access to
favorite sites; single-click form filling and registration (includes profile
with shipping and billing information); comparison shopping for product
prices across thousands of merchant sites; consumer reviews of the most
popular products; ratings of the most popular merchants; optional advisories
on sites’ privacy policies; e-mail management that allows the user to filter
and forward messages; and tools for getting stock quotes and performing Web
searches.
The toolbar will also include functions to allow easy access to Citigroup and
Citibank financial products and services.
“We are delighted that the largest financial services company in the world
has chosen our technology to enhance their customers’ e-commerce experience,”
said John Hunt, CEO of Obongo. Financial arrangements between the companies
were not disclosed.
Obongo released its first product, the obongo bar for the PC, last March.
The company operates as an ASP (application service provider) providing a
turnkey hosted service to partners such as financial and telecom companies.
