FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Westboro, Ma. December 2001

Independent Yellow Pages and Newspaper Publishers to Use Switchboard's Directory Platform to Offer Internet-based Promotional Services to Businesses

Switchboard Incorporated (Nasdaq: SWBD), leading provider of directory technology and NearbuySM locally targeted e-marketing solutions, today announced the expansion of its channel sales efforts through partnerships with Ambassador Publishing, United Yellow Pages Inc. and ColoradoSprings.com. As technology partners, the three companies will utilize Switchboard's proprietary directory platform to offer online advertising solutions to merchants in their respective local areas. Independent yellow pages companies Ambassador Publishing and United Yellow Pages will capitalize on Switchboard's directory platform to offer online yellow pages solutions to local advertisers. As a result of these technology partnerships, New York area merchants who advertise in Ambassador's print yellow pages and Northern and Southern California merchants who advertise in United's print yellow pages will have the opportunity to increase their reach to consumers by advertising in the publishers' customized online directories. The online directories will include tailored versions of Switchboard's Internet yellow pages, white pages, What's Nearby?SM proximity searching, and interactive maps and driving directions services. As part of these deals, both companies' regional sales forces will actively sell online yellow pages display ads into their directories, leveraging Switchboard's easy-to-use online ad management tools to administer the advertising content. "Offering Internet-based promotion was the next logical step in continuing to provide the most comprehensive array of yellow pages services to the local merchants who advertise with us," said Richard Hargrave, vice president of sales for Ambassador Publishing. "Switchboard's advanced technology gave us both the flexibility and capability for large consumer reach that our customers are looking for." "By partnering with Switchboard, these three companies have taken a crucial step in providing businesses with local promotions opportunities that extend beyond the printed page," said Dean Polnerow, president and founder of Switchboard. "Adopting Switchboard's technology platform enables these companies to offer the benefits of the growing online promotions space to their merchant customers who are critical for advertising revenue."

About Ambassador Publishing

Ambassador Publishing is a Manhattan-based, privately owned company dedicated to providing the communities we serve with unique and friendly Yellow Pages directories. The company's principals have run New York-based businesses for a combined 50 years, including 10 years as directory publishers in Manhattan. Ambassador understands how to do business in New York and is dedicated to helping advertisers increase their profits.

About Switchboard Incorporated

Headquartered in Westboro, Mass., Switchboard Incorporated is the leading provider of directory technology and Nearbuy SM Solutions, a tightly integrated suite of products and services promoting local business across a full range of Internet and wireless platforms. Viewed more than 90 million times each month, Switchboard.com is a showcase for Switchboard's superior directory technology and breadth of product offerings. Switchboard's directory platform offer a broad range of functions, content and services including yellow and white pages, product searching, and interactive maps and driving directions. Switchboard powers the online directories of major Internet destinations, leading newspaper and yellow pages publishing companies, and wireless device manufacturers and carriers. ePresence (Nasdaq: EPRE) owns approximately 54% of the outstanding shares of Switchboard.

This release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions about future events, and these statements are subject to important factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this release address a variety of subjects including, for example, the economic value and utility of the products and services offered by Switchboard to Switchboard's alliance partners and customers. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements: Switchboard's alliances with Ambassador Publishing, United Yellow Pages, ColoradoSprings.com and NewsOK.com may fail to produce the expected benefits, if Switchboard cannot demonstrate the value of its local merchant services, local merchant customers and consumers may stop using these services; the attractiveness of Switchboard's services, would diminish if it is not able to license or otherwise collect accurate database information from third-party providers; and if Switchboard and its business partners are unable to remain attractive media for online advertising, its revenue will substantially decline. For a detailed discussion of these and other cautionary statements, please refer to Switchboard's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Switchboard's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-90013) and Switchboard's most recent 10-Q filed November 14, 2001. SOURCE Switchboard Incorporated.

For More Information Contact:

Aris Pesquira
212.564.3945