London, 22 October 2001 - QXL ricardo plc ('QXL') (LSE:QXL.L; Nasdaq:QXLC; Frankfurt: QXL.F) today announces the launch of Microsoft Passport, becoming one of the first European Internet sites to offer this single log in service to its members.

QXL members will now benefit from Microsoft's Passport authentication service, enabling a simpler and quicker log in process. Once signed in with Passport, users will be able to access their personal details directly.

The launch of the Passport service completes the first phase of QXL's .NET initiative announced in May 2001. The Passport service will enhance the user experience further when QXL XPress is launched in conjunction with Microsoft XP on 25 October 2001. Developed by QXL, Microsoft, Compaq Global Services, Intel & Razorfish, the QXL XPress application will provide XP users with instant access to the QXL service from the desktop. With over 165 million users worldwide and 2 billion authentications per month, Passport is the leading authentication service on the Internet.

Contact Information

QXL ricardo plc	Alison Cabot	+44 20 8962 7231 alison.cabot@qxl.com
Microsoft	The Microsoft Press Centre	+44 (0)870 20 77377 ukprteam@microsoft.com

About QXL ricardo
QXL ricardo plc ("QXL") is a pan-European online auction community, online auctions in eleven languages and twelve currencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week in an efficient, convenient and entertaining environment. QXL enables buyers to bid on merchandise and services from across Western Europe which are sold by QXL members and merchants. QXL also enables sellers to locate and trade with buyers in new geographic markets. A wide selection of merchandise and services is available on its online auction community, ranging from computer software and hardware, consumer electronics, household appliances and collectibles to travel-related items and sports equipment. QXL is a publicly traded company with its shares listed on the Official List of the United Kingdom Listing Authority, the Nasdaq National Market and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

QXL provides access to the QXL trading community in:
UK - www.qxl.com and www.qxl.co.uk; Germany - www.ricardo.de; France - www.qxl.fr; Italy - www.qxl.it; Netherlands - www.ricardo.nl; Norway - www.qxl.no; Denmark - www.qxl.dk; Spain -www.qxl.es; Poland - www.allegro.pl; Sweden - www.qxl.se; Finland - www.qxl.fi; Switzerland - www.ricardo.ch

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.

For further information, journalists and analysts should contact The Microsoft Press Centre.
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This press release may contain forward-looking statements that relate to the Company's plans, objectives, estimates and goals. The Company's business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with: funding requirements; acquisitions; only having a limited operating history; regulation of auctions and the Internet; probable variability in the Company's quarterly operating results; the Company's results of operations not being indicative of future performance; significant losses being incurred as a result of expansion of the Company's business; dependence on growth of online consumer-to-consumer commerce market; risks associated with development and growth of the Company's foreign language web sites; intense competition; failure to develop the Company's brand; failure to expand the Company's systems; risks associated with managing internal growth and retaining and recruiting personnel; international expansion; online commerce security; risks associated with not developing new services, features and functions; risks associated with intellectual property rights; fraudulent activity of our members and suppliers; and seasonality. These and other risks and uncertainties, which are described in more detail in the Company's Registration Statement dated 7 October 1999, on Form F-1 and Annual Report dated 16 October 2000 on Form 20-F filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, in the Company's prospectuses and listing particulars filed with the UK Listing Authority and the Registrar of Companies in England and Wales (the most recent being dated 22 May 2001), in the German Sales and Listing Prospectus dated 23 October 2000 filed with the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (as supplemented on 10 November 2000), could cause the Company's actual results and developments to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any of these forward-looking statements.

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