1



                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


                                                          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                                          FRIDAY, JULY 31, 1998

                                                                        CONTACT:
                                   SHELLY VAUGHN - DIRECTOR, INVESTOR RELATIONS
                                   PHONE: (402) 596-8929    FAX: (402) 537-6197
                                                             E-MAIL: ir@abii.com



                 AMERICAN BUSINESS INFORMATION INC. PREPARES FOR
                     NEW NAME AND NEW NASDAQ TRADING SYMBOLS


(Omaha, NE) - American Business Information Inc. (Nasdaq: ABIIA/ABIIB) announced
today that effective July 31, 1998, it will change its corporate name to infoUSA
Inc. Effective Monday, August 3, 1998, the listing symbols for company's Class A
Common Stock and Class B Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market will be
changed to "IUSAA" and "IUSAB," respectively. Until the close of the market
today, Friday, July 31, 1998, the company will continue to trade under its
current symbols "ABIIA" and "ABIIB."

As a result of its product and service enhancements, the company announced
earlier this week its plans to change its corporate name to infoUSA Inc. "This
was the next step in our strategic expansion," remarked Vinod Gupta, chairman
and chief executive officer. "For several years, American Business Information
has been broadening its core business database to also include a consumer
database and database marketing services. The new name and Nasdaq trading
symbols are simply a more accurate portrayal of all the products and services we
now offer."

American Business Information Inc. is a leading provider of business and
consumer marketing information products and data processing services in the
United States and Canada. Nearly two million customers rely on this information
for market research, customer analysis, sales leads, direct mail, telemarketing
and credit reference. The company headquarters are located at 5711 South 86th
Circle, PO Box 27347 Omaha, NE 68127-0347. American Business Information Inc.
can be contacted at (402) 593-4500 or on the World Wide Web at www.infoUSA.com.