Netpliance Inc
7600A North Capital of Texas Highway
Austin TX 78731 USA
512-493-8300
Toll Free: 888-467-3637
Fax: 512-493-8399
Company Website: netpliance.com
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Company Description
We are pioneering a new model for delivering a simplified and more relevant
Internet experience through consumer Internet appliances. In November 1999 we
launched our i-opener service, an all-in-one Internet experience integrating an
Internet appliance, access, and consumer portal. Our approach avoids the
technological complexities generally associated with using personal computers,
or PCs, and traditional Web browsers to access the Internet. We believe our
solution provides a simple, seamless and relevant experience that appeals to
both new and existing Internet users.
Our i-opener service consists of the following three integrated elements:
.i-opener Internet Appliance--our i-opener Internet appliance arrives
preconfigured to a new user and ready to access the Internet. A user
simply plugs the i-opener Internet appliance into an electric outlet,
connects a phone line and is ready to enjoy the Internet. The sleek
profile and attractive design of the i-opener Internet appliance allows it
to be placed in high traffic areas such as the living room or kitchen,
enabling our i-opener service to become a primary source of current news
and information.
.i-opener Access--our i-opener Internet appliance comes prepackaged with
Internet access delivered over a nationwide dial-up network. Future plans
include broadband delivery over DSL and cable. Our network architecture
enables us to cache and download content to Internet appliances connected
to our service, providing users instant access to this content.
Additionally, our network allows us to manage the user's i-opener
experience remotely by updating content and delivering upgrades and new
applications to our users automatically, without user intervention.
. i-opener Consumer Portal--our portal provides an entrance point to the
Internet for our users and links them directly to consumer content and e-
commerce sites tailored to their likely interests and needs based on age
and geographic location. In the future we intend to tailor content to
personal preferences. Our portal provides users access to our instant
channels, e-mail, our Web Guide and Web Mall.
Our objective is to establish our i-opener service as the leader in the new
market of delivering simplified Internet services and network hosted
applications through Internet appliances. We intend to consistently upgrade and
customize the functionality of our i-opener portal and add new features to
ensure user satisfaction. Our infrastructure, operating system and network are
designed to support additional devices such as cellular and wireless telephones
and other handheld communication devices. We also believe our installed base of
devices, and our ability to remotely upgrade and deliver software to our user
base through our network, will allow us to host new and emerging web-based
applications and services.
In December 1999 we entered into an agreement with GO.com, an affiliate of
The Walt Disney Company. GO.com has agreed to serve as our exclusive provider
of content for our children, family, sports, news and entertainment related
categories for the cached instant channels on our i-opener portal. Also in
December 1999, we entered into a non-binding agreement with US West regarding
joint sales, marketing and distribution of our i-opener service through dial-up
and DSL Internet access. Affiliates of each of US West and GO.com are investing
in our Series D preferred stock.
Netpliance was incorporated in Texas in January 1999 and will be
reincorporated in Delaware upon the closing of this offering.
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