Monday September 14, 4:59 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
REPEAT/Planet Direct Integrates
InfoMation
Leverages Echo Technology to Offer Industry-Leading Personalization
Adds Customized Knowledge Agent Functionality to Popular Personal
Web Service
ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 14, 1998-- Planet Direct, a comprehensive
personalized Web service today announced a merger of InfoMation Publishing, Inc and its
Echo Web personalization technology into its operations. InfoMation will enable Planet
Direct to provide its rapidly growing subscriber base with powerful, customized news and
information services. Planet Direct and InfoMation are wholly owned subsidiaries of CMG
Information Services, Inc., (NASDAQ:CMGI - news). InfoMation will become a division of
Planet Direct while continuing its focus on the corporate market.
InfoMation's Echo software technology is recognized throughout the Knowledge Agent
arena as a leading news and information gathering solution. Echo uses sophisticated agents
and filtering technology to continually monitor and deliver customized news and
information to users throughout an organization via standard web browsers. Echo retrieves
and integrates highly focused information from a variety of sources, including the World
Wide Web, news feeds and Internet news groups. This makes InfoMation ideal for serving
the needs of corporate organizations, interest groups, and ISPs that customize Planet Direct's
personalized web service, providing them with the relevant information they need to stay
informed and make more effective decisions.
''This merger will provide our users with powerful, new capabilities that will make Planet
Direct the ultimate resource for personalized news and content on the Web,'' Planet Direct
CEO Hans Hawrysz said. ''The integration of Echo knowledge agent technology is another
example of how Planet Direct is leading the way as we build the premier online service for
ISP and corporate affinity partners, as well as a rapidly growing base of subscribers.''
InfoMation CEO Robert Potrie said, '', We now have an opportunity to bring our technology
to the consumer market for use by hundreds of thousands of loyal users of Planet Direct, one
of the fastest growing web portals. InfoMation can now leverage Planet Direct's existing and
future partnerships.''
Formed in August 1996, InfoMation is a leading Knowledge Agent software provider. Its
principle product, Echo, has received industry praise. Based on underlying technology
licensed from BBN, Echo is a fully customizable desktop solution that enables users to
receive filtered and updated content within their specified areas of interest.
About Planet Direct
Planet Direct, a wholly owned subsidiary company of Information Services, Inc.,
(NASDAQ:CMGI - news), is a personal service that tailors members' online experience to
their interests and local community while providing necessary, everyday information such as
news, weather, financial data, and topical interest areas. Planet Direct integrates brand name
content with enhanced links to popular content sites and services all presented logically and
intuitively to consumers with quick access to personal interests in a community atmosphere.
Planet Direct is available free online at planetdirect.com, as well as through 375
Internet Service Providers nationwide and affinity groups such as Discover Card, RE/MAX,
National Business Association and the U.S. Chess Federation.
About CMG Information Services
CMG Information Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:CMGI - news) is an investor and developer of
Internet companies. In addition, CMGI operates direct marketing companies and venture
funds focused on the Internet. Microsoft, Intel and Sumitomo hold minority positions in
CMG Information Services.
In addition to Planet Direct and InfoMation, The CMG Internet Group is made up primarily
of majority-owned subsidiary companies including NaviSite, Engage Technologies,
ADSmart, The Password and Magnitude Network.
The company's CMG @Ventures investment affiliates have significant interests in Lycos,
Inc. (NASDAQ:LCOS - news), blaxxun, GeoCities, (NASDAQ:GCTY - news), Vicinity,
Parable LLC, KOZ, Silknet, Chemdex, Speech Machines, Softway Systems, TicketsLive
Corporation, Critical Path, Mother Nature, and Visto Corporation. CMG@Ventures
announced a definitive agreement to sell its investment in Reel.com to Hollywood
Entertainment. In addition, CMG will invest approximately $34 million in Hollywood
Entertainment. CMG has also signed a binding letter of agreement to sell its 25 percent stake
in PlanetAll to Amazon.com, Inc. CMG also includes CMG Direct, SalesLink, PacificLink,
InSolutions and On-Demand Solutions as wholly owned subsidiaries in the direct marketing,
fulfillment and turn-key arenas.
Corporate headquarters is located at 100 Brickstone Square, Andover, MA 01810.
Telephone: 978-684-3600. Fax: 978-684-3674. Additional information is available on the
company's Web site, cmgi.com.
Contact:
CMG Copithorne & Bellows
Mary Garrity Cormier Diane Parazin
978-684-3789 617-450-4300
mgarritycormier@cmgi.com diane.parazin@cbpr.com
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Related News Categories: advertising, computers, internet, ISDEX, telecom
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