CMGI INC - Free Internet Access Now Available To Users Throughout Canada
New York, New York, Dec. 01, 1999 (Market News Publishing via COMTEX)
-- AltaVista Company, the premier new media and commerce network and a
majority-owned operating company of CMGI, Inc. is now offering free
dial-up Internet access to users throughout Canada. AltaVista's free
Internet service couples online access with the AltaVista microportal,
a small desktop window that makes it faster and easier to search, view
and customize Web content.
AltaVista's free dial-up Internet service is available immediately
through local phone numbers to users nationwide in Canada. The service
covers more than 85 percent of the country, including the cities of
Calgary, Edmonton, Hamilton, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Moncton,
Montreal, Oshawa, Ottawa, Quebec City, Saskatoon, St. Catherines,
Sydney, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, Windsor and Winnipeg. AltaVista
Free Access is immediately available and can be downloaded for free at
microav.com.
"AltaVista is one of Canada's leading Internet brands with premier
services that make finding and personalizing content on the Web fast
and easy," said Bill Keenan, director of AltaVista Free Access. "Canada
is the first expansion of our free service outside of the successful
offering in the United States, and we are pleased to be working with a
Canadian service provider."
AltaVista has experienced unprecedented success in the U.S. market,
signing up over 800,000 users in the three months since it has been
offered. AltaVista Free Access is powered by patent-pending technology
from 1stUp.com Corporation, the leading provider of ad-supported
Internet access solutions and a majority-owned operating company of
CMGI, Inc. PSINet Limited, a Canadian-based subsidiary of PSINet Inc.
(Nasdaq: PSIX) and a leading provider of IP-based communications
services for business, is providing its premium dial-up network to
AltaVista Free Access users in Canada through an agreement with
1stUp.com.
AltaVista is the first leading Internet brand to offer a quality
nationwide dial-up Internet service throughout Canada at no cost.
AltaVista uniquely combines its Free Access with the world's first
microportal, a small desktop application that provides personalized,
up-to-the-minute news and information and links to premier AltaVista
Network services. AltaVista recently introduced three industry-leading
Internet services into its network to put more power within the grasp
of users than ever before. Making their debuts are: AltaVista Live!,
the Internet's first real-time personal megaportal; New AltaVista
Search, the Web's most powerful and comprehensive guide; and the New
AltaVista Shopping.com, a completely unbiased online buying guide
designed to help users shop smarter.
Each time a user logs on to Free Access, AltaVista Live! is displayed
as the permanent home page, giving the user instant access to
customizable content and services on the AltaVista Network. AltaVista's
Free Access works with any Web browser and is accessible to users who
have Internet Explorer version 4.0 or higher installed on their PC.
When users are online, the microportal can be docked to the top or
bottom of the desktop or positioned anywhere on screen. The microportal
takes up less than five percent of a user's screen space and contains a
rotating advertisement within the window. Users must interact with the
microportal once an hour to maintain free Internet access.
Users seeking assistance can tap into the AltaVista Premium Support
program with phone and online technical support options, including
guaranteed response times. Online help is available at
www.altavista.com and with the Free Access downloadable application at
www.microav.com. E-mail support has a guaranteed response time of 48
hours or less by sending a message to questions-freeaccess@av.com.
Phone-in customer support is also available by calling toll-free at
1-877-584-5551, allowing users to speak directly with customer care
representatives and technicians.
About AltaVista Company AltaVista Company is the premier media and
commerce network offering Internet users up-to-the-minute news, live
video, content, search and shopping resources. The company integrates
unique technology, products and services to deliver relevant results
faster for both individuals and businesses. By combining distinctive
'best of the Web' relationships with personalized service, the
AltaVista Network at www.altavista.com creates the smartest Internet
experience. AltaVista is building on its heritage of technology and
innovative leadership, offering informative services including
AltaVista Live!, AltaVista Search, AltaVista Shopping.com, AltaVista
Local, and Free Access combined with the AltaVista microportal.
AltaVista is a majority-owned operating company of CMGI, Inc., Andover,
Mass. Compaq Computer Corporation holds the remaining minority stake in
AltaVista. AltaVista is headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif.
About 1stUp.com Corporation 1stUp.com, a majority-owned operating
company of CMGI, Inc. is the market leader in providing
consumer-oriented businesses with ad-supported Internet access
solutions. Working through the marketing and distribution channels of
innovative consumer brands, 1stUp.com provides patent-pending
technology that enables its partners to offer branded, cost-effective
Internet services to their customers. Aggregating the end-user bases of
AltaVista and future partners, 1stup.com has the buying power of
multiple brands and is able to pass along the benefits of optimal
connectivity costs and advertising revenues to its partners. For more
information, visit 1stup.com.
About CMGI With more than 50 companies, CMGI, Inc. (Nasdaq:CMGI)
represents the largest, most diverse network of Internet companies in
the world. This network includes both CMGI operating companies and a
growing number of synergistic investments through its venture capital
affiliate, @Ventures. CMGI leverages the technologies, content, and
market reach of its extended family of companies to foster rapid growth
and industry leadership across its network, and the larger Internet
Economy. Compaq, Intel Microsoft, and Sumitomo hold minority positions
in CMGI., CMGI Corporate headquarters is located at 100 Brickstone
Square, Andover, MA 01810. Telephone: 978-684-3600. Fax: 978-684-3814.
Additional information, including a complete listing of all the
companies in the CMGI network, is available at cmgi.com.
Note to Editors: AltaVista is registered with the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office. Shopping.com and Homebase are trademarks of AltaVista
Company or its affiliates. Product names mentioned herein may be
trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
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TEL: (415) 975-2236 LaurieAnne Lassek, Copithorne & Bellows
(for AltaVista)
Email: laurieanne.lassek@cbpr.com
TEL: (415) 364-3819 Graeme Slattery (for 1stUp.com),
Manning, Selvage & Lee
Email: gslattery@mslpr.com |
