BIG, make that HUGE, news from NetZero:
biz.yahoo.com
Wednesday June 30, 7:00 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
NetZero Signs Agreement With Compaq to Bundle Free Net Access With Presario Systems, Announces $33 Million Private Placement
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 30, 1999-- NetZero, Inc. today announced it has signed a bundling agreement with Compaq Computer (NYSE:CPQ - news), the leading manufacturer of personal computers, to include NetZero's free Internet access service with Compaq's new Presario models.
NetZero also announced that in May it completed a $33 million private preferred stock financing, including investment from Compaq.
''We are pleased to have Compaq as a business partner and an investor,'' said Mark Goldston, Chairman and CEO, NetZero, Inc. ''We believe that offering NetZero's free Internet access with the Presario computer line will enhance the value for Compaq's consumers.
''Our goal is to consistently improve our service and provide value to our subscribers,'' Goldston said. ''By partnering with Compaq, we're not only able to make free Internet access available to more consumers, but enhance our service offerings to our entire subscriber base.''
NetZero provides free Internet access via a local dial-up account and an e-mail account for each individual user in a household. To subscribe to NetZero, users complete a profile that captures interests and demographic data.
On the desktop, NetZero opens the ZeroPort(tm) window -- a movable, 1-inch-by 3-inch portion of an 800 x 600 display that continuously delivers high-quality, 20-second ads targeted to users based on their demographic and geographic data.
NetZero is a member of TRUSTe, an independent, non-profit, privacy initiative that requires participating Web sites to disclose their online information gathering and dissemination practices to consumers.
About NetZero, Inc.
NetZero provides consumers completely free Internet access and e-mail while offering advertisers the ability to target consumers based on their profile information. With headquarters in Westlake Village, NetZero, Inc.'s major shareholders include Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Foundation Capital and Idealab Capital Partners.
About Compaq Computer Corporation
A Fortune Global 100 company, Compaq is the second largest computer company in the world and the largest global supplier of personal computers. Compaq develops and markets hardware, software, solutions, and services, including industry-leading enterprise computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, networking and communication products, commercial desktop and portable products and consumer PCs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Contact:
NetZero, Inc. Janet Daly, 805/418-2000 JanetD@netzero.net or Edge Communications, Inc. Ken Greenberg, 818/719-9292 edgepress@netzero.net |