AltaVista Reports Record 54 Million Users, Continues Strong Growth in January
RELATED SYMBOLS: (MMXI)(MSFT)(PCCLF)(NTRT)(CMGI)
PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb 23, 2000 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- AltaVista Company,
the premier new media and commerce network at www.altavista.com, and a majority
owned operating company of CMGI, Inc. (Nasdaq: CMGI), saw traffic continue to
climb during January, with a record 54 million unique users worldwide visiting
its network of sites. AltaVista has added 16 million additional users since the
introduction of the new AltaVista Network in October 1999.
January data from two Internet measurement firms show AltaVista leading all top
15 Internet sites in new user growth rate over the previous month:
-- According to World Wide Web data from Media Metrix, AltaVista is now the
ninth largest Internet property -- its first breakthrough in single digit
rankings on Media Metrix since becoming an independent company one year ago.
AltaVista's January month-over-month growth rate was 16 percent, three times
faster than the average top 15 properties measured by Media Metrix data.
-- Data from Nielsen/NetRatings show that AltaVista's new user traffic grew at a
rate of 21 percent, four times faster than the growth rate for the average top
15 properties over the same period.
"Audience growth is the ultimate endorsement for the new AltaVista media and
commerce network," said Rod Schrock, president and CEO of AltaVista Company. "We
will continue strengthening our global Web-wide network to deliver world class
services to Web enthusiasts."
Additionally, AltaVista Shopping.com, the leading Web shopping-comparison guide
at www.shopping.com, increased the number of shoppers to its site despite the
fact that many other portal shopping guides experienced more than a 50 percent
decline in traffic following the Christmas peak season, according to January
data from Nielsen/NetRatings. AltaVista Shopping.com is now larger than MSN
eShop, Lycos Shop, and Excite Shopping, based on unique visitors.
"AltaVista Shopping.com has been able to sustain positive momentum beyond the
holiday season, while most other portals have experienced a significant
drop-off," said Mike Rubin, vice president and general manager of e-commerce for
AltaVista. "Our continued growth underscores the appeal of our Web-wide
comparison shopping service for everyday shoppers who want to make objective and
comparative decisions."
Other recent AltaVista highlights include:
-- New offerings in MP3/audio, video and image search that represent the Web's
most extensive library of multimedia content, with an index of more than 30
million documents.
-- Introduction of the AltaVista Affiliate Network, a linking program that
allows Web sites to access AltaVista Search, Multimedia, Babel Fish language
translation and free stock quotes.
-- Acquisition of Raging Bull, a leading innovative investor and financial
community that will become the flagship AltaVista finance center as well as
build community and message boards across the AltaVista Network.
-- Introduction of AltaVista My Accounts that allows users access to summarized
views of their personal account information consolidated from thousands of
individual Web sites into one simple page.
-- Formation of AltaVista Business Solutions (http://solutions.altavista.com), a
new business unit that licenses search products that leverage the renowned
search engine technology underlying AltaVista's premier search service.
-- New co-branded content channels featuring vertical depth for Sports with
FOXSports.com (http://sports.altavista.com); Real Estate with Cendant's Move.com
(http://realestate.altavista.com); and Women with Women.com
(http://women.altavista.com).
-- More than 1.5 million AltaVista Free Access registered users who have
downloaded free dial-up Internet service available to U.S. and Canadian
residents at microav.com.
The AltaVista Network of services includes:
-- AltaVista Search: Enhanced Web searching and a comprehensive index of more
than 250 million pages covering 90 percent of all Web sites as well as 30
million multimedia images, audio and video clips.
-- AltaVista Shopping.com: A leading Web-wide comparison shopping guide that
allows users to search quickly across millions of products throughout the Web,
read through in-depth product reviews, view side-by-side comparisons, and choose
from retailers located online or in cities and towns across America.
-- AltaVista Live!: A premier personalized "megaportal" service with immediate
news, sports, weather, entertainment, free real-time stock quotes, video, and
multiple content channels and community features.
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. AltaVista is
building on its heritage of technology and innovative leadership, offering
informative services including AltaVista Search, AltaVista Live!, AltaVista
Shopping.com, and AltaVista Free Internet Access combined with the microportal.
AltaVista is a majority-owned operating company of CMGI, Inc., Andover, Mass.
AltaVista is headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif.
About CMGI and CMGI @Ventures
With more than 60 companies, CMGI, Inc. 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, CMGI @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, Pacific Century CyberWorks and Sumitomo hold
minority positions in CMGI. CMGI and CMGI @Ventures corporate headquarters are
located at 100 Brickstone Square, Andover, MA 01810. Telephone: 978-684-3600.
Fax: 978-684-3814. CMGI @Ventures also has offices at 3000 Alpine Road, Menlo
Park, CA 94028; 650-233-0333. Additional information, including a complete
listing of companies in the CMGI network, is available on the company's Web
sites: cmgi.com and ventures.com.
NOTE: AltaVista is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Shopping.com, Smart is Beautiful and AltaVista Free Access are trademarks of
AltaVista Company or its affiliates. Product names mentioned herein may be
trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
This release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations
or beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions about future events, and these
statements are subject to important factors and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking
statements. The forward-looking statements in this release address a variety of
subjects including, for example, the expected growth of the AltaVista Network.
The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ
materially from those described in these forward-looking statements: AltaVista
may experience difficulties integrating technologies, operations and personnel
of recent acquisitions, AltaVista's growth depends upon continued and increased
demand for and market acceptance of AltaVista's web sites; and increased
competition and technological changes in the markets in which AltaVista
competes. For a detailed discussion of these and other cautionary statements,
please refer to CMGI's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including CMGI's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal
year.
SOURCE AltaVista Company
(C) 2000 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.
prnewswire.com
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CONTACT: David Emanuel of AltaVista Company, 650-617-3496, or
david.emanuel@av.com
KEYWORD: California
Massachusetts
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: CPR
MLM
URL: ventures.com
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