Net Perceptions Casts Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in Leading Role As First to Deliver Advanced Personalization Through Wireless Devices Headlines
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04/10 03:16
MGM.com Movie-Recommendation Service to Give Film Lovers Personalized Tips as They Browse Video and DVD Aisles
BOSTON, April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- In a pioneering move that successfully unites movie fans with cutting-edge technology, Net Perceptions Inc. (Nasdaq: NETP), a leading supplier of realtime enterprise-wide personalization, today announced at Personalization Summit 2000 in Boston that it has entered into an agreement with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. (NYSE: MGM) to provide the personalization software and services for a new wireless Internet movie-recommendation service to be available only on MGM.com, the studio's official Web site.
The service, which spans films from MGM's enormous 4,100-title library -- the largest modern film library in the world -- debuts mid year in conjunction with the unveiling of MGM.com's newly redesigned corporate Web site.
According to Juliann Jannus, vice president of MGM.com Inc., "The new MGM.com will be a destination for movie lovers, featuring a vast multi-media database of content related to MGM's library of film, television and music titles. Net Perceptions' solution allows MGM.com to provide highly personalized experiences to site visitors by guiding them to content they may be interested in based on their film, television and musical preferences."
This collaboration with MGM represents one of the first times that personalized information services will be offered for use on wireless devices, such as Internet-capable cellular phones and handheld computers.
This MGM.com service also signifies a breakthrough in its connection of Web-based customer knowledge with the ability to make point-of-purchase recommendations to consumers, whether they are shopping in a physical store environment, ordering online or watching pay-per-view. Instead of wandering aimlessly around a video store, for example, film fans who carry a wireless device will be able to dial up an instant MGM movie recommendation -- generated by Net Perceptions' realtime personalization solution -- that caters to their specific tastes.
"The MGM.com movie-recommendation service is a natural fit with wireless technology -- it provides a tangible service to consumers while helping MGM market its products and develop a leading-edge entertainment destination," said Steve Larsen, Net Perceptions senior vice president. "This is another major achievement in keeping with Net Perceptions' vision to help its clients improve business results and customer service through all points of interaction with consumers in diverse environments."
Added Richard Cohen, president of MGM Home Entertainment and Consumer Products Group, "By implementing Net Perceptions' innovative technology, MGM effectively maintains its competitive advantage, driving rentals and sales of its video and DVD titles, while implementing an excellent yardstick by which it can measure overall consumer demand in the marketplace."
To use the movie-recommendation service, consumers simply visit the MGM.com Web site to establish a member alias and password, and begin to rank the films they've seen on a scale of 1 to 5. The more movies they rank, the more customized recommendations they'll receive from the service. Members can also set up alternate aliases that reflect, for example, the collective tastes of a family or couple, to help them find movies that everyone will enjoy.
Behind the scenes, Net Perceptions' solution anonymously compares the preferences of MGM.com members. Members whose pattern of ranking films is very similar -- dubbed "taste soul-mates" -- are apt to enjoy the same films. This analysis forms the basis of the personalized recommendations that MGM.com offers up. Members can then receive the movie recommendations directly from their computers or their wireless device.
Most portable devices that have Web functionality should be able to access the MGM.com movie-recommendation service.
About MGM
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of entertainment product, including motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music and licensed merchandise. The Company owns the largest modern film library in the world, consisting of more than 4,100 titles. Its operating units include MGM Pictures, United Artists Films, Orion Pictures, United Artists Films Ltd., MGM Television Entertainment, MGM Networks, MGM Distribution Co., MGM Home Entertainment, MGM Consumer Products, MGM Music, MGM Interactive, and MGM.com. For more information on MGM, visit MGM online at mgm.com .
About Net Perceptions
Net Perceptions is a leading provider of enterprise-wide personalization and precision marketing software solutions for Internet and multi-channel retailers. Its software is designed to help retailers understand customers individually, optimize product assortments, prices and inventories and offer the right product to the right customer at the right price. Net Perceptions' customers include many of the world's best-known brands including: Art.com, Bertelsmann, The Children's Place, Egghead.com, eToys.com, Fingerhut, Hudson's Bay Company, J.C. Penney, Procter & Gamble, Tower Records and Walgreens. Incorporated in Delaware, July 3, 1996, the company has offices in Minneapolis; San Francisco; New York; Austin, Texas; Richardson, Texas; Berkshire, U.K. and a joint venture operation in Japan. For more information about Net Perceptions products visit netperceptions.com or call 800-466-0711.
Net Perceptions is a registered trademark of Net Perceptions. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are the company's limited operating history, delays in product development, development of the Internet market, changes in product pricing policies, competitive pressures, and the risk factors detailed from time to time in the company's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
