MessageMedia Signs 18 Leading Application Service Providers To Its Worldwide ASP Program; UnityMail Software Platform Attracts Cutting-Edge ASPs
BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 18, 2000--MessageMedia Inc. (Nasdaq:MESG), the leading provider of strategic messaging solutions and services, today announced that it has signed 6 additional leading Application Service Providers in the second quarter of 2000, bringing the total to 18 since launching its worldwide ASP marketing program.
"We're very excited to see how rapidly our ASP program has been endorsed by major players in the industry," said Stuart Obermann, vice president and general manager of MessageMedia's software division. "The success of the program illustrates the high demand for the UnityMail messaging platform. Our program gives service providers a cost-effective way to deploy a high-margin, value-add messaging platform for their new and existing clients."
According to an October 1999 Forrester Research report, the size of the ASP/hosting market is expected to grow from $1.96 billion in 2000 to more than $11.3 billion by the year 2003.
"As a leading high-volume opt-in e-mail operation, yesmail.com needed a robust, scalable, highly configurable solution," said Mark Boyce, chief operating officer of yesmail.com. "Having tried several `home-grown' solutions that could not meet the rigorous demands of our e-mail network, we selected the UnityMail platform as our messaging engine. We developed a highly customized interface to our existing SQL Server database back-end and a unique GUI, and we were still able to deploy UnityMail in about two months. As our system and network have grown, UnityMail has scaled with us."
Under the ASP program, application service providers have the option to offer e-messaging services under their own brand or under the MessageMedia brand. ASPs are required to recognize opt-in and permission rules specified by MessageMedia's commercial e-mail guidelines. The ASP provides all front-line support to client organizations, with MessageMedia providing back-line support to the ASP. ASP partners also have access to joint marketing and sales programs, product and technical training and consulting, a resource kit and support programs to accelerate the deployment of the UnityMail solution.
In addition to yesmail.com, other early adopters of the ASP program include Atlanta-based Internet business development firm, Intellimedia Commerce and Judds Online. Interliant, Inc. (Nasdaq:INIT), a leading global application service provider and a pioneer in the ASP market, will implement UnityMail as an offering by the end of the year.
MessageMedia Solutions and Business Applications
MessageMedia delivers e-mail marketing, online customer intelligence and online customer care services as well as a full line of hosted and enterprise software applications designed to advance a complete online dialogue between organizations and their customers. The company's renowned client services team -- with more than 125 marketing professionals -- provides quantitative analysis of campaign and customer data, opt-in program design and custom implementation for every customer based on current needs and future business strategies. MessageMedia offers specialized industry solutions for the publishing, ISP/portal, retail/e-tail, financial services, high tech and travel and entertainment arenas.
About MessageMedia
MessageMedia (Nasdaq:MESG) provides e-commerce services, permission-based direct marketing, ongoing customer communication and real-time customer feedback solutions using industry standard Internet protocols. MessageMedia's customer portfolio features Cisco, Dell Computer, E*TRADE, AOL, Yahoo!, Microsoft, GeoCities, CMP Media, Barclays Bank, EDS, Universal Studios, Hoover's Online and Bertelsmann.
Investors in MessageMedia include SOFTBANK and its affiliates, which constitute the world's largest investors in the Internet and Pequot Capital Management, a Connecticut-based research-intensive investment firm.
"Safe Harbor" Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. With the exception of the historical information contained in this release, the matters described herein contain forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties. These risk factors include, but are not limited to, the integration of a new senior management team, MessageMedia's limited operating history, the integration of recent acquisitions, risks associated with pending and future acquisitions, the anticipated fluctuations in operating results, the uncertain acceptance of new services being offered, and undeveloped and rapidly changing market and other factors detailed in MessageMedia's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 and its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. All companies and product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. MessageMedia undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Note to Editors: Interliant is a registered trademark of Interliant, Inc. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective companies.
MessageMedia Inc.
6060 Spine Road, Boulder, Colo. 80301
Phone: 303/440-7550; Fax: 303/440-0303 www.messagemedia.com
Investor Relations inquiries should be sent to investor@messagemedia.com.
CONTACT:
MessageMedia, Inc.
Tom Ferrell, 303/440-7550
tferrell@messagemedia.com
or
Shandwick International
Carol Felton, 650/532-4000
cfelton@shandwick.com
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