Monday March 16, 7:58 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Planet Direct
Planet Direct Extends 250 ISP Partnerships With Launch of ISP Value
"Network"
Network to Feature Co-Branded CD-ROM Start Program for ISP Subscribers, Enhancing ISP's
Ability to Compete with America Online
ANDOVER, Mass., March 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning this week, ISPs across the country have yet another compelling reason
to make Planet Direct's personal Web Service their subscribers'gateway to the Internet. As part of its ongoing mission to offer ISP
affiliates a superior consumer Internet experience, Planet Direct has created a free, value-added business network for Internet
Service Providers.
Launching today, Planet Direct's ISP Value Network ( ispvn.planetdirect.com ) offers affiliate ISPs a suite of tools and
services that will increase their competitiveness, help them better manage both customer and network growth, and enhance their
ability to compete with industry giants like AOL. As part of the Network, ISPs will also be able to participate in a CD-ROM
start-up program, enabling ISPs to seamlessly create their own branded start disc for new subscribers, bundling the Planet Direct
personal Web service and Internet access in a single registration step.
''After more than a year of daily contact with the ISP community and establishing 250 ISP affiliations, we have a unique
perspective of what this industry wants and needs. We've now assimilated that knowledge and created a dynamic business and
communication delivery system that gives our partners the critical things they need to grow and flourish,'' said Hans G. Hawrysz,
president and CEO, Planet Direct. ''By taking advantage of the services offered under the ISP Value Network, ISPs can begin to
leverage greater economies of scale and achieve a greater competitive edge as a more profitable, cost-effective business
operation.''
The ISP Value Network offers affiliates a wide array of services and knowledge management tools, all designed to address the
challenges inherent in today's Internet business climate -- everything from technical and customer service support, to comparative
performance data, advertising sales programs, and drop-in marketing tools, to assist in customer acquisition and retention. Through
the Network, ISP professionals will also have access to high-level industry expertise as provided by Network partners, plus special
offers on equipment, products, and information.
KPMG Research Indicates ISPs Can Benefit From Outsourcing
This outsourcing proposition was mandated by the recent Planet Direct- sponsored KPMG benchmark study examining the cost of
doing business in the ISP channel. Preliminary results of the study indicate that the cost of providing Internet service does not scale
down with increased size, but rather that expenses in the customer service and marketing arenas mount as growing ISPs attempt
to service existing accounts while acquiring new ones. The findings also suggest that ISPs can significantly improve efficiency and
profitability by utilizing the types of services offered in Planet Direct's Value Network as their business operations grow. Full
results of the study will be announced in a joint Planet Direct-KPMG presentation to be held at this week's ISPCON Spring '98
conference in Baltimore, MD.
Start-Up CD-ROM Program Delivers One Step Access for New ISP Subscribers
The key component of the Value Network is a cooperative start-up CD-ROM initiative. Through this program, ISPs can order a
completely integrated subscriber start-up package, co-branded with the ISP and Planet Direct, offering new customers an easy,
content-rich introduction to the Internet. The CD-ROM, produced in partnership with 3M, includes all the registration steps
necessary to start a new ISP account and launch directly into Planet Direct as the default start page, plus Microsoft Internet
Explorer 4.0 and a dynamic interactive multimedia Web tutorial developed by Planet Direct and ZDNet. ISPs participating in the
Network can order the CD-ROMs directly from the ISP Value Network.
''One of the most frequent comments we heard from affiliates was their desire to follow the AOL model and offer new members
an easier, more attractive sign-up process,'' added Hawrysz. ''This new CD-ROM program creates an easy, automated process
for the individual ISPs and provides a professional, time-saving, and more importantly, consumer-friendly method for signing up
new customers.''
Access to the ISP Value Network is free and available to all Planet Direct affiliates. Version 1.0 of the Network will be
previewed this week, with additional products and services rolling out over the next quarter.
About Planet Direct
Planet Direct brings together the best of the Web with all the features and functionality consumers have come to expect of an
online service. Planet Direct seamlessly integrates brand name content with enhanced links to popular content sites and other
services, all presented intuitively to allow quick access to personal interests. Highly customized for an individual's specific
community and interests, members are personally greeted with the top news stories and local and national weather forecasts, as
well as community building features such as chat and online discussion groups. Planet Direct is a wholly owned subsidiary
company of CMG Information Services (Nasdaq: CMGI - news), distributed free on the Web ( planetdirect.com ) and
through 250 Internet Service Providers across the country. Corporate headquarters are located at 100 Brickstone Square,
Andover, MA 01810. Telephone 978-684-3888 or 1-888-717-7500. Fax 978-684-3899.
About CMG
CMG Information Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: CMGI - news; cmgi.com ) invests in and integrates advanced Internet,
interactive media, and database management technologies.
The CMG Internet Group is made up of six majority-owned subsidiary companies including: NaviSite Internet Services is a leading
provider of business-critical Internet outsourcing solutions, including dial-up networking services for ISPs and corporations, and
customized Internet Server Management solutions for companies conducting business on the Internet. Engage Technologies
delivers enterprise-class software systems solutions that assist in creating personalized marketing environments on the Web.
ADSmart provides centralized advertising distribution, advertising campaign management and planning for interactive media for
over 50 Web sites. InfoMation provides web- based knowledge management applications that utilize sophisticated agents and
filtering technology to continually monitor and deliver fresh, relevant news and information. The Password gives enthusiasts
easy-to-use tools for finding monitoring, personalizing and sharing the best of the Web.
In addition to the CMG Internet Group, the Company's CMG @Ventures investment and development affiliate has significant
interests in Lycos, Inc. (Nasdaq: LCOS - news), Blaxxun, Vicinity, GeoCities, Parable LLC, Reel.com, PlanetAll, KOZ, Silknet,
Chemdex, Speech Machines, and Softway Systems. Microsoft, Intel and Sumitomo hold minority positions in CMG Information
Services. CMG also includes CMG Direct and SalesLink as majority-owned subsidiaries in the direct marketing and fulfillment
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