This is a news release that was sent to me by ajammer's wife over on the yahoo board. It concerns Softbank Holdings. However, since Softbank Holdings still has a minority interest in SIM wouldn't you think we (zulu) would realize some business from this venture?
As they use to say on Saturday Night Live, "Discuss"
Sorry I had to edit the link had expired. Brady
Thursday May 14, 9:15 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: SOFTBANK Marketing Solutions
Microsoft Selects SOFTBANK Marketing Solutions to Provide Authorized Product Registration in Windows 98
SAN FRANCISCO, May 14 /PRNewswire/ -- SOFTBANK Marketing Solutions today announced it has been selected by Microsoft to be an Authorized Registration Center (ARC) for Windows 98. The Company, which is fast becoming the premier leader in electronic customer registration for the high-technology market, sees this initiative as a pivotal step in establishing worldwide acceptance of its new registration technology.
Under the terms of the agreement, SOFTBANK Marketing Solutions will provide single-point registration as an integrated feature of the Microsoft Windows 98 operating system.
''Microsoft is pleased to select SOFTBANK Marketing Solutions as an Authorized Registration Center (ARC) for Windows 98,'' said Carl Gulledge, Director of Marketing, OEM Division of Microsoft Corporation [Nasdaq:MSFT - news]. ''The buyers of new Windows 98 based personal computers are the real winners -- this program will enable OEMs to offer a single online registration process for both the hardware and the operating system software.''
SOFTBANK Marketing Solutions' new registration technology allows a customer to register their computer, operating system, and all bundled software and peripheral hardware devices with respective participating vendors--whether Microsoft, PC Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), or device manufacturers. This registered information is privately distributed only to its intended vendors for whom the registration is targeted.
Single-point registration eliminates the need for an OEM, ISV, or device manufacturer to prompt the customer for multiple registrations, a tedious process that requires the same demographic information to be entered into a variety of electronic registration formats and/or mail-in warranty cards. Simplification of the user registration process will significantly increase customer registration response rates, allowing SOFTBANK Marketing Solutions to provide its OEM, ISV, and device manufacturer clients with the increased customer knowledge they seek. This allows vendors to provide superior product support and implement better-targeted marketing efforts in a more cost- effective manner.
''We are excited about entering the electronic registration market and can provide unparalleled solutions for our technology clients,'' said Paul O'Brien, E.V.P and General Manager of SOFTBANK Marketing Solutions. ''We will deliver first-hand customer information, in near real-time, so they can better understand, support and market to their customers. This truly is the starting point and foundation for our clients to successfully implement strategic one- on-one marketing programs.''
SOFTBANK Marketing Solutions is well positioned to deliver increased customer registration rates and other unique benefits to its clients because of its wealth of expertise and access to the SOFTBANK group of companies.
''We are enthused about their worldwide delivery system of invaluable user information to technology firms,'' said Dan Rosensweig, President of ZD Internet Productions. ''ZDNet will be working very closely with SOFTBANK Marketing Solutions to jointly build a unique consumer experience that is exciting and rewarding, and targeted towards an individual's expressed interests and computing needs.''
By utilizing its communications network infrastructure, SOFTBANK Marketing Solutions can quickly develop and manage electronic registration environments worldwide, providing complete national and international coverage with near real-time data.
''We are working closely with top PC OEMs and creating a network of independent software and device vendors who want to ally with the industry's largest marketing and publishing company,'' said O'Brien. ''Not only do we bring the vastness of SOFTBANK and the affiliated SOFTBANK companies, but we also bring many years of circulation and data modeling experience to the table. We can provide the value-add that many of our clients are looking for with the added bonus of offering exclusive premiums, incentives and other unique end- user benefits. Our clients will be able to leverage our expertise in these areas and create truly effective marketing programs.''
SOFTBANK Marketing Solutions is a newly formed division of SOFTBANK Content Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SOFTBANK Corporation. The company is headquartered at 650 Townsend Street, MS 3103A, San Francisco, CA 94103.
Founded in 1981, SOFTBANK Corporation is world-renowned and is Japan's largest distributor of computer software and systems as well as Japan's largest publisher of computer-related magazines and books. SOFTBANK companies include Kingston Technology, SOFTBANK Content Services, SOFTBANK Technology Ventures, and Ziff-Davis, Inc. SOFTBANK COMDEX and SOFTBANK Forums and Expos are part of Ziff-Davis, Inc.
All names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
SOURCE: SOFTBANK Marketing Solutions
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