Dell Introduces the "ConnectDirect" Initiative for Easy, Fast and Personalized Access to the
Internet
Business Wire - September 23, 1998 11:01
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ROUND ROCK, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 23, 1998--
Dell Teams with AT&T and Excite for Easy Access and Personalized Onramp; Dell and SBC Team for High-Speed Internet ADSL Connection
Dell(R) Computer Corporation, the nation's leading direct computer systems company, today announced Dell ConnectDirect(SM), a wide-ranging technology
initiative to provide Dell customers with easy, fast and personalized access to the Internet.
The initiative includes agreements with AT&T World Net Service, Excite Inc. and SBC Communications Inc. to provide services to Dell customers. ConnectDirect
services will be available this week on Dell Dimension desktop PCs.
The Dell ConnectDirect initiative offers customers an easy Internet sign-on process, the freedom to choose Internet access from leading Internet Service Providers
(ISPs), and personalized Web start pages, which offer customizable news content and direct links to Dell services, support and registration.
"We talk to our customers, and they've told us they want easy Internet access and the ability to customize content," said Paul Bell, senior vice president and general
manager of Dell's Home and Small Business Group. "The ConnectDirect initiative is Dell's response. It is a powerful example of how we continue to extend the
direct model to offer more value, more customization and more integration built into Dell products."
The ConnectDirect program will also offer Dell Dimension customers high-speed Internet access through Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) services that
provide Internet access up to 50(a) times faster than many dial-up modems, depending on the ADSL provider for customers in select cities(b).
ConnectDirect Services From AT&T and Excite
Dell joins with Internet service provider AT&T WorldNet(R) Service and Internet media company Excite to offer consumers a fast and easy way to get online.
Starting tomorrow, ConnectDirect offers a personalized start page via a basic Dell Internet browser or through Microsoft's more full-featured Internet Explorer
browser.
Upon completion of a simple installation procedure that can generally take as little as five minutes, customers are connected to the Web with AT&T's WorldNet
Service, and are greeted with a personalized Excite home page, dell.excite.com. This page is pre-customized with news and content according to the customer
market segment. Users can then further personalize their Excite page according to their individual needs. Initial Internet registration does not require the use of a
credit card.
AT&T Internet services will be available this week on Dell Dimension desktop PCs and is anticipated on other Dell products later this year. The first month of
AT&T Internet access is available at no charge(c), with subsequent monthly access at $19.95 per month.
"AT&T WorldNet is proud to be the first service provider Dell has named as part of its ConnectDirect initiative," said Dan Schulman, president of AT&T WorldNet
Service. "We offer a dependable connection to Web surfers as well as a comprehensive set of Internet tools and the additional benefit of reduced long distance
charges for our customers."
"This agreement continues our momentum through relationships with many industry leaders," said George Bell, Excite CEO. "Dell is one of the fastest-growing PC
manufacturers and a company whose strategy parallels our own in the desire to give the consumer an individual experience. With this alliance, we can deliver on that
promise while bringing our brand and award-winning personalized front page closer to the customer."
Today's Announcement From Dell and SBC
SBC Communications Inc. and Dell today announced a joint initiative to bring Internet and data access at a rate up to 50 times faster than today's traditional
modems, all over existing phone lines. The initiative will equip Dell Dimension desktop PCs with high-speed (ADSL) modems and services. The two companies plan
to begin implementation of the arrangement by early next year to select cities in Texas and California.
The initiative calls for SBC and Dell to jointly market ADSL. In addition, SBC will deliver ADSL services to certain home and business customers served by SBC's
Pacific Bell and Southwestern Bell local telephone companies.
"Our objective is to make high-speed data services, specifically ADSL, more accessible to our business and residential customers," said Dave Gallemore, vice
president of strategic marketing, SBC Operations. "This alliance with Dell is an example of our interest in building relationships with technology providers to help us
further enhance the value we provide our data communications customers."
Dell's announcement with SBC follows a similar Dell agreement in May with US West and Cisco to provide ADSL-ready Dimension PCs later this year to
customers in select cities in the US West territories.
About Dell
Ranked No. 125 among the Fortune 500 companies and No. 363 in the Fortune Global 500, Dell Computer Corporation is the world's leading direct computer
systems company, based on revenues of $15.2 billion for the past four quarters. Dell designs, manufactures and customizes products and services to customer
requirements and offers an extensive selection of software and peripherals. Information on Dell and its products can be obtained through its toll-free number
1-800-388-8542 or by accessing the Dell World Wide Web site at www.dell.com.
About AT&T
AT&T WorldNet Service is the largest direct Internet service provider in the United States, serving more than 1.2 million subscribers. It has some 405 points of
presence in the United States and offers each subscriber a free, 5-megabyte personal Web page, email, chat, and free child protection software. AT&T WorldNet
Service enables subscribers to consolidate their Internet access, AT&T Long-Distance and AT&T Wireless charges, where available, on a single bill.
About Excite Inc.
Founded in 1994, Excite Inc. is a global media company offering consumers a personalized Web start page on www.excite.com and a 'back to basics' Web search
service on www.webcrawler.com, and advertisers the best one-to-one marketing services available online. The Excite Network consists of two of the largest brands
on the Web, Excite (www.excite.com) and WebCrawler ((www.webcrawler.com), and its subsidiaries: Classifieds2000, MatchLogic Inc., Excite Japan Co. Ltd.
and Excite UK Ltd.
Localized versions of Excite are available in France, Germany, the UK, The Netherlands, Sweden, Japan and Australia. Based in Redwood City, Calif., Excite Inc.
(NASDAQ:XCIT) has strategic relationships with America Online Inc., Apple Computer Inc., CUC Investments Inc., Intuit Inc., Netscape Communications Corp.,
Prodigy Internet and Tribune Company.
About SBC
SBC Communications Inc. is a global leader in the telecommunications industry, with nearly 34 million access lines and 5.6 million wireless customers across the
United States, as well as investments in telecommunications businesses in 10 countries. Under the SouthWestern Bell, Pacific Bell, Nevada Bell and Cellular One
brands, SBC, through its subsidiaries, offers a wide range of innovative services, including local and long-distance telephone service, wireless communications,
paging, Internet access, and messaging, as well as telecommunications equipment, and directory advertising and publishing. SBC (www.sbc.com) has more than
118,000 employees and reported 1997 revenues of $25 billion. SBC's equity market value of $80 billion (as of March 31, 1998) ranks it as one of the largest
telecommunications companies in the world.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Additional information on Dell and Dell products can be found in separate news releases available at Dell's World Wide Web site.
Dell and Dimension are registered trademarks and ConnectDirect is a registered service mark of Dell Computer Corporation. Dell disclaims any proprietary interest
in the marks and names of others.
(a) Claims of 50 percent faster based on speed of SBC ADSL services compared to 28.8Kbps modems. For more information, contact SBC.
(b) Customers interested in finding out if their cities are provided ADSL services should contact US West and/or SBC for more information.
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