EarthLink Forms Partnership With Packard Bell NEC for Holiday Season; EarthLink Becomes Preferred ISP on All Packard Bell and NEC Ready Computers
Business Wire - October 14, 1998 07:17
PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 14, 1998--
Customers Who Purchase a New Packard Bell or NEC Ready Computer and Sign Up for EarthLink Will Get $100 Rebate
Making another strong move into the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) channel, EarthLink (Nasdaq:ELNK) has secured a position as the preferred Internet service provider on all Packard Bell and NEC Ready computers distributed in the United States.
EarthLink's Internet service will be offered on all Packard Bell and NEC Ready computers distributed through the busy holiday shopping season. A $100 rebate from Packard Bell and NEC Ready will be given to every new computer owner who signs up for EarthLink Sprint Internet access service. All Packard Bell and NEC Ready desktop models are eligible for the rebate.
"Securing these types of default positions with leading brand-name computer manufacturers such as Packard Bell NEC allows us to gain share among the high percentage of consumers who are buying new computers specifically to get on the Internet," said Garry Betty, president and CEO of EarthLink. "EarthLink is the preferred ISP on all Packard Bell and NEC Ready desktop computers distributed during the holiday season rush, and for us, the opportunity is significant."
As the preferred ISP, an EarthLink icon will be prominently featured on desktops of Packard Bell and NEC Ready computers through the holiday season this year. In return, EarthLink has customized a co-branded Personal Start Page for each Packard Bell customer that signs up for the EarthLink Sprint Internet access service.
EarthLink's TotalAccess software will be featured in other Internet-related folders on the machines as well. The arrangement will also be promoted through print advertising and point-of-purchase displays at leading retailers like CompUSA, Circuit City, Staples and Sears.
"Creating partnerships with industry leaders like EarthLink means that we will be able to provide the best computing solutions to our customers," said Mal Ransom, senior vice president, marketing, Packard Bell NEC. "EarthLink has a long track record of fast, reliable Internet access, and like Packard Bell NEC, they are totally committed to customer service. When you add to that the co-branded Personal Start Page, our users end up with the best of both worlds."
In addition to EarthLink's reputation for reliability and service, the company's unique marketing tools have proven attractive to OEM partners. The most popular of these, the co-branded Personal Start Page, puts a company's brand identity in front of users every time they use the Internet.
Consumers who buy a Packard Bell or NEC Ready desktop computer, then sign up for EarthLink's Internet access service between Oct. 15, 1998, and Jan. 15, 1999, are eligible to receive a $100 rebate from Packard Bell NEC. In addition, EarthLink will waive the $25 setup fee for all Packard Bell customers, and give them 15 free days to try the service.
For more information about EarthLink's award-winning line of Internet access products and services, call 800/395-8425 or visit www.earthlink.net.
About Packard Bell
Based in Sacramento, Calif., privately held Packard Bell NEC, Inc. is the No. 3 supplier of personal computers in the United States and the No. 5 supplier worldwide according to the International Data Corp. The company designs, manufactures and markets a broad range of desktop, notebook and mobile computers and network servers under the Packard Bell, NEC and Zenith Data Systems brands.
Packard Bell NEC's major manufacturing operations are in Sacramento; Fife, Wash.; Angers, France; Sao Paolo, Brazil; and Penang, Malaysia. For more information on Packard Bell NEC, visit www.packardbell.com.
About EarthLink
EarthLink is the world's largest independent Internet service provider. Through its unified EarthLink Sprint Internet access service, the company makes the Internet relevant and productive to hundreds of thousands of individuals and businesses every day. With headquarters in Pasadena, EarthLink provides a full range of innovative access and hosting solutions to thousands of communities internationally from more than 1,500 points of presence.
EarthLink and Sprint Corp. (NYSE:FON) have formed a broad business relationship to create an Internet service with the potential to reach millions of new customers. Sprint is a global communications company and one of the world's largest carriers of Internet traffic. Information about EarthLink and EarthLink Sprint services is available by calling 800/395-8425 and through EarthLink's Web site at www.earthlink.net. "It's your Internet."
CONTACT: EarthLink Network Inc., Pasadena
Kirsten Kappos or Kurt Rahn, 626/296-2400
kirstenk@corp.earthlink.net
kurtrahn@corp.earthlink.net
or
Packard Bell
Ellen Leo, 310/444-1354
ellen.leo@ketchum.com
or
Manning Selvage & Lee
Leasa Vignale or Emanuela Cariolagian, 213/782-6600
lvignale@mslpr.com
ecariola@mslpr.com
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