SurfWatch Signs Deal to Offer International Filtering To WebTV Network Subscribers
SurfWatch to Provide Web TV With Filtering in Five Additional Languages
LOS GATOS, Calif., May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- SurfWatch Software, a division of Spyglass Inc. (Nasdaq: SPYG) announced today it has signed an extended multi-year deal with WebTV Networks, Inc., to expand its embedded filtering to include international markets. The deal allows WebTV Networks to offer its subscribers accurate and comprehensive filtering, regardless of what country they are located in or where they surf on the Net.
SurfWatch will provide robust, language-specific filter sets in French, German, Spanish, Italian and Chinese. The language filter sets will include country-specific versions to account for varying word usage. For example, the French language is used differently in France and in Canada. SurfWatch is employing native-level speakers to create its internationally-sensitive content filtering packages to accommodate these differences.
SurfWatch has provided filtering solutions for Microsoft(R)WebTV Network(TM) subscribers since 1996, and today provides filtering solutions in both English and Japanese. The SurfWatch offering on the WebTV(R) service includes a "white list" option, allowing parents to limit Internet access to a collection of child-safe, age-appropriate sites. In the U.S., Yahooligans! is made available; and Yahoo!Kids is the equivalent in Japan. SurfWatch filtering technology and filter sets are embedded directly into the WebTV service, accessible via Internet units sold by Sony Electronics, Philips Consumer Electronics, Mitsubishi, Samsung and EchoStar.
"We're very happy to be expanding our relationship with WebTV Networks," said Theresa Marcroft, Director of Marketing for SurfWatch. "This will help ensure that future international subscribers to WebTV service have a safe Internet experience and that they can block inappropriate, offensive or dangerous sites when they surf the 'Net at home."
"We want to make sure that WebTV subscribers have the very best Internet filtering technology at their disposal, and that's why we are expanding our relationship with SurfWatch," said Steve Perlman, president and co-founder of WebTV Networks, Inc. "Our customers and their families are using WebTV in the living room, where blocking offensive material is extremely important. SurfWatch filtering provides this valuable option as part of our WebTV Network service."
WebTV Network service allows subscribers to access the Internet through their television sets using WebTV Internet units sold at consumer electronic stores nationwide. WebTV service is currently available in the U.S., Canada and Japan.
SurfWatch invented the technology that allows Internet users to block access to Web pages which may be offensive, inappropriate and even dangerous. The company offers filtering in five core categories: sexually explicit materials, hate speech, violence, Web sites that glorify drugs, alcohol & tobacco, and Internet gambling.
"Consumer Internet access through non-PC devices like WebTV Internet units is going to increase dramatically," continued Marcroft. "That's why we're working with several companies that provide products and services that access the Net to embed filtering technology directly into the products."
About SurfWatch
SurfWatch invented the Internet content filtering market in January 1995 and continues to provide the only patented filtering technology today. Today, SurfWatch remains the industry-leading provider of content management solutions. SurfWatch provides parents, teachers and companies Internet content management solutions to screen out unwanted content from their computers -- without restricting the access rights of other Internet users. SurfWatch products filter the World Wide Web, Internet, FTP, Gopher and Web-based chat connections. For more information, see the SurfWatch Web site at surfwatch.com or contact SurfWatch at 1-408-395-8750.
Note: SurfWatch is a registered trademark of SurfWatch Software, a division of Spyglass Inc. Spyglass is a registered trademark of Spyglass, Inc.
SOURCE Spyglass Inc.
CO: Spyglass Inc.; WebTV Networks, Inc.
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