America Online, Inc. Acquires 100% of Digital Marketing Services, Inc.
June 15, 1999 11:21 AM
DULLES, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 15, 1999--
Purchase of Outstanding Stake Gives AOL Full Ownership of Leader in Online Incentive Marketing Programs and Online Research
America Online, Inc. AOL , the world's leader in branded interactive services, today announced it has acquired total ownership of Digital Marketing Services, Inc. (DMS), the leader in online incentive marketing programs and online custom market research.
America Online, which previously held a majority share of DMS, acquired the outstanding minority stake to give the Company full ownership of DMS. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in 1995 by America Online and the M/A/R/C Group, Inc., DMS has been the exclusive provider of America Online's commerce-activating incentive program, AOL Rewards, and the leading online research brand and service, Opinion Place.
As a wholly owned subsidiary of America Online, DMS will develop rewards and research programs across many of AOL's brands, including Digital City, ICQ and CompuServe. DMS founder Dennis Gonier will remain President of DMS and will also become Senior Vice President of America Online in the AOL Interactive Properties Group.
Ted Leonsis, President of AOL Interactive Properties, said: "By moving the AOL-DMS relationship to the next level through this acquisition, we will strengthen our position as the leading provider of online marketing programs and online research services. The AOL-DMS combination will provide a powerful alignment of resources and customized offerings for the audience and partners of each of our brands."
Opinion Place on America Online allows marketers to conduct custom market research through online surveys answered by randomly selected AOL members. Through Opinion Place, marketers and research partners are able to execute scientifically reliable and proven survey research using this exploding medium. Last year, DMS led all firms in the new field by conducting over 1.5 million online interviews for many Fortune 500 companies.
About Digital Marketing Services, Inc.
Digital Marketing Services, Inc., headquartered in Lewisville, Texas, is the leading provider of online, ROI-based, marketing services and online custom market research via America Online and its properties. Digital Marketing Services' AOL Rewards program, used by many Fortune 500 companies, involves more than 500 separate marketing offers and a scientific, online survey research system. More information on Digital Marketing Services, Inc. is available at its Web site: www.dmsdallas.com.
About America Online, Inc.
Founded in 1985, America Online, Inc., based in Dulles, Virginia, is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies, and e-commerce services.
America Online, Inc. operates: two worldwide Internet services, America Online, with more than 17 million members, and CompuServe, with approximately 2 million members; several leading Internet brands including ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger and Digital City, Inc.; the Netscape Netcenter and AOL.COM portals; the Netscape Navigator and Communicator browsers; and AOL MovieFone, the nation's No. 1 movie listing guide and ticketing service.
Through its strategic alliance with Sun Microsystems, the Company develops and offers easy-to-deploy, end-to-end e-commerce and enterprise solutions for companies operating in the Net Economy.
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