AOL BRASIL Launches BR.AOL.COM;BR.AOL.COM Will Introduce Users to the Advantages of Full, End-to-EndAOL BRASIL Service to be Launched By the End of 1999
June 30, 1999 12:03 PM
SAO PAULO, Brazil--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 29, 1999--
Portuguese Language Information Site Combines Localized Services, Communications and Content
AOL Brasil Ltda., a wholly-owned subsidiary of AOL Latin America, S.L., today announced the launch of BR.AOL.COM. BR.AOL.COM will introduce Brazilians to the advantages of the full, end-to-end Internet online service, AOL BRASIL, to be launched by the end of 1999.
BR.AOL.COM will offer interactive areas and services to educate users on the unique features and functionalities of the AOL BRASIL service, which when it launches later this year will offer Brazilian consumers a whole new Internet online experience.
In addition, BR.AOL.COM will offer AOL's hallmark easy-to-use features, including a localized version of the popular AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) product, a fully-localized version of AOL NetFind, AOL's global Web search engine, and unique localized content organized through channels and a comprehensive directory.
BR.AOL.COM will provide a promotional version of AOL WebMail, which will contain a full-range of email features. By registering to AIM, users will be able to reserve and secure a screen name on the AOL BRASIL service when it launches later this year.
Charles Herington, President and CEO, AOL Latin America, said: "We are thrilled to be introducing to Brazilian users the world's leading Internet online service, AOL. The opportunity for us in Brazil is fantastic. Through BR.AOL.COM, we are giving users a preview of some of the state-of-the-art features and tools which the AOL BRASIL service will offer later this year in a completely integrated software, along with AOL's characteristic ease-of-use and convenience. We are also pleased to launch the site with localized features and content areas which will make the site a destination point for users."
Francisco Loureiro, President, AOL BRASIL, said: "The launch of BR.AOL.COM is a significant step in our drive to make AOL the most popular Internet online service in Brazil. We are advancing the process of making the online experience here a mass market phenomenon, as it is already in the United States and elsewhere in the world. Brazil's millions of online consumers form a large and influential audience that AOL clearly recognizes as a fundamental base for its success in Latin America. The AOL services in Brazil are being created by Brazilians for Brazilians."
When it launches later this year, the AOL BRASIL service will offer a completely integrated software platform which will integrate proprietary and web content combined with AOL's hallmark ease-of-use and convenience, seamless, fast, Internet access, e-mail, Chat, Buddy List, Instant Messenger, exclusive Portuguese content and programming, and many more features.
In addition, the AOL BRASIL service will provide interconnection with all of AOL's worldwide services, and access to the service in more than 100 countries.
BR.AOL.COM will offer easy-to-use features, including:
-- The popular AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), the first worldwide
instant messaging product localized for Brazil. AIM offers users
the ability to invite friends and family to a personal chat and
keep track of them online. Users will be able to communicate to
tens of millions of other users worldwide. By signing up for AIM,
users will be able to reserve their screen name now for the AOL
BRASIL service and facilitate their registration when AOL BRASIL
is launched.
-- After signing up for AIM, users will be able to register for the
AOL WebMail service, which allows users to easily, conveniently
and quickly send and receive e-mail directly from the Web.
-- The AOL NetFind service, BR.AOL.COM's default Web search and
directory tool is fully localized for Brazil. AOL NetFind is
powered by technology licensed by Inktomi, a leader in Internet
search functionality. It will allow users to conduct fast and
thorough searches of Brazilian and international Web sites.
BR.AOL.COM will offer localized content organized through content channels, a comprehensive directory and links to AOL's other international Web sites. Content channels include News, Sports, Finance and Travel, and contain links to popular Web sites.
BR.AOL.COM will also offer five exclusive homegrown content areas focusing on race car driving, romance, wine & cigars, weekend getaways/recreation, and soccer. The content channels and homegrown areas will be continuously updated and additional content will be added. The comprehensive directory will link to thousands of Web sites organized under dozens of categories.
Finally, BR.AOL.COM will link users to AOL's international Web sites including the sites for the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, Australia, Japan and other countries.
Following the launch of the AOL BRASIL service later this year, the promotional components of BR.AOL.COM will decrease as BR.AOL.COM transitions into an Internet "portal" that complements the AOL BRASIL service.
Together, AOL BRASIL and the BR.AOL.COM portal will offer users not only an unmatched experience, but will also offer content providers, advertisers and e-commerce providers an unmatched opportunity for distribution in cyberspace.
About AOL BRASIL
AOL BRASIL Ltda. is a subsidiary of AOL Latin America, S.L., a joint venture between America Online, Inc. [NYSE: AOL], the world leader in branded interactive services and content, and the Cisneros Group of Companies, one of the premier media, entertainment and telecommunications organizations in Ibero America. AOL BRASIL is based in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and was formed to launch and operate AOL services in Brazil.
The AOL service is the world's largest Internet service with more than 17 million interconnected members.
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