Net2dine is released. NEWS!!!
(COMTEX) B: IDT Launches Net2Dine Web-Based Restaurant Directory with
B: IDT Launches Net2Dine Web-Based Restaurant Directory with Nationwide
Listings; Completes Innovative Advertising Accords with AOL and Other Major
Internet Search Engines
HACKENSACK, N.J., Aug 19, 1999 (BUSINESS WIRE via COMTEX) --
IDTCorporation (NASDAQ: IDTC) today announced the launch of
Net2Dine.Com - the Company's first Internet directory
(http://www.net2dine.com).
Designed for restaurant owners and consumers alike, Net2Dine.Com is the
largest web-based restaurant directory of its kind on the Internet,
currently listing over 112,000 restaurants in the United States.
Net2Dine.com attracts restaurants to its website by offering a free
restaurant listing as well as value-added products that increase a
restaurant's presence on the Internet. For $10 a month, a restaurant
may subscribe to Net2Dine.com's Webpage Plan. Every subscribing
restaurant will receive its own mini Webpage built into Net2Dine.com's
Website, complete with Click2Reserve on-line reservations. Each Webpage
will provide detailed information about the restaurant, including its
credit card policy, specials, reservations requirements and other
relevant information.
Through contracts with leading web portals like AOLa (NYSE: AOL) and
other major search engines, IDT's Net2Dine(TM) directory is prominently
featured on these sites whenever an Internet user searches for the
search word "restaurants." In addition, IDT has contracted with another
leading search engine to feature Net2Dine.Com whenever consumers search
for the keyword "dining." Attractive Net2Dine banner ads appear
prominently at the top of the results page when any of the above search
words are input into the search windows on several major portals and
search engines.
"We are setting the new paradigm for ownership" of the Internet,"
commented Howard Jonas, IDT's Chairman and CEO. "While everyone was
rushing to secure domain names, we have locked several key consumer
search words on the world's largest search engines, and expect to
expand our directory offerings to other consumer products. It will be
yet another value-added component of our Internet division, and will be
a new driver of revenues for our hosting business."
Net2Dine.com has launched an advertising campaign with print ads in the
New York Times, New York Magazine and Nation's Restaurant News. In
addition, Net2Dine.com plans to expand its marketing efforts through
television, radio, and additional internet-based advertising as well as
on billboards, subways and buses.
"We are moving forward with a more extensive nationwide campaign after
a successful local marketing campaign," said Marc Bodner, Net2Dine's
lead project manager. "We anticipate that within the year, we will
significantly expand our restaurant database, and Internet users
nationwide will utilize Net2Dine.com as their key source for locating
restaurants for all occasions. Clearly, thevalue-added features that we
offer set us apart from our competitors."
Net2Dine.com has entered into a contract with PageTalk, Inc.
(www.pagetalk.com) to be the exclusive Internet dining guide offering a
PageTalk(TM) button. PageTalk(TM) provides the capability for
restaurants to record a voice message, accessible to consumers through
a simple "click" button. Restaurateurs will be able to update their
voice message at any time with a simple telephone call. Net2Dine.com
has also entered into a contract with Mapquest.com (www.mapquest.com)
to provide mapping and direction services for all restaurants on the
Webpage Plan. Additionally, Net2Dine.com is also preparing to unveil
additional features such as Click2Take - an on-line take-out and
delivery service, on-line full-color menus, regional "featured
restaurant" pages, and discounts and coupons.
Of obvious benefit to consumers, Net2Dine.Com offers a convenient,
one-stop Web address where diners and travelers may find a restaurant
according to geographic location, price range or cuisine. It is
particularly valuable to travelers, who may utilize the site to plan
business and/or pleasure engagements at restaurants in or around their
destinations. The Click2Reserve on-line reservations feature is very
attractive to the consumer market as it provides the ability to arrange
reservations on-line by simply clicking icons and completing a short
form.
About IDT Internet Services IDT Internet Services has established
itself as a leader in the ISP business since 1994. The Internet
Division has dial-up points of presence across the country and Puerto
Rico, with a nationwide customer base. The Company was the first ISP to
introduce a flat-fee rate for customers. IDT provides a full suite of
corporate solutions, including DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), 56K-T3
access, collocation, virtual private networks, corporate dedicated
voice services, e-commerce applications, web hosting and web design. In
addition, Nuestra Voz(TM), launched earlier this year, is a pre-paid,
bilingual ISP serving the Hispanic community throughout the United
States and Puerto Rico. For more information about IDT Internet
Services, please visit www.idt.net
For more information about Net2Dine.com, please contact Marc Bodner at
201-928-4428 or visit www.net2dine.com
About the Company: IDT is a leading emerging multinational carrier
that combines its position as an international telecommunications
operator and its experience as an Internet service provider to provide
a broad range of telecommunications services to its wholesale and
retail customers worldwide. The Company provides its customers with
integrated and competitively priced international and domestic long
distance, prepaid calling cards, and Internet access. For more
information about IDT's services, please visit www.idt.net
About PageTalk, Inc. Founded in 1998, PageTalk is revolutionizing the
way audio is added to a website through free, easy-to-use technology.
PageTalk lets web site owners create and update audio messages on their
sites using any telephone, anywhere, any time.
Except for historical information, all of the expectations and
assumptions contained in the foregoing are forward-looking statements
involving risks and uncertainties. These statements refer to our plans
to implement our growth strategy, improve our financial performance,
expand our infrastructure, develop new products and services, expand
our customer base and enter international markets. The forward looking
statements also include our expectations concerning factors affecting
the markets for our products, including the demand for long distance
telecommunications, and Internet access services. Theseforward looking
statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from the results that we
anticipate. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited
to, those risks discussed in this release. In addition to the factors
specifically noted in the forward looking statements, other important
factors that could result in those differences include (a) general
economic conditions in the telecommunications and Internet markets,
including inflation, recession, interest rates, and other economic
factors; (b) casualty to or other disruption of our facilities and
operations; and (c) other factors that generally affect the business of
telecommunications, Internet and other communications companies. We
assume no obligation to update these forward looking statements or to
update the reasons actual results could differ materially fromthe
results anticipated in the forward looking statements.
Copyright (C) 1999 Business Wire. All rights reserved.
-0-
CONTACT: IDT Public Relations, Hackensack
Larry Wiseman
201/928-4452
or
IDT Investor Relations, Hackensack
Mary Jennings
201/928-2975
WEB PAGE: businesswire.com
GEOGRAPHY: NEW JERSEY
INDUSTRY CODE: TELECOMMUNICATIONS
RETAIL
RESTAURANTS
COMED
COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS
INTERACTIVE/MULTIMEDIA/INTERNET
FOODS/BEVERAGES
ENTERTAINMENT
Today's News On The Net - Business Wire's full file on the Internet
with Hyperlinks to your home page.
*** end of story *** |
