Please overlook this if it has already been posted, I have not been able to follow the MB as usual today.
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August 24, 1999 13:06
-AOL EUROPE: Netscape Online launches in the UK
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M2 PRESSWIRE-24 August 1999-AOL EUROPE: Netscape Online launches in the UK (C)1994-99 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD
* Service brings unmatched content, community, reliability and features to subscription-free market Netscape Online software available in the nearly 800 Woolworths stores nationwide
AOL Europe, the largest internet online service across Europe, today announced the launch of Netscape Online, a new subscription-free service aimed at the value-conscious segment of UK DIY - do it yourself - internet users. Netscape Online offers the best package of content, community, reliability, and features available to this value market, backed by the power of the Netscape brand and the AOL global infrastructure.
AOL Europe, a joint venture of America Online, Inc. and Bertelsmann AG, also announced that Netscape Online is the company's first brand to launch on the UK high street through a new retail distribution agreement with Kingfisher plc, announced today. Beginning September 1st, Netscape Online software - co-branded with Woolworths - will be available free of charge through the nearly 800 Woolworths stores nationwide.
Operating on AOL UK's high performance access network, the service combines next-generation technology features with extensive online communities and respected content brands. The service fully integrates the Netscape Communicator suite of products, including Netscape Navigator and Netscape Composer, to make it as interactive as possible. In addition, the service includes popular instant messaging technology - Netscape Online Instant Messenger - and community-based chat. And, Netscape Online offers best of class content brands such as ft.com, Film Unlimited, sports.com, Q Magazine, ZDNet, Games Domain and Dennis Publishing's Maxim, to bring members superior content.
Netscape Online is launching with a number of new advertising and ecommerce partnerships, some of which leverage existing AOL and CompuServe relationships and other new partnerships with brands particularly interested in being associated with Netscape Online. Partners include Crunch, the UK's premier MP3 resource site; QXL, Europe's largest online auction site; Top Jobs on the Net, the highest-trafficked career site in the UK; and Verio, the world's largest Web hosting service.
Andreas Schmidt, President and CEO, AOL Europe, said, "Netscape Online is unique in the subscription-free market. The service benefits from both the power of the Netscape brand and AOL's state-of-the-art infrastructure. Netscape Online provides the best interactive experience in the value market - offering internet consumers top content brands, powerful community-building tools, a reliable access network, and next-generation features. This is the next step in our multiple-brand strategy and provides the best service available to this market segment."
Mr Schmidt added, "In addition, we are excited about our retail distribution agreement with Kingfisher that allows us to take the service direct to the high street for the first time. Also notable are the significant advertising and ecommerce revenues we've generated for the service before launch by, once again, using the Company's shared infrastructure to our advantage. These partnerships, with some of the UK's leading consumer brands, promise to appeal directly to Netscape Online users."
Netscape Online is geared toward value-oriented consumers who are looking for the best online service in the subscription-free market. Research indicates that this newly emerging value market segment tends to be younger and single - a very different audience than AOL's flagship service which attracts mainstream consumers and families, or its CompuServe brand which is aimed at busy professionals. This new value market segment is also characterised by a DIY approach to internet access.
Content partners - the best brands
Netscape Online launches with nine fully-featured content channels, as well as extensive search and community areas. Each channel has direct links on the page to relevant communities, chat rooms and the best of the Web to provide communications features in context rather than as add-ons.
Top brand partners have been secured for the service to provide content that reflects the interests and lifestyles of its targeted audience. Content partners include the men's magazine Maxim, published by Dennis, and now the fastest growing men's magazine in the UK; ft.com, one of the internet's leading sources of global business and financial information; Games Domain, the top-ranked site for game previews, reviews and downloads; Sportsline Europe, the most comprehensive round-up of local and international football available on the Web; and Film Unlimited, published by The Guardian and winner of best entertainment site in the 1999 NetMedia Awards.
All Netscape Online channels also feature daily news and the Netscape Online Feature, a detailed review of hot topics for internet users, for example, ecommerce. In addition, the service offers its unique Netscape Online Guides which will take an 'everything you need to know' approach to a particular subject. For example, the Technology channel features Guides to MP3 and Web Radio with each Guide divided into four categories of information: Basics, Nitty Gritty, Essentials and Sites.
Karen Thomson, Managing Director, AOL UK, said, "Netscape Online is the only service in the value market to offer consumers such an exciting package of features, including Netscape Online Instant Messenger - based on the world's most popular instant messaging tool, Netscape's state-of-the-art Web browser technology, as well as compelling content and community features through the service's nine channels and 20 community areas. We have had a very enthusiastic response to our pre-registration site and, as a result, are even more confident that Netscape Online is well-positioned to lead the subscription-free market in the UK, complementing our flagship AOL, CompuServe and AOL Instant Messenger brands."
Netscape Online also offers:
* Access to the Netscape Communicator 4.6 suite of products to browse the Web with Netscape Navigator, organise email with Netscape Messenger and create Web pages with Netscape Composer
* 20 community areas appealing to diverse interests from sports fans to gamers and tech enthusiasts to fashion buffs. Within the community areas, there are almost 40 chat rooms including Football Is Life, IndieUnderground, Womens Space, Bikers, Parents Place, Temple of Love and Sci Fi Planet
* Netscape Online Instant Messenger which enables real-time one-on-one communications between Netscape Online users and the over 43 million AOL Instant Messenger users world-wide
* Unlimited email addresses
* 20Mb of Web space and, through Netscape Composer, one of the fastest Web publishing tools available which enables users to get their site online in under 30 minutes
* Nine fully-featured content channels at launch: Sport, Technology, Games, Shopping, Entertainment, Travel, Money, News and Weather, and Careers
* Web search facility powered by UK Plus and business finder, people finder and email finder search facilities powered by TDL InfoSpace
* Free online and email help with over 200 pages of online support and technical support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (premium rates apply at 50p per minute)
Underscoring AOL Europe's commitment to the new service, the Company is conducting an intensive advertising, marketing and promotional campaign for Netscape Online. The print and online advertising campaign starts August 24th, with national TV ads airing from September 1st. In addition to retail distribution, Netscape Online software CD-ROMs will also be made available through a variety of tactics including direct mail, sampling, fulfilment and covermounts.
Netscape Online availability
Netscape Online software is available on Netscape Online's Web site, www.netscapeonline.co.uk, or can be ordered on CD-ROM by calling freephone number - 0800 923 0009. From September 1st Netscape Online software will also be available from all 800 Woolworth stores in the UK.
Notes to Editors:
AOL Europe was formed in late 1995 as a joint venture between America Online Inc. and Bertelsmann AG, the world's third largest media group. From the first service launch in 1996, it has grown to 2.7 million households in just over 3 years, making it the largest European internet online service.
AOL Europe is committed to the same multiple-brand strategy successfully developed by AOL in the US. AOL Europe manages all of AOL's, CompuServe's and Netscape Online's European services across 9 countries as well as its Web brand, AOL Instant Messenger. It employs almost 2000 people, including close to 1400 in customer services roles.
Netscape Online, AOL UK's subscription-free online service, is targeted at the 'value' sector and provides pure, high performance internet access backed by the powerful Netscape brand and AOL infrastructure. AOL is the service for the whole family, providing its members with interactive entertainment, information and education services while providing access to a global online community. CompuServe is aimed at the corporate customer and professional user, offering specialised information, large-scale databases, unmatched forums and professional communications tools. AOL Instant Messenger provides free, real-time communications to internet users. |
