Dell Steps Up Consumer Pace With New Campaign and Products; Dell4Me Program Includes New Ads, AtHome Cable Internet Service, Color Notebooks and Digital Jukebox
September 22, 1999 11:21 AM
ROUND ROCK, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 22, 1999--Dell Computer Corporation DELL is launching an aggressive bid to expand its relationship with consumers from their first purchase to the final keystroke of their last PCs.
The new consumer program, called Dell4me(sm), evolves the world's leading direct computer systems company into a single-source provider of consumer products and services needed throughout the entire ownership period of a PC, including high-speed Internet access, personal Internet home pages, online services, payment options and thousands of PC accessories and software.
Dell introduced Dell4me today with a new consumer advertising campaign, high-speed cable Internet service from ExciteAtHome, new Inspiron(tm) notebook PCs with a choice of colors, and a new digital music PC jukebox combo with products from MusicMatch and Diamond Multimedia. Additional press releases and information on all of the following are located on Dell's Web site at 11:30 a.m. EST at: webevents.broadcast.com.
"We want our customers to know that Dell isn't just about PCs anymore," said Janet Mountain, vice president and general manager of Dell's consumer business. "Dell is a source for all of their computing needs. It's about bringing technology together for our customers -- from PCs to printers and scanners, to Internet access with personalized content, online training course and service and support. It's all about providing complete customized computing solutions to our customers."
With the flexible purchase options of Dell4me, customers can own a Dell(R) Dimension(R) desktop PC for as little as $27 a month(a) with a 400 MHz Intel Celeron processor, color monitor and one year of Dellnet(sm) Internet access(b). The price also includes 24X7 toll-free telephone and online technical support, a three-year limited warranty(c), and online offers like Internet home pages, discounts from online retailers, 20MB online backup(d), personalized service and support pages with notification of file updates and DellAuctions to sell older PCs.
Dell4me represents the next step in Dell's consumer strategy and builds on the momentum of the July announcement of Dellnet Internet service. In the past year, Dell's share of the consumer market has grown from No. 7 to No. 4 (Q1 '99) according to Ziff Davis Infobeads. For the last two years, Dell's consumer units have grown 80 percent year-over-year.
Related announcements from today's Dell4me press announcement
include:
-- New Consumer Ad Campaign - Dell is introducing a new consumer
advertising campaign that takes a departure from traditional
industry advertising of product specifications and focuses
instead on consumer benefits of computing technology. The
advertisements, which begin appearing Saturday on TV and in
print, are the first execution from Dell's Home and Small
Business advertising agency, Ammirati Puris Lintas in New York.
-- New Color Notebooks - Dell has added a touch of color to its
Inspiron notebooks so home and small business customers can
personalize their notebook PC to match their lifestyles and
leading technology to match their computing needs. The new
Inspiron 3700 sports a new design and choice of two colors: Tahoe
Blue or Storm Grey. The new Inspiron 7500 rivals the power and
performance of a desktop PC with the mobility of a notebook PC.
-- New Music PC Combo - Dell has developed a new music PC
combination for the explosive trend of customers who are turning
their PCs and the Internet into home stereos. Beginning next
week, Dell customers can order a Dell(R) Dimension(R) desktop PC
with MusicMatch Jukebox software, the new Diamond RIO 500 Digital
Audio MP3 Player, powerful speakers with a subwoofer with prices
starting at $1,664. Dell is also providing a new online Digital
Audio Learning center to help customers learn about recording and
playing digital audio files on their PCs.
-- ExciteAtHome Cable Internet Service - Dell and ExciteAtHome
will kick off a program this week that makes it easy for Dell
customers to check for availability of ExciteAtHome Internet
access service through Dell and order high-speed cable Internet
service with Dell Dimension desktop and Inspiron notebook PCs.
Dell is the first PC company to offer subscriptions to
ExciteAtHome cable Internet service with PCs.
Ranked No. 78 among the Fortune 500 companies and No. 210 in the Fortune Global 500, Dell Computer Corporation is the world's leading direct computer systems company, based on revenues of $21.7 billion for the past four quarters. Dell designs, manufactures and customizes products and services to customer requirements and offers an extensive selection of software and peripherals. Information on Dell and its products can be obtained through its toll-free number 800/388-8542 or by accessing the Dell World Wide Web site at www.dell.com.
Dell, Inspiron and Dimension are registered trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation.
Dell disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.
(a) 48-Mo. Purchase Plan offered through Dell Financial Services L.P., 14050 Summit Dr., Austin, TX 78728, to qualified U.S. consumers, excluding AR and MN residents. Availability may be limited or offer may vary in some states. Advertised payments based on sales prices depicted for 48-mo. term at 18.99% APR, with approved credit. Excludes taxes and shipping charges which vary ). Taxes and shipping charges due with first payment unless included in amount financed, in which case your monthly payment will be higher.
(b) Includes 150 hours access/month; additional $1.50 charge for each hour over 150. Remote subscribers subject to surcharge of $4.95 per hour of service. Additional $1.00/hour surcharge for Dellnet service in HI and AK. Excludes applicable taxes and telephone access fees/charges.
(c) For a complete copy of our guarantees or limited warranties, please write Dell USA L.P., Attn: Warranties, One Dell Way, Round Rock, TX 78682.
(d) Online Backup services are provided by a third party, and such services are provided pursuant to the terms and conditions between such third party and the customer. Limited to 20 MB online storage; additional storage space available at additional charge. Dell disclaims all responsibility for lost customer data.
NOTE TO EDITORS: In the terms "ExciteAtHome," and "AtHome Cable Internet Service," the word "at" replaces an "at" symbol. The symbol was replaced for transmission purposes only.
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