AOL Members Adopting AOL 5.0 at RecordRate; AOL 5.0's 'My Calendar' Now All-Time Most Popular New Feature;'You've Got Pictures' & AOL Search Also Big Hits
October 28, 1999 10:06 AM
DULLES, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 28, 1999--America Online, Inc. AOL , the world's largest interactive services company, today announced at its 1999 Annual Shareholders' Meeting that its new AOL 5.0 is experiencing the fastest member adoption rate ever for an AOL software release.
Only three weeks after its official launch, AOL 5.0 has been downloaded more than 4 million times, surpassing last year's AOL 4.0 record, and the new software already accounts for 30% of time spent on the service.
In addition, AOL 5.0's "My Calendar" has emerged as the most popular new AOL feature ever. Already more than 2 million members have set up the personal scheduler with the dates and activities that matter most to them -- birthdays, doctor appointments, local events, TV and movie listings and more.
Underscoring its strength is the fact that "Calendar" is currently the No. 2 AOL Keyword.
The Company, which this week announced that it had surpassed 19 million AOL members worldwide, anticipates that AOL 5.0 will continue to drive membership growth, member retention, time spent on the service and e-commerce especially during the upcoming holiday shopping season.
Additionally, by incorporating key feedback into the development of AOL 5.0 and simplifying the sign-up and registration process, technical support calls to AOL Member Services for AOL 5.0 are 20% lower than AOL 4.0 -- a key benefit to the consumer and cost savings for the Company.
Bob Pittman, America Online President and Chief Operating Officer, said: "We're thrilled with the member response to the AOL 5.0 experience and the fact that, as we anticipated, features like 'My Calendar' have made AOL an even more central part of their daily lives. It's clear the revolutionary AOL 5.0 is delivering the best interactive service available anywhere to our more than 19 million members and we're confident it will give additional consumers even more reasons to get online."
Barry Schuler, President of AOL Interactive Services Group added: "It's what makes AOL different -- listening to consumers and delivering the easy, convenient features and services they need and want. We have a hit on our hands with AOL 5.0. People everywhere are adding new and longer screen names, using AOL Calendar and sharing photos online -- across the board AOL 5.0 has far exceeded our expectations."
Eight-seven percent of consumers who have tried AOL 5.0's "You've Got Pictures" service, developed in partnership with Eastman Kodak and featured on the front screen of the AOL 5.0 Welcome Screen, say they'd recommend "You've Got Pictures" to a friend.
AOL "You've Got Pictures" is gearing up for big picture-taking business surrounding Halloween and the Winter Holiday Season -- two of the biggest picture taking times of year.
Also a new feature of AOL 5.0, AOL Search saw a more than 43% increase in traffic in its first 30 days after premiering. AOL Search utilizes Netscape's Open Directory Project, which also grew significantly since the launch of AOL Search.
Listing more than one million Web sites from more than 17,000 active contributors, the Open Directory Project is well on its way to becoming the largest human built Internet directory in the world.
Among AOL 5.0's other popular features are: seven screen names per account providing added flexibility for everyone in the family to use screen names at home, school or in the workplace; longer screen names up to 16 alphanumeric characters, up from 10; and a new channel guide that streamlines access to AOL's exclusive content and communities directly from the Welcome Screen.
America Online will continue to aggressively market the new AOL 5.0 online and through direct mail and distribution at more than 5,000 retail outlets while also accelerating its worldwide launch currently underway.
Additionally, broadband services and features will roll out this year in AOL 5.0 including enhanced video, audio and games. AOL is set to introduce a version of AOL 5.0 tailored for DSL customers, maximizing the benefits of DSL broadband connectivity.
The new AOL, Version 5.0, software is currently available for download for members using the Windows platforms at Keyword: Upgrade or at www.aol.com and at ZDNET.com.
AOL 5.0 CD-ROMS are also available at more than 5000 retail stores across the country including, CompUSA, Circuit City, Office depot, J&R Computer World and Barnes & Noble. You may also request a 5.0 CD-ROM by calling: 1-800-4-ONLINE [1-800-466-5463].
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 19 million members, and CompuServe, with more than 2.2 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; AOL MovieFone, the nation's No. 1 movie listing guide and ticketing service; and Spinner Networks and NullSoft, Inc., leaders in Internet music and Digital Marketing Services (DMS), the leader in online incentive marketing programs and online custom market research.
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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