NTAP--AIM Technologies Hits a Home Run with Storage Networking Solutions from Network Appliance
AUSTIN, Texas & SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 4, 2000-- Network Appliance, Inc. (Nasdaq:NTAP - news), the leading provider of network-attached data access and content delivery solutions, and AIM Technologies Inc., the market-leader in fan-loyalty and one-to-one sports marketing, today announced that Network Appliance will provide AIM with storage networking solutions.
AIM's SportsRewards(TM) program (formerly called the FANCARD.NET(TM) program) enables professional and college sports teams to build detailed databases on their fans and to customize marketing of sponsoring businesses directly to their fan bases. These marketing transactions have become incredibly data-intensive; the new collaboration with Network Appliance will allow AIM to efficiently store its burgeoning fan database.
AIM Technologies has deployed NetApp® solutions to provide back-end storage for its SportsRewards fan-loyalty program. The centralized network storage device allows AIM to better manage its rapidly growing storage requirements across multiple database platforms and operating systems.
``Our network-based kiosks, operating in almost 100 sporting venues around the country, require access to many different informational components from our member databases, our sponsor content database, and various forms of interactive media content. The Network Appliance(TM) storage solutions allow us to manage that data in all of our systems from within a centralized, high-speed storage appliance,'' said Darrell Landers, AIM's Information Technology Director.
AIM Technologies is a participant in Network Appliance's ``Powered by Network Appliance'' program, a branding initiative designed to foster business development and enhance the exposure of Internet companies with e-business driven strategies. Network Appliance powers nine out of the top 10 ISPs and 13 out of the top 15 Web sites worldwide.
About the SportsRewards Program
AIM Technologies' flagship product, the SportsRewards program (formerly called FANCARD.NET), is a high-tech, interactive marketing program that provides sports teams and sponsors with information about their customers -- information that allows sponsors to target their customers and teams to thank their fans.
Here's how it works: Fans sign up online (www. SportsRewards.com) or at the game for a free membership to the SportsRewards program. At the game, they pick up an ATM-style card that they swipe at any one of AIM's specially designed kiosks located around the venue. Every time members attend a game or event, they receive points that accumulate during the season. These points entitle members to prizes that may include free soft drinks, game tickets, autographed team jerseys, suite nights, or introductions to favorite players. The more events members attend, the more exciting and unique are the rewards.
About AIM Technologies, Inc.
Founded in 1996, AIM Technologies, Inc. is an Austin, Texas-based company that provides one-to-one marketing and commerce solutions to businesses through innovative off-line and online loyalty programs. AIM's proprietary software and interactive kiosk technology enable its sports and entertainment business partners (teams, venues, web sites, media partners, and sponsors) to better understand and target their customers based on demographic and psychographic information contained in AIM's extensive database of over 700,000 members.
The SportsRewards program is now in operation for over 80 teams and venues in all six major sports leagues: Major League Baseball, National Football League, National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, WNBA and Major League Soccer, as well as the NCAA.
About Network Appliance
Network Appliance, a veteran in network file serving and caching, has been providing data access solutions since 1992 and is a member of both the S&P 500 and NASDAQ 100 index. Major corporations and ISPs, including Lycos, Yahoo!, Citicorp Securities, Siemens, Lockheed, Cisco, Motorola, and Texas Instruments have deployed NetApp solutions. NetApp Internet caching solutions (NetCache(TM) appliances) and file servers (filers) deliver fast, simple, reliable, and cost-effective access to network-stored data and enable simultaneous shared file services for UNIX®, Windows NT®, and the World Wide Web.
The company pioneered the concept of the ``network appliance,'' an extension of the industry trend toward dedicated, specialized products that perform a single function. Network Appliance filers and NetCache appliances are based on the company's innovative data access software known as the Data ONTAP(TM) operating system and standards-compliant hardware.
Note To Editors: NetApp and the Network Appliance logo are registered trademarks and Network Appliance, NetCache, and Data ONTAP are trademarks of Network Appliance, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. SportsRewards is a trademark of AIM Technologies, Inc.
Windows NT is a registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. UNIX is a registered trademark in the U.S. and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/Open Company Limited. All other brands or products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and should be treated as such. |
