VNTK-COULD BE A STOCK TO WATCH ON NEWS
Ogilvy Group Partners With Vianet Technologies; Strategic Alliance to Develop New Email & Interactive Applications Using Rich Media
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 12, 2001--Furthering its commitment to bringing new technology solutions and applications to its clients growing marketing programs, Ogilvy & Mather Advertising and its OgilvyOne and OgilvyInteractive units (part of The Ogilvy Group, Inc., a subsidiary of WPP Group plc. - WPPGY) have signed an exclusive strategic alliance with Vianet Technologies, Inc. (OTC:VNTK) an innovator in visual media delivery technologies and systems.
Through the partnership, OgilvyOne and OgilvyInteractive will team with Vianet to develop sophisticated Internet marketing applications that feature streaming media capabilities. Vianet has developed a suite of proprietary video technology applications and delivery systems that allow users with both high and low bandwidth to experience high-quality video content easily.
"We are dedicated to investing in the development of new technology tools that add to the specialized offerings we can provide to our clients as they look to us for expertise in building their brands across multiple media channels," explained Carla Hendra, President of OgilvyOne North America. "Vianet is a truly promising enterprise with distinctive technology that will allow us to create valuable new marketing solutions for marketing via the Internet."
In partnership with Vianet, Ogilvy will create brand-relevant interactive communications vehicles utilizing Vianet's rich media platforms. The technology will allow the agency to marry the distinctive attributes of its clients brands to attention-getting content delivered over the Internet.
As an example of how the technology works, Ms. Hendra noted that a clothing retailer could attach a coupon to a video clip of a new Christina Aguilera song and direct the communication by email to young adults who both enjoy the artists' music and buy the clothing being promoted. The consumer would have content of interest -- the video clip -- and an offer that can help build the clothing company's brand.
"This is a pivotal partnership for Vianet in our continuing strategy to deploy our visual media products into the broad mainstream markets," said Peter Leighton, President and CEO of Vianet. "Joining forces with one of the world's largest advertising agencies and its award-winning interactive group, puts our company at the forefront of an enormous emerging market: digital media advertising. Applying Ogilvy's creative application expertise to our technologies gives businesses around the globe breakthrough marketing solutions that can help build their business."
"We have built a dedicated applications lab to allow us to develop new marketing applications in partnership with new technology innovators like Vianet," explained Jeannette McClennan, President of OgilvyInteractive. "One of the biggest problems today with advertising on the Internet is the ease with which consumers can click away from ads. By applying the technology Vianet offers as well as other developments we have underway, we can create new media models that bring content -- be it songs, video clips, games and other entertainment -- directly to the consumer in a way that is connected to the brands we are supporting."
Ogilvy has had great success in bringing integrated branding to its many worldwide clients, and in 2000, implemented successful 360-degree programs for the majority of its clients. It does this through the seamless integration and team approach it takes to its clients business by bringing the resources of its advertising, direct and interactive teams together. Adweek Magazine this year named Ogilvy
Mather its U.S. Advertising Agency of the Year and also named OgilvyInteractive, the best "Integrated Interactive Agency of the Year."
"This powerful relationship aligns Vianet with the world's leading agencies in the traditional, direct and new media space," noted Fran Sanda, Vice President of Vianet. "The opportunities for this partnership and its impact on Vianet are tremendous, giving us entree to marketers around the globe who are seeking new communication vehicles that have proven results with consumers. We are thrilled to be establishing a new line of business for our technology."
About Ogilvy & Mather
Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide (www.ogilvy.com), a subsidiary of WPP Group plc (NASDAQ:WPPGY), is the world's ninth largest agency network, with billings totaling almost $13 billion. It is a communications and marketing company specializing in advertising, direct marketing, interactive with public relations, sales promotion, and related services available from 411 offices in 103 countries. Its clients include American Express, IBM, Kodak, Motorola, BP, Unilever, Kraft, Kimberly Clark, Hershey, Merck and many others.
OgilvyOne Worldwide, a unit of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide, is the strongest, most experienced one-to-one communications network in the world with 80 offices in 50 countries, and billings of U.S. $2.8 billion. OgilvyInteractive is an integrated offering of OgilvyOne, providing a multifaceted interactive marketing practice that covers consulting, digital marketing and ebusiness development ranging from web to pervasive and convergence applications.
About Vianet Technologies, Inc.
Vianet Technologies is an innovator in the development and integration of network access and visual media delivery technology and systems. The company offers outstanding solutions in private and public networks, including network access, value-added services, e-commerce applications and visual media communications. The delivery of broadband services and deployment of new technologies continues to be restricted by bandwidth limitations in both the public (Internet) and private (intranet) sectors. Vianet is solving these issues with the development of next-generation networking equipment and bandwidth management technologies. Vianet is a publicly held company based in New York City, NY and traded under the ticker VNTK. For more information about the company, please visit the Web site at www.vianet.com.
CONTACT:
Ogilvy & Mather
Toni Lee, 203/761-1292
or
Vianet Technologies, Inc.
Bob Logan, 972/543-2700
www.vianet.com
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