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Strategies & Market Trends : e-Commerce the Next 100 Months...... -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: cm who wrote (732)	4/23/1998 4:58:00 PM
From: TLindt	Respond to of 2882

SEEK Upside Earnings Alert: 1Q (5c); First Call (10c) Analysts surveyed: 6 The company's earnings figure is on a diluted basis. First Call assumes earnings estimates from analysts are on a diluted basis. "Dow Jones News Service" "Copyright(c) 1998, Dow Jones & Company, Inc." VeriSign 1Q Pro Forma Losses 27c/Share Vs 21c "Dow Jones News Service" "Copyright(c) 1998, Dow Jones & Company, Inc."

To: cm who wrote (732)	4/24/1998 9:10:00 AM
From: cm	Respond to of 2882

<<OT: American Express And Free E-Mail... A Toe-Hold?..>> Guys, one of the things that fascinates me about e-commerce and the Web in general is watching BIG NAMES play it... or begin playing it. American Express is going to offer free e-mail to its card members... mightn't this be the first step towards a much larger web involvement, including EVEN ELECTRONIC BILL PRESENTMENT. (As Steve Harmon notes in today's little number, free e-mail is just a case of me-too-ism among various mega-sites... but I don't think this is me-too-ism for AmEx) The following article by a guy named Charlie Sayers is lifted without title from zcommerce.com... ************** "Can you leave your desk without it? No, I'm not talking about your American Express card. Can you leave your desk without checking your email? If you're one of the many millions of Net-connected business professionals and consumers around the world, the answer is no. Which is the answer American Express is banking on. Taking a bold, branding step forward into the e-commerce world of value-added service, American Express has introduced AmExEmailÿ -- a site devoted to providing card-carrying members and non-members a like with a permanent address for a lifetime of email messaging. The e-concept is simple. Visit the site, register for a free email account and your set. You can then access your email by jumping to the site, using the site's message forwarding feature, or simply connecting via your favorite email client (like Eudora, Netscape Mail, or Microsoft Outlook). Of course, it's the full-feature functionality of AmExEmail combined with a slick, fast-loading design developed by Colorado-based USA.NET, Inc. that make this not only a service worth subscribing to but also a site worth visiting and revisiting. Standard features include filtering, email blocking, and storage between 5 MB for non-members to 10MB for Amex card holders. There are also a wide selection of personalization features that allow users to browse into to the latest sports scores, news, stock quotes - and even receive email reminders. American Express card members will also discover exclusive offers and discounts for online brokerage services, travel, and access to toll-free customer support. And all ads are displayed exclusively on the AmExEmai site. None are pushed or shoved into the private email correspondence of the users. According to Amex spokesperson, Molly Faust, the move to email was made after careful testing. In fact, AmexEmail began its pilot launch back in November '97. Although Ms. Faust wasn't able to disclose exactly how many happy customers were clammering for free "e," the response was enough to move the project forward. To attract users to the site and service, Amex used both traditional promotional strategies such as direct mail along with online techniques such as banner advertising and - yes - email solicitation. But before you cry spam, American Express made sure they only sent notices to individuals on in-house, opt-in lists or from lists opt-in lists developed by third-party providers. What makes the AmExMail site noteworthy, however, is that it's a rare example of reverse-branding. Most companies look to establish a brand online. But American Express has brand recognition to spare and a reputation for reliability and quality service. Essentially, American Express is using their established off line brand to reassure customers their online offering is safe, secure, and reliable. By backing their email service with that type of branding power and solid reputation, they just may have given email a much needed lift.