John,
Thought I would post this over here as well since it was posted to the MUCP site.
I think we may see a run-up in the stock soon based on the expanding projects with USW. This popped on their news listings as well.
Regards,
Ron
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American Interactive Media's webPassport Network is the First TV Internet Service to
Provide a Broad Range of Telephone Functions
Field Technical Trial of Service in Progress with U S WEST
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 9, 1998-- American Interactive Media, Inc. (OTC BB: AIME) announced today the availability of Phone
Central(SM) the first, feature-rich telephony service delivered through an Internet Television device. Phone Central will be available exclusively
as an upgrade option through AIME's webPASSPORT Network (WPN) Internet television service. Phone Central and the webPASSPORT
Network should be commercially available in July following completion of a field technical trial with U S WEST Communications, Inc. (NYSE:
USW - news).
About the Phone Central Service and Features:
Utilizing an easily installed television set top box, Phone Central makes it easy for users to make calls, answer the phone or use its many
features, all with the same sound quality of conventional speakerphones. The service is accessed by pressing the ''speakerphone'' button on
the infrared remote control or by clicking on the Phone Central icon from any screen within the WPN service. By pressing the speakerphone
button, users can easily receive or make incoming or outgoing calls. Phone Central also provides a number of value-added telephone features
viewed in one central location on the television screen. Users can re-dial the last call received, look up a telephone number in personal
directories, or see who is calling with caller ID. Other features include automatic re-dial of the last 5 calls, call forwarding and conference calling.
Phone Central's on-screen directory automatically captures incoming telephone numbers, and similar to an electronic personal organizer,
enables users to customize directory entries by filling in names, addresses, up to three phone numbers, e-mail addresses and URLs for up to 100
entries. A convenient search function within the directory enables the quick lookup of a telephone number to be called, and with the push of a
button from the directory listing, the call is made while the user hears and sees the number being dialed on-screen.
The Phone Central service includes a speakerphone and other proprietary modifications that optimize the phone for living room use. The
service operates using normal telephone lines and utilizes high-quality, full-duplex DSP-based echo- canceling, audio circuitry. Phone Central
allows users to access their subscribed telephone services, including one touch access to directory assistance, as well as existing paid features
such as call forwarding, Ultra Call Forwarding, priority calling, call rejection and anonymous call rejection. The caller ID feature displays callers'
names, numbers, dates and times on the television screen and logs the last 50 calls.
Peter B. Yunich, Chairman and CEO of AIME, commented, ''With Phone Central, media and communications convergence takes a big step
forward. AIME has integrated full telephony with television and Internet, creating an industry first and enabling the television to become the
center for convergence. Consumers can conduct most of their communications, information and entertainment needs in one convenient
location. We believe that this is only the beginning, and we intend to be on the cutting edge all along the way.'' Future enhancements include
Internet-based telephony and video conferencing.
''webPASSPORT's Phone Central telephony enhancement has completed a range of industry standard telephony tests that have demonstrated
that the device operates within telecommunications standards and is compatible with all major switches utilized by U S WEST. The testing is a
critical milestone for American Interactive Media, from both a credibility perspective with any telecommunications distribution partner and from
reliability and usability requirements for consumers,'' added Mr. Yunich. ''We believe we have introduced the next 'killer app' for the living room
space by combining full consumer telephone functionality with our WPN Internet television services. Given that e-mail, news and chat have
been the drivers behind the web phenomenon, the fastest growing mass medium ever, we believe the addition of telephony to these services
positions AIME to become a leading provider of Internet TV services.''
webPASSPORT & Phone Central Marketing:
The webPASSPORT Network and Phone Central services will not initially be marketed directly to consumers. Instead, AIME's marketing
strategy is to achieve the maximum market penetration through distribution partnerships in the cable, telecommunications, Internet service
provider and utility industries, as well as others, that are capable of reaching the broadest possible customer base. AIME's business model,
which was outlined in detail in a June 2, 1998 announcement, provides substantial private labeling and co-branding opportunities for its
partners and is designed to enhance and extend relationships with end users. Unlike its competitors, WPN is device independent, with software
architecture based on open standards, designed to run across a variety of platforms, enabling seamless future migration. The service supports
all communications protocols including Ethernet, ISDN, and ADSL, 33.6k, 56k and cable modems. Initial customers will take delivery of devices
using both traditional and 33.6k telephone modems or a 10 Base-T connection.
American Interactive Media, Inc. (AIME) is dedicated to delivering proprietary, aggregated and licensed digital content and other
Internet-based services. WebFeat, Inc. is AIME's proprietary digital content production subsidiary. AIME's webPASSPORT Network, provides
easy-to-use, inexpensive Internet-access, customized interactive services delivered to conventional televisions. webPASSPORT solution
utilizes an Internet access device and browser as well as AIME's proprietary content and back end software and infrastructure.
Certain of the information presented herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors over which the
company has little or no control. Such factors include general economic and business conditions and commercial acceptance of the company's
products and services.
Contact:
Company Contact: Investor Relations Contact:
Peter B. Yunich David Collins/Robert Rinderman
Chairman and CEO Jaffoni & Collins
212/539-0700, 212/835-8500,
info@aime-inc.com aime@jcir.com
Media Contact:
Richard Lewis
Richard Lewis Associates
818/995-9199 |
