Would be nice if PKSIS was spun off. Wishful thinking, but it looks like two companies with different business plans under one roof.
Wednesday July 15, 9:02 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
One Family Selects Bluestone Software and PKS Systems Integration LLC
--E-touch to expand Consumer Buying Experiences to the Internet--
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 15, 1998-- One Family, a developer and marketer of wellness products, announced today that it has selected Bluestone(R) Software Inc., a technology leader in Web application server frameworks, and PKS Systems Integration LLC (a part of PKS Information Services Inc, a subsidiary of Level 3 Communications Inc.)(NASDAQ: LVLT - news), a communications and information services company, to provide its Internet marketing solution. Bluestone Software is exhibiting in booth No. 1541 from July 15-17, at Internet World Summer '98 in Chicago, Illinois.
One Family, along with its technology partners, will deliver a new merchandising paradigm that combines the advantages of network marketing and e-commerce. The partners are calling this new paradigm ''e-touch.'' Believed to be the world's first e-touch Web site, www.onefamily.com is expected to be live this Fall.
''Every retailer knows the potential of the Internet in reaching consumers, but to date its promise has not been realized,'' commented Carol Fitzgerald, president of One Family. ''For example, while women are the fastest growing group to use the Internet, only 25% are actually making purchases on-line. One main reason is that shopping is an important cultural, sensory, and personal experience. By combining network marketing with the privacy, convenience, and informational benefits of e-commerce, this new form of shopping has the potential of truly satisfying consumer needs.''
One Family's approach to network marketing follows the tradition of companies in which people demonstrate products they use to others and are rewarded financially for their experience. Like catalogs, network marketing allows consumers to reduce the time spent on shopping, while finding products specially suited to their own tastes.
John Capobianco, senior vice president of marketing for Bluestone Software, said the benefit of this alliance for Bluestone is that it allows the company to take its Sapphire/Web(R) application framework to new levels. ''This exciting opportunity allows Bluestone to support a worldwide community of One Family members in ways that will grow their businesses, while providing individualized buying experiences for consumers. Managing the consumer and network marketing member interaction will be key to enhancing the shopping experience.''
According to Bob Jewell, vice president of marketing and sales for PKS Systems Integration LLC, ''Today's Internet experience for consumers is still in its infancy, but leading edge companies have an opportunity to easily bring new products to consumers in the convenience of their own homes. We believe that our systems integration experience and an IP network will provide One Family a vehicle to quickly become a network marketing leader.''
PKS was selected to provide the overall IT architecture and implementation, maintenance, and systems outsourcing of the core Internet business applications for One Family. The core systems will be made available to One Family employees and customers.
''We are looking for applications that merge Internet, marketing, and data collection in a way that is simple and clear to consumers and home-based businesses. This alliance is a good example of thinking outside the box to find better ways of product development, distribution, and sales,'' added Fitzgerald.
The first project in the alliance will be a new ''e-touch'' Web site for One Family. Fitzgerald concluded, ''All three companies share powerful visions of the future and the ability to innovate. Nobody gets closer to their customers than network marketers, and nothing is as good at conveying detailed information and promoting dialogue as the Internet. That's what e-touch is all about.''
About One Family
One Family develops and markets exclusive products in health, safety and total wellness of the body and the environment. In addition to a full line of nutracueticals, One Family is bringing to market proprietary devices, cleaning, personal and household products for families. Products are sold through One Family members. One Family's corporate headquarters is in Littleton, Colorado.
About Bluestone Software
Bluestone Software, Inc. enables enterprises to seamlessly integrate their business applications into a web-centric environment and to smoothly and reliably manage information interactions. Bluestone's Sapphire/Web is the most powerful, secure and manageable Web application framework in the world. Bluestone has formed strategic partnerships with leading software companies, such as IBM, Oracle, Informix, Computer Associates, Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Open Market, and others. More than 50 percent of Fortune 500 companies use Bluestone Software products. Major accounts include Dreyfus Corporation, Eli Lilly, MCI, Reliance National, Thomson Consumer Electronics, and Time Inc. Bluestone Software, Inc. is located at 1000 Briggs Road, Mount Laurel, New Jersey 08054, phone 609-727-4600, fax 609-727-5077, and can be found at bluestone.com on the World Wide Web.
Bluestone and Sapphire/Web are registered trademarks of Bluestone Software Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
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