Planet Direct Teams with Critical Path To Offer Free Web-based Email; Users Can Now Send And Receive Email From Any Web Connection
Business Wire - August 12, 1998 07:48
%PLANET-DIRECT CMGI %MASSACHUSETTS %COMED %COMPUTERS %ELECTRONICS %INTERACTIVE %MULTIMEDIA %INTERNET V%BW P%BW
ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 12, 1998--
Additional Email Enhancements Include Multiple Accounts and Global Viewing
Planet Direct, a comprehensive personalized Web service and wholly owned subsidiary of CMG Information Services, Inc., (NASDAQ:CMGI), today announced the availability of free, Web-based email to its personalized Web service. This feature is provided by Critical Path, Inc., a leading provider of branded email services to ISPs, Web hosting companies, Web portals and corporations. The free Web-based email allows Planet Direct members to send and receive email from any Web connection and is available immediately. The new service compliments Planet Direct's existing universal Email Viewer, allowing members to access email POP accounts from any computer with Internet access. Planned for Phase two of these enhancements, available in September, are access to multiple Web-based and access to POP-based email accounts through the global Email Viewer, all within a single email interface.
Web-Based Email
"The free Web-based email allows us to offer a more robust mail service and increase the usefulness of our personalized Web service to our users," said Hans Hawrysz, president and CEO of Planet Direct. "The ability to send and receive email from any Web connection is an integral part of any consumer's online experience. Critical Path's service compliments our universal Email Viewer, providing our customers with multiple options for accounts and communications, making it easier and more convenient to stay in touch."
With Planet Direct's free Web-based email, members enjoy a one-stop Internet experience including a variety of information such as local news and area entertainment options, community features such as chat and instant messages; and ISP-based email, all within a single, personalized site. Powered by Critical Path's industry-leading technology and infrastructure, the email accounts are accessible to users from any standard Web browser via a Planet Direct Web Mail interface customized by Critical Path. The free service includes enhanced features such as spam-blocking, auto-forwarding, and auto-reply.
Multiple Web-based Accounts and Global Viewing
With Phase two email enhancements, Planet Direct users will be able to have an unlimited number of multiple email accounts for both ISP-based accounts and for Web-based accounts, all accessible through one universal Planet Direct Email interface.
While on Planet Direct the Email Viewer repeatedly checks members' in-box, notifying them with a short tone and a flashing envelope icon when they've received new mail. Upon entering the Email Viewer application, members will have complete capability to reply, forward, edit and delete all messages with the convenience of remaining within a single email interface page.
About Critical Path
Critical Path is a privately-held, venture-backed corporation founded in 1997 by David Hayden and Wayne Correia. With a mission to "handle the world's email," the company has built an industry-leading global infrastructure with data centers connected to key Internet exchange points, and is currently under contract to host over a million mailboxes for ISPs, Web hosting companies, Web portal sites, and corporations. Critical Path provides virtually unlimited scalability, the fastest access to the Internet via multiple direct connections, SSL-based security, and the reliability of redundant, load-balanced hosts. Critical Path is headquartered in San Francisco, California. For more information, please call Critical Path at (415) 808-8800, or visit the Critical Path Web site at www.criticalpath.net.
About Planet Direct
Planet Direct, a wholly owned subsidiary company of CMG Information Services, Inc., is a personal Web service that tailors members' online experience to their interests and local community while providing necessary, everyday information such as news, weather, financial data, calendars, and topical interest areas. Planet Direct integrates brand name content with enhanced links to popular content sites and other services, all presented logically and intuitively to provide consumers with quick access to personal interests in a community atmosphere. Planet Direct is available free online at planetdirect.com, as well as through 330 Internet Service Providers nationwide and affinity groups such as Discover Card, RE/MAX, National Business Association and the U.S. Chess Federation.
About CMG Information Services
CMG Information Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:CMGI) is an investor and developer of Internet companies. In addition, CMGI operates direct marketing companies and venture funds focused on the Internet. Microsoft, Intel and Sumitomo hold minority positions in CMG Information Services.
In addition to Planet Direct, The CMG Internet Group is made up primarily of majority-owned subsidiary companies including Engage Technologies, Accipiter, NaviSite, ADSmart, InfoMation, The Password and Magnitude Networks. CMG @Ventures investment affiliates have significant interests in Lycos, Inc. (NASDAQ:LCOS), blaxxun, Vicinity, GeoCities, Parable LLC, KOZ, Silknet, Chemdex, Speech Machines, Softway Systems, TicketsLive Corporation, Critical Path, Mother Nature, and Visto Corporation. CMG @Ventures recently announced a definitive agreement to sell its investment in Reel.com to Hollywood Entertainment. In addition, CMG will invest approximately $34 million in Hollywood Entertainment. CMG also includes CMG Direct, SalesLink, InSolutions and On-Demand Solutions as wholly owned subsidiaries in the direct marketing, fulfillment and turn-key arenas.
Corporate headquarters is located at 100 Brickstone Square, Andover, MA 01810. Telephone: 978-684-3600. Fax: 978-684-3674. Additional information is available on the company's Web site, cmgi.com.
All trademarks, tradenames, registered trademarks, or registered tradenames are property of their respective holders.
CONTACT: Planet Direct
Terri Henry-Ford
978-684-3807
tford@planetdirect.com
or
Copithorne & Bellows
Laura Beck
617-450-4300
laura.beck@cbpr.com
or
Critical Path
Cindi Bennett
415-808-8712
cindi@cp.net
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