(PR NEWSWIRE) DJ: Planet Directs' Personalized Web Service Added To The Co
DJ: Planet Directs' Personalized Web Service Added To The Compaq Presario Easy
Access Internet Suite
ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 28, 1998--
Planet Direct's Reach Continues to Grow; Every Compaq
Presario User With The Easy Access Keyboard Can Now Launch
Into Planet Direct's Personalized Web Service
Planet Direct, a comprehensive personalized Web service and wholly owned
subsidiary of CMG Information Services, Inc., (NASDAQ:CMGI), today announced
that the company's personalized Web service will be added to Compaq's
Instant Internet offering of easy-access Web services. This will allow
Compaq Presario users to configure their Instant Internet Button to launch
Planet Direct's Personalized Web Service as their default home page every
time they access the Internet. The Planet Direct home page for Compaq users
will be co-branded, providing users with local personalized content, in
addition to Compaq information and links to Compaq services.
Planet Direct offers the unique ability to integrate city, state and local
content with community-building features such as chat rooms and opinion
polls across all levels of the service, intuitively within each topic area.
In addition, Planet Direct provides deep personalization tools such as a
calendar with self-programmed reminders, Web-based email accounts and an
email viewer providing access to any POP email account, personal stock
portfolios, a personalized virtual address book and a personalized daily
newspaper.
"We are very excited to be able to provide Planet Direct to Presario users,"
said Hans Hawrysz, President and CEO of Planet Direct. "This will expand the
presence of our localized service to consumers nationwide, providing the
kind of personal relevancy consumers are crying for on the Web today.
Compaq recently announced the new line of Presario Internet PCs that
includes new Internet access services for easy Web access and navigation to
popular Web activities. The new models include an Easy Access Internet
Keyboard with specific Internet buttons that take the user directly to the
Web. Users can program the Instant Internet Button to launch into Internet
sites of their choice, including Planet Direct.
"We want to offer our customers the best Internet experience available on
any PC, as well as make the Internet easy to use," said Celia Francis,
Director of Internet Services Marketing, Consumer Products Group for Compaq.
"With Planet Direct, customers have another choice of Web sites they can
launch from the Instant Internet Button on Compaq Presario's Internet
Keyboard. Planet Direct is a Web site with great local and personal
information."
About Planet Direct
Planet Direct, a wholly owned subsidiary company of CMG Information
Services, Inc., (NASDAQ:CMGI), 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, real-time
stock quotes and 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 350 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.
The CMG Internet Group is made up primarily of majority-owned subsidiary
companies including Planet Direct, NaviSite, NaviNet, Engage Technologies,
ADSmart, InfoMation, The Password and Magnitude Network.
The company's CMG @Ventures investment affiliates have significant interests
in Lycos, Inc. (NASDAQ:LCOS), blaxxun, GeoCities, Vicinity, 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 has also signed a
binding letter of agreement to sell its 25 percent stake in PlanetAll to
Amazon.com, Inc. 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.
CONTACT: Planet Direct Copithorne & Bellows
Terri Henry-Ford Laura Beck
978-684-3807 617-450-4300
tford@planetdirect.com laura.beck@cbpr.com
07:38 EDT SEPTEMBER 28, 1998
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