E*TRADE Teams With Palm Computing to Reward June Stock Market Game Winners With New Palm VII Organizers
E*TRADE and Palm Computing Provide Anytime, Anywhere Access to Financial Market Information
PALO ALTO, Calif., May 27 /PRNewswire/ -- E*TRADE Group Inc. (Nasdaq: EGRP - news) today announced that the top five finishers in the June E*TRADE Stock Game will be rewarded with the nation's most up-to-date, comprehensive mobile computing device -- the Palm VII(TM) Organizer. E*TRADE's association with Palm Computing provides individual investors with access to important financial information over this exciting, new wireless device.
''By collaborating with Palm Computing to be the quote provider for the Palm VII Organizer launch and introducing the product to E*TRADE users through the June E*TRADE Stock Game, we are enhancing our ability to give individual investors access to important financial information anytime, anywhere,'' said Jerry Gramaglia, senior vice president of Marketing and Sales for E*TRADE. ''The Palm VII Organizer is one example of how E*TRADE is keeping the consumer connected by extending our services across a wide spectrum of personal computing and communications devices.''
The Palm VII Organizer is the latest handheld device from Palm Computing Inc., a 3Com company (Nasdaq: COMS - news). As a launch partner, E*TRADE provides stock and option quotes on the Palm VII Organizer, which became available through retailers in the New York Metropolitan tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut on May 24, 1999, with an approximate retail price of $599.
Dubbed the Palm VII Organizer Challenge, the June E*TRADE Stock Game begins June 1 and runs through June 30. Registration is free, and individuals can sign up for the game and enter their fantasy portfolio on the Destination E*TRADE web site through June 10 to be eligible to win. Once entered, players receive $100,000 in play money to invest and develop their fantasy portfolio. Along with the Palm VII Organizer, the top three winners of the June E*TRADE Stock Game will receive cash prizes of $1,000, $250 and $100, respectively. Additional information, registration forms and a complete set of game rules can be found on the Destination E*TRADE web site at www.etrade.com.
''With active customer accounts now surpassing 1 million, we are developing an ever-increasing portfolio of products to satisfy customer demand for easy access to financial information,'' continued Gramaglia. ''E*TRADE's philosophy is to empower the self-directed individual investor and the Palm VII Organizer is the perfect complement to this ideal. We expect to see an extremely favorable response to the June E*TRADE Stock Game, and encourage individuals to put their investing mettle to the test.''
''The Palm VII Organizer is the first true consumer information appliance, bringing wireless information access and e-commerce to consumers in one package that is elegant and easy-to-use,'' said Robin Abrams, president of Palm Computing. ''The people who used the Palm VII Organizer in our recent field trial are using the device to manage everything from work and family schedules to travel arrangements and personal investment portfolios. We have reached a new level of personal connectivity. Palm intends to continue leading this industry by delivering breakthrough products and services like those of the Palm VII device and the Palm.Net service.''
About E*TRADE
A leading branded provider of online investing services, E*TRADE has established a popular destination web site for self-directed investors. The company offers independent investors the convenience and control of automated stock, options and mutual funds order placement at low commission rates. In addition, E*TRADE has a suite of value-added products and services that can be personalized, including portfolio tracking, real-time stock quotes, Smart Alerts, market commentary and analysis, news, investor community areas and other information services.
E*TRADE was the first securities and financial services company to be awarded the CPA WebTrust seal of assurance by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). In consecutive quarters (4Q98, 1Q99), the E*TRADE web site was named the No. 1 online investing site in a international survey of the industry's top 20 Internet brokerage firms by Lafferty Information and Research Group, a global provider of high-value and business information research.
Investors can access E*TRADE at www.etrade.com on the Internet and through many other electronic channels and online services, including AOL (Keyword: E*TRADE) and via the TELE*MASTER interactive telephone system. E*TRADE Securities Inc. (Member NASD/SIPC), and its parent company, E*TRADE Group Inc., are headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif.
Important Notice
E*TRADE is a registered trademark of the company. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners. The statements contained in this news release that are forward-looking are based on current expectations that are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks, and actual results may differ materially. The uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, changes in market activity, market acceptance of the new E*TRADE destination web site, anticipated increases in the rate of new customer acquisition, the conversion of new visitors to the site to customers, seasonality, the development of new products and services, the enhancement of existing products and services, competitive pressures (including price competition), system failures or interruptions, economic and political conditions, changes in consumer behavior and the introduction of competing products having technological and/or other advantages. Further information about these risks and uncertainties can be found in the information included in the annual report filed by the Company with the SEC on Form 10-K (including information under the caption ''Risk Factors'') and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
CONTACT: Ken Sporleder, 650-328-5555, ext. 129, or ksporled@nealemay.com, or Doug Hendrix, 650-328-5555, ext. 115, or dhendrix@nealemay.com, both of Neale-May & Partners, for E*TRADE.
SOURCE: E*TRADE Group Inc. |
