| ISMagazine.com | Internet Today |
January, 2000 |
SEATTLE, Dec. 30 -- Freei.Net announced today that it has become the first U.S.-based free Internet service provider to expand into the growing Asia-Pacific market. Freei.Net will soon begin offering free Internet, e-mail, chat and online shopping services in five Asia-Pacific countries, including Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.
The newly formed Freei Asia-Pacific (Sdn. Bhd.) is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and will be run by principals Alex Wong and Ross Knudson. "The Asia-Pacific region is experiencing a resurgence in its economies," said Alex Wong. "Internet access is the key to accelerated growth.
Through this partnership with Freei.Net, we can make the Internet accessible to anyone in this area, regardless of their income level." Freei Asia-Pacific (Sdn. Bhd.) will be announcing its first Asian telecom partner early in January. The free Internet service is expected to go live in January as well.
"This is an unprecedented opportunity for Freei.Net to pick up and service millions of potential subscribers in an extremely short amount of time," said Rod Hamlin, Freei.Net vice president of business development. "The governments of Singapore and Malaysia are ahead of even the U.S. in promoting PC use and Internet connectivity, and we're excited to be part of this dynamic marketplace."
With this international expansion, Freei.Net becomes the first U.S.-based free ISP to enter the emerging Asia-Pacific market. Revenue from Internet commerce in Asia is expected to grow to $30 billion by 2001, according to the International Data Corporation. There are more than 15 million Internet users in Asia, according to Goldman Sachs' Asia Internet Report. IDC predicts that the number of users in Asia will exceed 42 million by 2001.
About Freei.Net
Freei.Net is privately funded and is the sixth-largest Internet service provider in the nation with more than 1,560,000 subscribers. In addition to free Internet access with no time limits, Freei.Net provides subscribers with e-mail, news, chat, instant messaging, 20mb of online disk storage, and e-commerce options. Freei.Net is based in Seattle, Washington.
Availability
To find out if Freei.Net is available in a specific region or to sign up for the free Internet services, visit Freei.Net at http://www.freei.net. Users can download the service from the Internet or call 253-796-6505 to obtain a free CD-ROM. There is absolutely no charge for the service. Ever.
Recording Academy Teams with IBM to Create Official Webcast for the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards
Two months of exclusive content on Web site to be highlighted by a five-day live cybercast marking the industry's largest grouping of recording artists for a multi-day music-based Web event
SANTA MONICA, CA and ARMONK, NY, December 27, 1999 -- Michael Greene, President/CEO of the Recording Academy, today announced that IBM has extended its sponsorship of the GRAMMY Awards and is designing, hosting and jointly developing the Official Webcast of the GRAMMY Awards. The Recording Academy is providing a wealth of new and exclusive content, which will be updated frequently preceding and including the 42nd GRAMMY Awards. The arrangement links the Academy's popular http://www.GRAMMY.com Web site with IBM's expertise in helping organizations produce compelling event Webcasts. The agreement between the Recording Academy and IBM broadens the relationship, which began in 1998.
"It's fitting that the world's premier music show is linked with the world's premier technology company," said Greene. "With the help of IBM, the Recording Academy will be able to achieve its groundbreaking goals of offering unprecedented content and access to online visitors. Plus, the multi-faceted Webcast will be a dynamic complement to the GRAMMY Awards by helping to promote the show, in addition to giving millions of people an exclusive, backstage view."