Market Guide Business Information Database Company Report Company: America Online Inc. Ticker: aol exchange

Market Guide Business Information Database
Company Report
Company: America Online Inc.
Ticker: AOL
Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
Market Guide Industry: Computer Services
Market Guide Sector: Technology
E-mail
AOLIR@aol.com
SIC Codes:
7375 - Information Retrieval Services
7379 - Computer Related Services, Nec
Company Overview
Address: 22000 AOL Way
Dulles, VA 20166
United States
Fax: (703) 265-1101
Phone: (703) 265-1000
Home Page: http://www.aol.com/
America Online Inc., founded in 1985 and based in Dulles, Virginia, is the world's leader in interactive
services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services. America Online, Inc. operates two worldwide Internet services, America Online, with more than 22 million members, and CompuServe, with more than 2.2 million members, several leading Internet brands including ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger and Digital City, Inc., the Netscape Netcenter and AOL.COM portals, the Netscape Navigator and Communicator browsers, AOL MovieFone, the nation's leading movie listing guide and ticketing service, and Spinner Networks and NullSoft, Inc., leaders in Internet music. Through its strategic alliance with Sun Microsystems, the Company develops and offers easy-to-deploy, end-to-end e-commerce and enterprise solutions for companies operating in the Net Economy.
Business Description
America Online Inc., founded in 1985 and based in Dulles, Virginia, is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services. America Online, Inc. operates two worldwide Internet services: America Online, with more than 22 million members, and CompuServe, with more than 2.2 million members; several leading Internet brands including ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger and Digital City, Inc., the Netscape Netcenter and AOL.COM portals, the Netscape Navigator and Communicator browsers, AOL MovieFone, the nation's leading movie listing guide and ticketing service, and Spinner Networks and NullSoft, Inc., leaders in Internet music. Through its strategic alliance with Sun Microsystems, the Company develops and offers easy-to-deploy, end-to-end e-commerce and enterprise solutions for companies operating in the Net Economy. The Company has two major lines of businesses organized into four product groups. These are the Interactive Online Services business, comprised of the Interactive Services Group, the Interactive Properties Group and the AOL International Group, and the Enterprise Solutions business, comprised of the Netscape Enterprise Group. Revenues for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 were $4.8 billion, compared with $3.1 billion the previous year.
Interactive Online Services Business
The Interactive Services Group develops and operates branded interactive services, including the AOL
service, a worldwide Internet online service with more than 22 million members, the CompuServe service, a
worldwide Internet online service with approximately two million members, the Netscape Netcenter, an
Internet portal with more than 17 million registered users, the AOL.COM Internet portal, and the Netscape
Communicator client software, including the Netscape Navigator browser.
The Company's AOL service provides subscribers with a global, interactive community offering a wide variety of content, features and tools. The AOL service also includes simple access to the Internet with search functionality
through AOL NetFind. The range of content, features and tools offered on the AOL service includes an online interactive community with electronic mail services, public bulletin boards, the Buddy List feature (for members to keep an up-to-the moment account of whether fellow members are online,
subject to a blocking feature), the AOL Instant Messenger service, which allows members to communicate online instantaneously without having to access an electronic mailbox, an online community center, public or private "meetingrooms" and interactive conversations (chat). Members can personalize their experience on the AOL service through a number of features and tools, including a reminder service that sends e-mail in advance of important events, stock portfolios that automatically update market prices, Mail Controls, which allow members to limit who may send them e-mail and to block certain types of e-mail and Portfolio Direct and News Profiles, which send stories of
particular interest to members. The AOL service offers Parental Controls to help parents form their children's
online experience, including tools that limit access to particular AOL areas or Websites or to certain
features.
The CompuServe service targets the value-oriented portion of the United States market and the professional business-oriented market outside of the United States. The Company's Netscape Netcenter Website, www.netscape.com, offers a variety of products and services, including news and information, opportunities to purchase goods and services, Internet site directories, software, software downloads, and product and technical support information. The Company's AOL.COM Website, www.AOL.COM, offers Internet users who may not be AOL members content, features and tools, including AOL NetFind, an Internet search and rating tool, and the AOL Instant Messenger service, which allows Internet users to communicate in real-time with their friends and family.
The Company's AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) service is a Web-based communications service that enables
Internet users to know when other users of the service are online and to send and respond in real time
to private personalized electronic text messages. The AIM service is free, and available for downloading
on AOL.COM and on a co-branded basis on the Company's other brands and services, including the
CompuServe service, CompuServe.com, Netscape Netcenter, and to users of Netscape Communicator
software. The Company has also announced arrangements to develop co-branded versions of the AIM serivce
with Apple Computer, Inc., Mindspring Enterprises, Inc., EarthlinkNetwork and Juno Online Services, Inc.
Netscape Communicator is a suite of open HTML-based client software that integrates browsing, e-mail,
Web-based word processing and group scheduling. This suite of software enables users to communicate,
share and access information. Netscape Navigator, the browser that serves as the core component of
Netscape Communicator, allows access to information and network applications on Intranets, Extranets and
the Internet.
The Interactive Properties Group includes and oversees the Company's branded properties that operate across multiple services or platforms, such as Digital City, ICQ and MovieFone. The Company's subsidiary, Digital City, Inc. is the leading branded local content network and community guide on
the AOL service and the Internet. It is owned in part by the Tribune Company, is a local online content network that offers a network of local content and community guides in over 60 United States cities. The Company's subsidiary, ICQ Ltd., is an Internet-based communications Web portal site that utilizes the ICQ (I seek you) instant communications and chat technology. The Company acquired MovieFone, the largest movie guide and ticketing service in the country, in May 1999. Through its interactive telephone service and its online service, MovieFone.com, MovieFone provides millions of moviegoers each week with a complete free directory of movies, showtimes and theater locations,
and also provides them the ability to purchase tickets. In addition, the Company acquired several Internet
music brands in May 1999 through its acquisitions of Spinner Networks Incorporated and Nullsoft, Inc.
The AOL International Group oversees the AOL and CompuServe services and operations outside the United
States, as well as the Netscape Online service, which will be launched soon in the United Kingdom. As of
August 1999, the AOL and CompuServe services had more than three million members outside the United
States.
Enterprise Solutions Business
The Netscape Enterprise Group is the primary product group in the Enterprise Solutions business of the Company. In addition, the Company has formed Netscape Business Solutions to sell AOL and Netscape products and services to business partners and other companies. The Netscape Enterprise Group provides enterprise software and services to businesses that assist them in providing services to customers in the electronic commerce markets. The
Electronic Commerce Infrastructure is a group of solutions for enterprise customers and Internet Service
Providers that provide a flexible, scalable foundation on which the customers can build and manage their
own Extranet or Internet applications or use the Electronic Commerce Applications. The Netscape
CommerceXpert product family of electronic commerce applications enables businesses to link and manage
online trading communities of suppliers, distributors and customers of all sizes and degrees of technical
sophistication.
In November 1998, the Company entered into a strategic electronic commerce alliance with Sun, which is
now referred to as the Sun-Netscape Alliance. In combination with dedicated resources from Sun, the
Netscape Enterprise Group operates the Company's part of the alliance.
Significant Developments
August 22, 2000
Target Stores, an upscale discount retailer, and America Online, Inc. announced the roll-out of the
companies' joint marketing and promotion initiatives. CD-ROMs featuring a special edition of the AOL
service, with co-branded features and packaging, are now available at more than 900 Target stores
nationwide.
August 9, 2000
America Online, Inc.'s AOL UK and Wal-Mart Europe announced a four-year strategic marketing agreement
under which Wal-Mart's ASDA UK operation will distribute disks with AOL UK's PC-based interactive
service in its 240 UK retail stores and the two companies will promote ShopSmart.com's price-comparison
services. AOL Europe and ASDA also announced that they will jointly take a 22.5% stake in
ShopSmart.com, a UK shopping directory. ShopSmart.com will receive permanent exposure in ASDA stores
in the UK and in Wal-Mart stores in Germany.
August 8, 2000
AOL Latin America, a joint venture of America Online, Inc. and the Cisneros Group of Companies, launched a
preview version of the America Online Argentina service. America Online Argentina is launching with a group
of more than 100 premier national, regional and international content providers, as well as homegrown
content on its 15 topic-specific channels covering news, sports, kids, computing, entertainment, finance
and more.
July 31, 2000
Tegic Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of America Online, Inc., and Arima Communications
Corporation announced the companies have signed a global licensing agreement. The agreement will allow
Arima to integrate Tegic Communications' T9Text Input software for Chinese, English and Latin-based
languages into its wireless phones. Arima plans to launch its first tri-band WAP (wireless application
protocol) phone towards the end of the year in China.
July 31, 2000
AOL Mexico, a subsidiary of AOL Latin America, a joint venture between America Online, Inc. and the
Cisneros Group of Companies, a media group, announced marketing alliances with Blockbuster, Sony, Tower
Records and Wal-Mart Mexico. Through displays in retail outlets and mass mailings, these companies will
offer free AOL Mexico software CDs to the Mexican consumer market.
July 27, 2000
Netscape Communications, a subsidiary of America Online, Inc., announced that it will provide Netscape
visitors with access to AOL's gavel-to-gavel coverage of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions.
Netscape visitors will be able to access extensive video and audio feeds of all Convention proceedings, live
interviews with top newsmakers, behind-the-scenes delegate diaries, interactive polls, trivia quizzes and
opportunities for online interaction via a AOL/Netscape co-branded area on Netcenter site.
July 25, 2000
Tegic Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of America Online, Inc., announced that it has established
its European headquarters in the UK to continue to support its growing customer base. The opening of the
European office, as well as recent office openings in Hong Kong, Beijing and Japan, is part of Tegic
Communications' commitment to T9 Text Input licensees and future partners.
July 24, 2000
Tegic Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of America Online, Inc., and Sendo, a mobile phone
company, announced the companies have signed a global licensing agreement. The agreement allows Sendo to
integrate Tegic's T9 Text Input software for major European and Asian languages into its new wireless
phones. Sendo is poised to launch their first T9-enabled phones in fourth quarter in Europe, Asia and the
Middle East.
July 18, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Citigroup, the financial services company, announced a multi-year strategic
alliance under which the companies will offer users of AOL, CompuServe, and other of the AOL brands a
range of financial products and services. Citigroup and America Online will build new payment and money
transfer features across AOL brands to provide consumers the ability to purchase goods and services,
send money, complete auction transactions, and transfer money between accounts.
July 18, 2000
AOL Moviefone, a subsidiary of America Online, Inc., announced exclusive new partnerships with seven
theater chains, which will provide consumers with expanded access to movie information and tickets
through AOL Moviefone, Moviefone.com and the America Online family of brands. AOL Moviefone's new
partners include Crown Theatres, Classic Cinemas, select IMAX Theatres, KLM Theatre Partners, Elttaes
Theatres LLC, Colorado Cinema Holdings and Cinema Four Inc.
July 17, 2000
America Online, Inc. and AT&T Wireless Services announced that beginning this fall, AT&T Digital PocketNet
users across the country will have access to a wide selection of AOL's most popular services and features.
July 11, 2000
Tegic Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of America Online, Inc., announced that it has signed a
global licensing agreement with Toshiba Corporation. As part of the agreement, Toshiba will incorporate T9
Text Input software into its wireless phones to enable text input.
July 11, 2000
AOL Latin America, a joint venture of America Online, Inc. and the Cisneros Group of Companies, have
launched a preview version of America Online Mexico, AOL's Spanish-language service. America Online
Mexico provides consumers with an online experience developed and managed by Mexicans for Mexicans.
July 6, 2000
America Online, Inc. and E! Online announced a three-year strategic content and promotional alliance under
which E! Online and E! Entertainment Television will provide their entertainment news and celebrity gossip
across several America Online, Inc. brands, including the newly launched AOLTV, and America Online will be
promoted in E!'s online and offline advertising and distribution channels.
June 30, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Tribune Company announced that they have entered into an agreement under which
Tribune Company will be the premier provider of branded local news and sports content on Digital City
affiliates for 14 Digital City markets. As part of the agreement, AOL will purchase Tribune's 20% equity
ownership in Digital City, Inc., which was founded by AOL and Tribune in 1996. Digital City will feature
Tribune's BlackVoices.com, an African-American site. Tribune will also promote Digital City through Tribune
media properties in these markets, including both television and print.
June 29, 2000
America Online, Inc. announced that it has completed its acquisition of MapQuest.com, Inc.
June 26, 2000
MapQuest.com, Inc. shareholders approved the acquisition of MapQuest by America Online, Inc. Under the
terms of the stock-for-stock, pooling-of-interests transaction, shareholders of MapQuest.com will receive
0.31558 shares of AOL common stock for each share of MapQuest stock.
June 26, 2000
Tegic Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of America Online, Inc. announced the availability of T9
Text Input for the Greek language. Eastern and Middle Eastern T9 databases will be released by Tegic
Communications in the future.
June 19, 2000
America Online, Inc. confirmed that an undisclosed number of member accounts were accessed by hackers
using a virus e-mailed as an attachment to some of AOL's customer service representatives. The virus
created a connection to the hacker's computer, allowing access to some members' accounts.
June 19, 2000
America Online, Inc. announced that it would launch its interactive television service, AOLTV, in July. The
service, which will include e-mail, instant messaging, and other Web-based applications, will debut in
Phoenix, Sacramento, Baltimore, and five other cities to be determined. AOLTV will be rolled out to the rest
of the United States during the fall.
June 15, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Sprint PCS announced that AOL members now have access to AOL on the Sprint
PCS Wireless Web via any Sprint PCS Internet-ready Phone.
June 14, 2000
America Online, Inc. and TiVo, Inc. announced a new three-year strategic agreement in which TiVo will
become an AOLTV programming partner, offering AOLTV subscribers access to features of TiVo's Personal TV
Service. Under the agreement, AOL and TiVo will work together to develop a dual-purpose AOLTV-branded
set-top box and TiVo will become the exclusive provider of personal TV features on these set-top boxes. As
part of the agreement, America Online will make an investment in TiVo of up to $200 million and receive
warrants to purchase additional TiVo shares.
June 13, 2000
America Online, Inc.'s AOL Europe announced a strategic alliance with Carphone Warehouse under which AOL
will acquire 15% of Mviva. Mviva is an independent mobile Internet portal, which is planned to be launched
this summer through Carphone Warehouse's shops in the UK, France, Sweden, Spain and Holland and thereafter
in other European countries. In return for providing pan-European functionality, content and services as well
as payment of $25 million in cash, the agreement gives AOL the right to acquire a further 4.9% of Mviva
within the next 12 months, at a valuation of Mviva of $700 million. The portal will be co-branded: "Mviva -
powered by AOL."
June 13, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Target Stores, the discount retailer, announced a broad strategic alliance that
will combine the companies' complementary sales and distribution channels, and marketing strengths. The
agreement contains cross-marketing arrangements that will combine off-line co-branding campaigns and in-store
offerings with online initiatives, and other innovations to leverage the potential of the two brands.
June 12, 2000
Tegic Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of America Online, Inc., and Hyundai Electronics
Industries Co., Ltd. announced the companies have signed a global licensing agreement. The agreement
allows Hyundai Electronics to integrate Tegic's T9 Text Input software in Chinese, English and several
European languages into its new wireless phones.
June 12, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Satyam Infoway Limited announced a multi-year agreement to distribute a
co-branded version of the AOL Instant Messenger service to SatyamOnline ISP customers and through there
consumer portal and its affiliated Web sites. This alliance with Satyam Infoway is AOL's first agreement in
the Indian consumer Internet market.
June 9, 2000
Tegic Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of America Online, Inc., and Hyundai Electronics
Industries Co., Ltd. announced the companies have signed a global licensing agreement. The agreement
allows Hyundai Electronics to integrate Tegic's T9Text Input software in Chinese, English and several
European languages into its new wireless phones.
June 7, 2000
Netscape Communications, a subsidiary of America Online, Inc., announced the launch of its Netscape Search
Internet search service on 11 Netcenter sites across Europe, Latin America and Australia offering Netscape
Netcenter users same language search results. Netscape Netcenter sites in the U.K., France, Germany,
Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Brazil and Latin America make up the first phase
of an international search launch that will include more than 20 additional countries in the next few months
throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
May 24, 2000
America Online, Inc. and WorldCom, Inc. announced a multi-year consumer Internet alliance under which
WorldCom will market AOL to WorldCom's residential local and long distance telecom customers, with a bonus
of up to an hour of free calls every month when they join AOL. Also, under the agreement, WorldCom will
offer its residential ISP customers a special opportunity to convert to the AOL service. Existing MCI
WorldCom Internet customers will be offered a special opportunity to convert to AOL, easily becoming members
of the AOL service, and will also be eligible for additional benefits.
May 17, 2000
America Online, Inc. announced the launch of AOL@SCHOOL, a new teaching tool offering a variety of
age-appropriate educational content, communications features and special safety tools. AOL@SCHOOL is
available at no cost to all interested K-12 schools. Installation disks are available beginning May 17 from
America Online.
May 16, 2000
The New Power Company, a residential and small business energy provider in deregulated markets, was launched with strategic investors and partners, including Enron Corp., IBM Corporation and America Online, Inc. Enron will provide The New Power Company with energy commodity pricing, risk management, and regulatory affairs. New Power has also signed a 10-year agreement with IBM Global Services to build, staff and run core components of its back office functions and to help develop its e-business strategy and delivery capability. The New Power Company
has formed an alliance with America Online, Inc. that will give New Power exclusive rights to provide
energy and related services across three America Online, Inc. brands. The six-year agreement will enable
users of these AOL brands to select The New Power Company as their electricity and natural gas utility
provider in deregulated markets across the United States.
May 15, 2000
America Online, Inc. and AutoNation, Inc., an automotive retailer, announced a multi-year alliance under
which AutoNation and its licensees will be the exclusive retailers of new and used vehicles to AOL
members who purchase a car or truck through AOL AutosDirect Powered by AutoNation.com, a new
co-branded site available on AOL.
May 11, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Office Depot, Inc. a seller of office products, announced a five-year alliance
valued in excess of $44 million under which the companies will develop a co-branded business site to offer
online office solutions to small business customers, provide AOL with a presence across all Office Depot
sales channels, including Office Depot retail locations nationwide, and feature Office Depot's name-brand
office supplies and other products in shopping and business-to-business areas across several America
Online brands.
May 8, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Network Solutions, Inc., a website registrar, announced a multi-year, multi-million
dollar strategic marketing alliance to offer Network Solutions' (NSI) domain name registration and
value-added services globally across America Online, Inc. brands.
May 3, 2000
America Online, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company announced a multi-year global strategic alliance to
develop online and offline marketing programs. The alliance will focus on several marketing themes:
music, movies, sports, holidays and community. Such promotions would be built around the AOL
Moviefone brand, The Coca-Cola Company's sponsorship of the Olympic Games and the Christmas holiday
season.
May 1, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Homestore.com, Inc., a home and real estate network on the Internet, reached a
new five-year multifaceted content, e-commerce and distribution alliance valued in excess of $200 million,
to provide a source of home and real estate content to several AOL brands. One highlight of the
AOL/Homestore.com alliance will be the establishment of a new home-related channel on AOL.
April 27, 2000
Netscape Communications, a subsidiary of America Online, Inc. and European Internet service Euroseek
announced that Euroseek will provide its European tailored search engine to nine Netscape Netcenter sites
across Europe. In addition, Euroseek has agreed to license data from Netscape's Open Directory Project.
April 20, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Cendant Mortgage, a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation, announced an agreement
under which AOL members will have access to a co-branded MortgageSave.com site through AOL's Personal
Finance Channel. The co-branded site will also be promoted in other mortgage-related areas throughout the
AOL service.
April 13, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Network Solutions, Inc., a registry of domain names, announced that America Online
has been selected to host the first two new top-level name servers for Network Solutions. AOL will provide
these servers with the infrastructure necessary to ensure a reliable connection for not only AOL members but
for the vast portions of the Internet to which AOL is directly connected
April 5, 2000
Netscape Communications, a subsidiary of America Online, Inc., announced the availability of JavaScript 1.5,
the latest version of its scripting language. Netscape 6 Preview Release 1, available for free public
download, features full support for JavaScript 1.5, allowing Web developers to create new Web applications
using JavaScript.
April 5, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Gateway, Inc. introduced a family of specialized Internet appliances featuring
Instant AOL to advance the AOL Anywhere strategy. Both Netscape 6 and the new Internet appliances are
powered by Netscape's Gecko browser engine technology.
March 29, 2000
America Online, Inc. and AAPT Limited, an Australian telecommunications company, announced a 50/50 joint
venture to operate AOL Australia. The joint venture will launch a new Internet portal to deliver wireless
content services and will have exclusive rights to offer the AOL and CompuServe services on both PC and
mobile wireless platforms throughout Australia.
March 27, 2000
Tegic Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of America Online, Inc. announced that Sony will integrate
Tegic's T9 Text Input software into its newest mobile phone, the Sony CMD-Z5, a WAP-enabled phone which
will be available for GSM networks. The integration of T9 Text Input into the CMD-Z5 allows users to enter
text and take advantage of the phone's Internet, SMS (short messaging service) and other text-based
features.
March 16, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Bertelsmann announced a new agreement to restructure their interests in the AOL
Europe and AOL Australia joint ventures. Under the four-year alliance valued at $250 million, Bertelsmann
will become a preferred provider of media content and e-commerce to AOL. The Companies also have agreed to
restructure their ownership interests in AOL Europe and AOL Australia. The transaction involves using put
and call mechanisms resulting in a cost of $6.75 billion to $8.25 billion to America Online in order to
ultimately buy out Bertelsmann's share in the coming years, if the options are exercised. Payment, in
either cash or stock at AOL's discretion, would be made after January 31, 2002.
March 16, 2000
AOL Moviefone Inc., a unit of America Online, Inc. announced the launch of MARS Sequel, the newest version
of its point-of-sale system for managing movie theaters. The MARS system is already in use at theaters with
over 1800 screens, where theater owners use it to manage their business activities, from selling and printing
tickets at the box office, to selling concession stand items, to home-office reporting.
March 14, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Sears, Roebuck and Co. announced a strategic alliance whereby Sears merchandise
and services will be marketed to AOL members as well as visitors to its web-based brands. AOL will be
Sears' preferred online service provider, and a special co-branded edition of AOL with links to Sears will
be developed and promoted to Sears customers. In addition, AOL plans to develop a co-branded AOL Instant
Messenger to enable consumers to initiate online, real-time communications with Sears customer service.
March 13, 2000
Interwoven, Inc. announced an agreement with America Online, Inc. brands Moviefone, a movie listing guide
and ticketing service, and Spinner Networks and Nullsoft, Inc., Internet music providers. Under the
agreement, Interwoven TeamSite software will be used for content management on Moviefone.com,
Spinner.com and Winamp.com.
March 13, 2000
RSA Security Inc. announced that America Online, Inc. has extended its software licensing agreement
under which AOL has access to a range of RSA Security's encryption technology. The extended licensing
agreement gives AOL additional access to RSA BSAFE products, which are currently used in the America
Online service.
March 7, 2000
TMP Worldwide Inc.'s Monster.com announced the launch of co-branded pages on America Online, Inc.'s
AOL.COM and Monster.com job listings on AOL ClassifiedPlus. The launches are part of the rollout of an
exclusive $100-million four-year relationship announced in December 1999.
March 7, 2000
Tegic Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of America Online, Inc., announced that Telit Mobile
Terminals, an Italy-based manufacturer, will integrate Tegic's T9 Text Input software into its newest mobile
phone, the Telit Gm 910.
March 6, 2000
AOL Moviefone Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of America Online, Inc., announced plans to launch a new
program that enables consumers who purchase tickets over Moviefone.com to print their own bar-coded movie
tickets at home and avoid lines at the theater. The program is set to launch early this summer in partnership
with United Artists Theatres and will roll out to other AOL Moviefone theater-chain partners over the course
of the year. Consumers who do not have printers or prefer the former method will still be able to pick up
tickets at automated machines in theater lobbies. The new home-printing option will also be made available
to users of Moviefone's popular 777-FILM telephone service simultaneously.
March 1, 2000
America Online, Inc. and RTS Wireless, a New York-based developer of wireless Internet software systems,
announced a licensing agreement under which RTS will provide AOL its Advantage suite of wireless data and
text-to-voice software and related consulting services. Under the agreement, RTS Wireless software will be
used to provide wireless access to AOL e-mail and content over personal paging devices and digital mobile
phones.
February 29, 2000
America Online, Inc. announced plans to develop an AOL Instant Messenger application for NeoPoint
smartphones, as well as discuss development of an AOL e-mail client with NeoPoint, Inc., a company that
specializes in developing smartphones and information services.
February 29, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Time Warner Inc. announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) setting out the framework under which Time Warner will offer consumers a choice of multiple ISPs,
including AOL, on Time Warner's broadband cable systems. The MOU, which is expected to lead to a
binding commitment between the companies, will also serve as the framework for agreements by which other
ISPs will be available to consumers over Time Warner Cable.
February 28, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Sprint PCS announced a strategic agreement that will deliver 'AOL Wireless'
content and services to millions of consumers via Sprint PCS Internet-ready Phones. Beginning this
summer, Sprint PCS customers nationwide will have access to many of AOL's features and content directly
on Sprint PCS Internet-ready Phones.
February 28, 2000
America Online, Inc. announced its plans to deliver AOL features and services, including the new "AOL
Mobile Messenger" to millions of wireless consumers through a series of agreements with wireless data
carriers, device, and mobile phone manufacturers. Agreements were reached with: Sprint PCS, Nokia,
Motorola, Research in Motion, BellSouth and Arch Communications.
February 28, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Arch Communications Group, a wireless messaging and mobile data provider in the
United States, announced that AOL has selected Arch to provide two-way wireless messaging capabilities
for its new AOL Mobile Messenger service and plans to offer AOL's e-mail and AOL Instant Messenger
services to consumers using devices enabled with Arch's messaging capabilities.
February 28, 2000
America Online, Inc. and BellSouth Wireless Data announced that AOL will use the BellSouth network in
its new AOL Mobile Messenger service and plans to offer AOL's e-mail and AOL Instant Messenger service
to consumers using BellSouth Intelligent Wireless Network-enabled devices.
February 28, 2000
Tegic Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of America Online, Inc., announced that Panasonic will
integrate Tegic's T9 Text Input software into its newest mobile phones, the Panasonic GD92 and GD52.
February 23, 2000
America Online, Inc.'s Digital City, Inc. and Switchboard Incorporated, an Internet directory subsidiary of
Banyan Worldwide, announced a strategic content and distribution agreement. Under the agreement, Digital
City and Switchboard will create a co-branded local channel for CBS Switchboard.com with local content
tailored for the Switchboard audience.
February 22, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Monster.com, the flagship brand of TMP Worldwide Inc., announced the launch of
new AOL/Monster.com co-branded pages on AOL WorkPlace Channel, beginning the first phase of the
companies' alliance. The launch of the co-branded pages and keywords are part of an exclusive
$100-million four-year relationship announced in December 1999.
February 22, 2000
Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. and its subsidiary AboveNet announced that America Online, Inc. has chosen
the two companies to provide AOL with IP network infrastructure capabilities. AOL has also completed an
agreement with AboveNet to provide co-location services and to be one of AOL's Internet transit providers.
February 22, 2000
America Online, Inc. announced a five-year strategic alliance with HomeGrocer.com, a Kirkland,
Wash.-based Internet grocer. Under the $60 million agreement, AOL and CompuServe members and visitors
to AOL.COM, Netscape Netcenter, Digital City, AOL MovieFone, and Oxygen.com will be able to access
HomeGrocer.com everywhere the service is available. HomeGrocer.com's selection of name-brand items
includes fresh produce, meats, seafood, dairy products, local specialty foods, household items, health and
beauty aids.
February 17, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Blockbuster, Inc. announced an expansion of their multi-year alliance that will
promote AOL products and services and bring Blockbuster additional revenues from AOL memberships
generated through Blockbuster stores. Under the expanded agreement, Blockbuster will promote AOL products
and services, with the plan to instantly register AOL subscribers, in each of its more than 4,000 corporate
and select franchise locations in the United States.
February 16, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Kinko's, a provider of document solutions and business services, announced a
multi-million dollar, five-year strategic alliance under which the companies plan to create tailored Internet
and document solutions for small businesses and other consumers, provide AOL with major in-store retail
presence as Kinko's exclusive online service offering, and feature Kinko's across several America Online
brands.
February 14, 2000
America Online, Inc. and DME Interactive Holdings, Inc. announced that they will partner to launch a new,
co-branded urban-oriented online service. The Places of Color online service, powered by CompuServe 2000,
will provide Internet access and customized content to minority communities.
February 11, 2000
America Online, Inc. announced the launch of the AOL Insider Savings Club, a new exclusive program that
will enable its members to save over $300 per month on a wide range of popular goods and services.
February 10, 2000
Dell Computer Corporation and America Online, Inc. announced an agreement that will allow customers to go
online with AOL through Dell PCs sold in the United States. The agreement will provide an installed version
of AOL's 5.0 software to Dell products, services and support.
January 18, 2000
America Online, Inc. disclosed in an SEC filing that it must pay Time Warner, Inc. a fee of $5.4 billion if
their merger is not completed.
January 10, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Time Warner Inc. announced a merger of equals in an all-stock combination valued
at $350 billion. Time Warner Inc.'s shareholders will receive 1.5 shares of AOL common stock for each
Time Warner share held. The new company will be named AOL Time Warner Inc. The merger will be accounted
for as a purchase transaction and is expected to be accretive to America Online's cash earnings per share
before the amortization of goodwill. The merger will be effected on a tax-free basis to shareholders.
When complete, America Online's shareholders will own approximately 55% and Time Warner's
shareholders will own approximately 45% of the new company.
January 9, 2000
America Online, Inc. and General Motors Corporation announced a strategic alliance whereby the companies
will work together to develop new products and services to empower consumers to use the Internet and
interact with dealers to buy automobiles and assist them throughout the entire ownership lifecycle online.
General Motors and AOL will work together to leverage AOL's Auto Channel across AOL's multiple brands.
Auto Channel, launching later this year, will allow consumers to find the exact GM make and model vehicle
they are looking for including options, then complete the purchase at a nearby GM dealership.
January 5, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Company announced an agreement that will enable AOL members
to access their AOL e-mail via future HP Jornada Palm-size PC products. Under the agreement, AOL is
developing software that will allow AOL members to use upcoming HP Jornada Palm-size PCs to access,
send and receive their AOL e-mail anywhere.
January 5, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Casio Computer Co., Ltd., in conjunction with Casio, Inc., announced an
agreement that will enable AOL members to access their AOL e-mail via Casio's CASSEOPEIA line of
palm-size PCs. Under the agreement, AOL is developing software that will allow AOL members to use the
CASSEOPEIA palm-size PC to access, send and receive their AOL e-mail. Casio will distribute this
software with CASSEOPEIA palm-size PCs, and AOL members will also be able to download the software
directly from the AOL service, at no additional cost to AOL members.
January 5, 2000
America Online, Inc. and Compaq Computer Corp. announced an agreement that will enable AOL members to
access their AOL e-mail via Compaq Aero palm-size PCs. Under the agreement, AOL is developing software
that will allow AOL members to use Compaq Aero devices to access, send and receive their AOL e-mail, and
AOL will make this software available for download from the AOL service, at no additional cost. This
agreement builds on existing agreements between the two companies that are designed to make the
Internet experience as easy and convenient as possible for online consumers and business users.
December 23, 1999
America Online, Inc. announced the launch of Clearance Sale, a new discount shopping center on Shop@AOL
that caters to post-holiday online bargain hunters.
December 22, 1999
America Online, Inc. announced plans to acquire MapQuest.com Inc., an Internet media company that provides
mapping and destination information and services, in an all-stock transaction valued at about $1.1 billion.
Shareholders of MapQuest.com will receive 0.31558 shares of AOL common stock for each share of MapQuest
stock. The stock-for-stock, pooling-of-interests transaction is expected to close in the spring of 2000.
December 20, 1999
TheStreet.com and America Online, Inc. announced a multi-year agreement that will bring financial news
and live events from TheStreet.com to key AOL brands. In addition, the forthcoming TheStreet.co.uk will
syndicate content to AOL UK, a division of AOL Europe. Under the new two-year agreement, TheStreet.com
will become an Anchor Tenant in several departments of AOL's Personal Finance Channel, including the
Active Trader, Investment Research and Investing Forums areas.
December 16, 1999
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and America Online, Inc. announced a wide-ranging strategic alliance to provide the
vast majority of Wal-Mart communities with convenient, low-cost access to the Internet. The agreement
creates a new co-branded Internet service provider (ISP) and numerous cross-marketing initiatives between
the two companies.
December 15, 1999
Circuit City Stores, Inc. and America Online, Inc. announced a major strateg
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