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Note: 3224.0 Pointcast-a totally kool internet news service 2 replies
BLAZER::MIKELIS "Software Partner's Group, MR01- 209 lines 15-FEB-1996 09:42
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I heard the following on "All Things Considered" the other night and it sounded
so good i decided to find a pointer. This has got to be the best thing since
the invention of WEB browsers and it's free! They make money buy selling
advertising. Here's a press release. You can find the software at
http://www.pointcast.com/
/jim
From: FLUID::mikelis "James Mikelis 9073 15-Feb-1996 0933" 15-FEB-1996
09:38:26.93
To: blazer::mikelis
CC:
Subj: Press Release #1
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POINTCAST UNVEILS FIRST NEWS NETWORK THAT
REACHES VIEWERS AT THEIR DESKTOPS
Major Industry Players Embrace "Pointcasting" Combines the Timeliness of
Broadcast With the Power of the Internet to Deliver Personalized News
Instantly
SAN FRANCISCO, February 13, 1996 - PointCast Incorporated, a provider of
network news via the Internet, today announced the availability of PCN - The
PointCast Network a free service that broadcasts personalized news and
information directly to a viewer's computer screen. Users can access the
PointCast Network (PCN), which is in final beta, beginning today at 10:00
a.m. PST by downloading it from the Internet.
Already embraced by major industry players, the PointCast Network was
developed to alter the way Internet users receive their daily news.
Partnerships with Netscape Communications, EDS (Electronic Data Systems) and
initial corporate sponsors of PCN were also announced today. (See separate
announcements.)
A personalized news network, PCN delivers up-to-the-minute news and
information free to anyone with access to the Internet. PointCast's
patent-pending SmartScreen technology automatically begins running the
PointCast Network when a user's computer is not in use, turning a static
screen saver into a dynamic, information-rich medium. Now, instead of
looking at a screen saver while talking on the phone, users can view current
headlines, stock quotes, and sports scores on their screen. To obtain the
full story on any topic, the viewer simply clicks on the headline. Viewers
can also choose to activate PCN at their convenience.
"The PointCast Network represents the natural marriage of broadcast and the
personal computer," said Christopher Hassett, Chairman and CEO of PointCast.
"We've combined the power of the Internet with the convenience of broadcast
news to give users current, personalized news and information without
wasting valuable time searching, surfing and sifting through the Internet.
This is the news format for the 21st century."
The network features six "channels" News, Companies, Industries, Weather,
Sports and Lifestyle. These channels offer business, international and
political news, stock quotes from any U.S. stock exchange, sports news,
weather reports and maps, entertainment news and more from various sources,
such as Reuters, S&P Comstock's stock ticker, SportsTicker, AccuWeather and
Variety. Additional content for the network will be provided by special
interest publishers and regional media partners, offering local news to
viewers.
"This is the most compelling application I've ever seen for a personal
computer," according to Dave Winer, a columnist with Wired Magazine. "It's
customizable. If you're interested in just five stocks, that's all you see.
If you just care about the weather in Boston, Austin and Detroit, that's all
you see. Just what you want. Always current."
"PointCasting" Delivers TV-like Simplicity on the Internet
"PointCasting" is the ability to deliver breaking news according to the
interests of each individual user. This is made possible by combining the
best aspects of traditional broadcasting in which top stories are
researched, identified and delivered to audiences by news professionals with
the personalization options offered by the PointCast Network.
Key user benefits of the PointCast Network are:
* Personalized news content. Users receive only the news that interests
them.
* Timely news and information. Top-of-the-hour headlines appear on
screen.
* Instant information delivery. Optimal bandwidth management delivers
news without delay.
* Efficient memory use. PCN uses up to 66 percent less memory than
standard Internet applications.
* Automatic software upgrades. For the first time, PCN offers automatic
updating over the Internet, keeping software current on a user's
system.
* Hassle-free installation. Support of industry-standard firewalls and
proxy servers provides easy and accurate installation.
* Uninterrupted service. Extensive hardware backups, including automatic
large-scale backup support from EDS ensures reliability.
The PointCast Network is a combination of client/server software, backed by
a hardware network. It uses the C++ language to meet the high performance
and reliability needs required by a large viewer audience over the Internet.
Broad Industry Support
In related announcements, PointCast today announced several key strategic
partnerships with industry leaders, including Netscape Communications and
EDS (Electronic Data Services). (See separate announcements.)
"This is one of the most exciting new Internet technologies that I have ever
seen," said Marc Andreeson, Vice President of Technology for Netscape
Communications. "We are delighted to partner with PointCast to co-develop
products that make using the Internet easier and more productive for
business users."
"The PointCast Network is the tour guide of the Internet," said Butch
Winters, President of EDS' Internet & New Media business unit. "PointCast
will help corporations manage their employees' access to the vast
information on the Internet."
In addition, PointCast today announced an agreement with the Los Angeles
Times, and agreements-in-principle with the Boston Globe and CMP
Publications, Inc., a publisher of leading computer trade magazines. The
companies will provide content on the PointCast Network in the Spring. (See
separate announcements.)
Free to Internet Users
Like television, the PointCast Network is supported by advertising to
provide users with complete PCN services free of charge. PointCast creates
commercials for advertisers using a built-in technology that minimizes
hardware requirements.
Anticipating the success of this new advertising medium, sponsorships for
PCN channels are already sold out. PCN sponsors include: EDS, Industries
Channel; Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Lifestyle Channel; Fidelity
Investments, Companies Channel; Saturn Corporation, Sports Channel; Prodigy,
Weather Channel and Quarterdeck Corporation, News Channel. (See separate
announcements.)
"We are delighted that six companies, each leaders in their respective
sectors,
have taken an early marketing position on PCN," said Christopher Hassett,
President and CEO of PointCast.
Availability
Users can begin downloading version 0.9 of the PCN software, beginning at
10:00 a.m. PST today by typing the following URL: http://www.pointcast.com.
Version 1.0 of the PointCast Network is expected to be available in the
Spring.
The current version of the PointCast Network is compatible with Windows
3.1/3.11 and Windows 95, and is ideal for users with a permanent Internet
connection. Full dial-up capabilities, including automatic shut down, will
be available by the second quarter of 1996. Support for Windows NT and
Macintosh computers will be available in the Fall.
Support
PointCast provides users with complimentary technical support to registered
viewers via the World Wide Web and email, with a guaranteed 1-business day
turnaround. A wide range of automated services, including constantly-updated
status reports for PCN are available by calling 408-253-1715.
Company Background
PointCast was founded in 1992 to provide current news and information
services to users via the Internet. The company has received more than $12
million to date in venture capital funding from Mohr Davidow Ventures,
Merrill Pickard Anderson and Eyre and Benchmark Capital. Top management at
PointCast is comprised of former executives from Adobe, Oracle, Lotus and
Ziff-Davis Publishing. The Board of Directors includes Dr. Charles Geschke,
Chairman and President of Adobe, Sanford Climan, Executive Vice President of
MCA/Universal and representatives from the Company and its investors.
# # #
PCN - The PointCast Network and SmartScreen are trademarks of PointCast
Incorporated. Other names and trademarks are property of their respective
owners.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
EDITORIAL CONTACTS:
Jeanette Braaten
PointCast Public Michael Brewer
Relations Brodeur & Partners for PointCast
(408) 777-2364 (617) 622-2865
[email protected] [email protected]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press Release | About PCN | About PointCast, Inc. | Home
[Company LOGO]
Copyright ) 1996 PointCast Inc. All rights reserved.
10101 N. De Anza Blvd.
Cupertino, California 95014
---------------------------------32047123028391--
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