MSN LinkExchange and Network Solutions Team Up To Provide Marketing Services to Small Businesses

HERNDON, Va., and REDMOND, Wash., June 15, 1999 — Network Solutions Inc. and MSN TM LinkExchange ( http://www.linkexchange.com/ ), part of the MSN network of Internet services, today announced a strategic marketing agreement to help small businesses on the Web establish, promote, improve and earn money from their Web sites more easily.

According to the agreement, Network Solutions will promote MSN LinkExchange’s award-winning suite of marketing services designed to help small businesses increase their online traffic and sales in Network Solutions’
“dot com”
toolkit. In addition, LinkExchange will launch a new service today, SiteRegistration, which will be powered by Network Solutions’ Web address and identity services. The new offering will be promoted throughout LinkExchange’s Web site and on the LinkExchange BannerNetwork.

“Businesses coming online are looking for the basics – how to establish themselves on the Internet and how to get more customers to find them once they’ve done it,”
said Doug Wolford, Network Solutions’ senior vice president, marketing and sales.
“Network Solutions and LinkExchange are joining forces to help these small merchants get the tools and services they need to successfully grow their online businesses.”

LinkExchange takes the marketing tools that large companies have used to successfully grow their online businesses – such as affiliate marketing, targeted banner advertising, e-mail newsletters and search engine placement – and makes them available to small businesses. Over 1 million customers have used LinkExchange’s suite of services to find new customers online and keep them coming back to their Web sites.

“The first step in launching a Web business is to establish an Internet identity,”
said Andy Scott, vice president of Business Development at MSN LinkExchange.
“Our new service, SiteRegistration, powered by Network Solutions, provides our customers with an easy and affordable way to jump-start their online ventures and delivers on our mission to provide small businesses with everything they need – soup to nuts – to grow successfully on the Web. We’re very pleased to be working with Network Solutions, the most established service provider in this arena.”

Network Solutions and LinkExchange will point users to co-branded Web sites featuring each other’s services. Network Solutions will offer the LinkExchange services on the
“Promote Your Web Site,” “Master Online Business”
and
“Tune Up Your Web Site”
pages within its site at http://www.networksolutions.com/ . LinkExchange will feature its new service, SiteRegistration, on its Web site and advertising network. In addition, the companies will support each other’s services through add-on advertising and promotions.

About LinkExchange Services

MSN LinkExchange ( http://www.linkexchange.com/ ) is a leading provider of services to small businesses and Web site owners that increase their online traffic and sales. Over 1 million customers have used one or more of LinkExchange’s services to promote, improve and earn money from their Web sites. Popular LinkExchange services include the following:

  • AdStore. Small businesses can purchase affordable advertising on some of the leading sites on the Web, including Excite, Yahoo!, BabyCenter and GameSpot, as well as the LinkExchange network. With AdStore, small businesses can reach millions of viewers and build their online customer base.

  • BannerNetwork. Web site owners can build exposure with free online advertising by showing banner ads on their site in exchange for placing ads on other network sites. The LinkExchange BannerNetwork spans over 400,000 sites.

  • ClickTrade. Small businesses can find new customers through referrals from other Web sites by creating the same kind of affiliate programs that larger companies, such as Amazon.com Inc. and eToys Inc., have found helpful in building online sales.

  • Submit It! Site owners can increase online exposure by submitting their Web sites quickly and easily to their choice of more than 400 search engines.

  • ListBot. Small businesses can keep in touch with their customers – and keep them coming back to their Web sites – via e-mail newsletters.

About Network Solutions

Founded in 1979, Network Solutions Inc. (Nasdaq
“NSOL”
) pioneered the development of registering Web addresses ending in .com, .net, .org and .edu. Network Solutions also provides Internet Technology Services that assist large commercial organizations in the evolution and management of their Internet technologies. More information is available on the http://www.networksolutions.com/ Web site.

Network Solutions registers the majority of Web addresses through agreements with Internet companies around the globe, including more than 80 domestic and almost 120 international companies in its Premier program. Network Solutions has created value-added small-business solutions through agreements with leading companies such as American Express (NYSE: AXP). Through its Alliance Program, Network Solutions works closely with EarthLink (Nasdaq
“ELNK”
), MindSpring Enterprises Inc. (Nasdaq
“MSPG”
), Interliant Inc. (formerly Sage Networks Inc.) and ValueWeb (Nasdaq
“ESPI”
). Network Solutions has also entered into marketing agreements with companies including Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq
“YHOO”
) and Netscape Communications Corp.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

For Network Solutions, media: Cheryl Regan, [email protected], (703) 742-4847

For investor relations: Sean McClorey, [email protected], (703) 326-6090

For MSN LinkExchange: Robin Foster, [email protected], (650) 596-5827

Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, uncertainty of Internet governance and regulation, increased competition in the domain name registration business, customer acceptance of new products and services offered by the company in addition to or as enhancements of its registration services, risks associated with the company’s international business, uncertainty of future revenue and profitability, and fluctuations in its quarterly operating results. More information about potential factors that could affect Network Solutions’ business and financial results is included in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, especially in the company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on Jan. 4, 1999, as amended, Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 1998, and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1999.

Microsoft and MSN are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

Network Solutions and dot com toolkit are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Network Solutions Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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