REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 28, 2000 — Today jive recording artists *NSYNC and the MSN® network of Internet services together announced they will deliver the ultimate online experience for *NSYNC fans across the United States. Through a cool new co-branded Internet Access service, * NSYNC@MSN, millions of *NSYNC enthusiasts will be able to access premier content and use the top services of MSN tailored specifically for them — exclusive electronic newsletters, never-before-seen photos and unseen video footage of the award-winning music group at the official *NSYNC@MSN Community site, and special *NSYNC-branded versions of the popular MSN Messenger Service and Microsoft® Windows Media™
Player.
“MSN is about providing a home on the Web, the best place for people of all ages to hang out, first by making it easy to get online and then by offering services that make all the things people do online personal and fun,”
said Brad Chase, senior vice president of MSN.
“By teaming with one of the world’s most popular bands and tailoring already popular MSN services such as Messenger Service and communities specifically for their teen audience, MSN offers the new hot spot for *NSYNC fans.”
*NSYNC@MSN will give *NSYNC devotees an easy way to get online with the full features and benefits of MSN, as powered by MSN Internet Access. In addition, the new co-branded service caters to the things teens do online including sending e-mail to friends with the MSN Hotmail® Web-based e-mail service; chatting in real-time with buddies on MSN Messenger; sharing photos on MSN Custom Web Sites, which already is a hot trend for fans, with more than 2,300 communities on MSN dedicated to *NSYNC; joining chats via MSN Chat radio; or buying CDs — all with *NSYNC excitement at hand. In addition, *NSYNC@MSN will guide fans through an online adventure into the band’s world. The new service includes inside access to content, music, video and for-members’-eyes-only photos of Justin, Lance, Chris, JC and Joey. *NSYNC@MSN members also get behind-the-scenes access to the band and exclusive biweekly *N2 *NSYNC e-newsletters that help them follow the latest whereabouts and happenings of the ever-popular group.
“We use the Internet not only as a tool to communicate with our families while on the road but to allow us to reach out to our fans in yet another way. We are very excited about this venture with MSN. It will deliver exclusive information to our fans,”
said *NSYNC’s Lance Bass.
As part of this new online experience, fans can meet their friends at the new *NSYNC@MSN community, chat with other fans and surprise guests, view previously unseen pictures, and more. A new *NSYNC-branded version of MSN Messenger Service will be available, enabling consumers to instantly communicate with friends and family. With more than 18 million users, MSN Messenger is one of the easiest and coolest ways of communicating privately with online buddies about any topic, including discussions of *NSYNC and easily sharing *NSYNC music and video files. In addition, never-before-seen videos will be available through a hip new *NSYNC Windows Media Player skin.
“I’m all things *NSYNC, so I know what’s cool and what’s not,”
said Jordan Longert, age 12, all-time *NSYNC fan.
“I’m so excited about the new *NSYNC@MSN offer, I’ve already asked my parents if I can sign up. It will be so cool to get letters from the band as well as unseen photos and videos of my favorite group.”
Availability
Fans can sign up for the new *NSYNC@MSN Internet Access service at http://msn.com/nsync/ , which will be available in the United States only starting Dec. 1, 2000. *NSYNC@MSN is available for $21.95 per month. As *NSYNC wraps up their winter concert series and heads into a new spring series, fans also will be able to get *NSYNC@MSN CDs at their concerts and sign up for the ultimate online experience. There also will be opportunities to win prizes online as well as information about charity activities that *NSYNC and MSN participate in, plus many more promotional opportunities as the relationship and the co-branded site grow.
About *NSYNC
*NSYNC are Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, Chris Kirkpatrick, JC Chasez and Joey Fatone.
About MSN
MSN gives consumers a new home on the Internet — a central place where they can get everything they need from the Web and make the most of their time online. With more than 210 million unique visitors in monthly, the MSN integrated network of content and services is the most popular destination on the Internet. MSN is available in 33 markets and in 17 languages — a broader global presence than any other portal. MSN takes advantage of the Microsoft® .NET Platform to offer leading services, any time, any place and on any device, with the most integrated and personalized user experience for communications, search, shopping, personal finance and entertainment. MSN Internet Access and the recently introduced MSN Explorer offer quick, personal and exciting ways to get on to and take advantage of the Web. Best-of-breed services include the MSN Hotmail Web-based e-mail service, the world’s largest e-mail system; MSN Messenger Service, one of the fastest growing instant messaging services on the Web; MSN Search, the second most popular online search service; MSN Mobile, the customizable wireless information service; the award-winning MSN MoneyCentral™
online personal finance guide; MSN eShop, the one-stop online shopping resource; and MSN Custom Web Sites, the easy way to share information on the Web. MSN is located on the Web at http://www.msn.com/ .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft, MSN, Windows Media, Hotmail and MoneyCentral are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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