SAN CARLOS, Calif., Dec. 16, 1999 — RealNames Corp., creator of the Internet Keyword Web addressing and navigation service, and Microsoft Corp. today announced that the Microsoft® bCentral TM online business services portal for small businesses is selling Internet Keyword subscriptions as one of the portal’s services for small and growing companies. Internet Keywords are intuitive, familiar names that allow customers to find businesses and their brands easily on the Internet and are a perfect complement to a domain name. Internet Keywords can be used in the MSN TM network of Internet services, Internet Explorer and other leading software, portals and search engines.
bCentral, launched by Microsoft in September, provides a comprehensive suite of services to help growing companies utilize the Internet to move their business forward. With the integration of Internet Keywords, customers of bCentral can use company, product, brand and personal names to navigate to a relevant Web page associated with the information they are seeking. Internet Keywords are also supported in MSN Search, which is part of MSN.com TM and AutoSearch, a feature of Microsoft Internet Explorer browser software. For example, Web users looking to navigate to Jones School Supply to purchase trophies, certificates and other academic awards can use Internet Keyword
“Jones School Supply”
instead of http://www.jonesawards.com/ .
Through the suite of services offered by bCentral, small businesses will be able to subscribe to an Internet Keyword when registering for their domain name, all from one central source. Web users will then be able to easily find these businesses using their Internet Keyword. Internet Keywords generally appear at the top of search results lists and also work by being entered directly into the address bar of the Internet Explorer Web browser.
”
We believe that Internet Keywords provide small businesses with a great way to connect with potential customers on the Web. We are pleased to offer our bCentral customers the opportunity to easily subscribe to their own Internet Keywords,”
said Deborah Whitman, director of marketing at Microsoft bCentral.
In addition to reselling Internet Keywords, bCentral offers services to help companies get connected to the Web easily and affordably, build a business Web site, find new customers and manage their business more effectively.
“Using common language, Internet Keywords are making it easier for consumers to navigate the Web and for businesses to bridge their traditional marketing and advertising activities to the online world,”
said Keith Teare, president and CEO of RealNames.
“We are excited to expand our relationship with Microsoft and are confident that through bCentral, small companies will be able to grow their businesses by successfully branding themselves on the Internet.”
Subscribe to Internet Keywords
To subscribe to an Internet Keyword for their Web page, small businesses can use the Internet Keyword
“bCentral Site Registration”
or go to http://www.bcentral.com/sitereg/index.html .
About RealNames Corp.
Founded in 1997, RealNames Corp. has developed a new addressing system based on Internet Keywords that simplifies navigation on the Internet. Internet Keywords are generally intuitive, familiar names, such as company, product, brand and personal names. Internet Keywords are used instead of lengthy Web addresses to navigate from any point on the Internet that recognizes Internet Keywords. The use of Internet Keywords is designed to make Web navigation easier for users and to allow companies to leverage and promote their brands as direct connections to their Web pages. Internet Keywords are enabled by the RealNames platform, a new layer of Internet infrastructure that is designed to facilitate navigation in multiple languages from any location on the Internet. Some of RealNames’ current customers include eBay, Nintendo, Specialized Bicycles and barnesandnoble.com.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software 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, bCentral, MSN and MSN.com are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
RealNames, RealNames System, RealNames Service, Real Name Service and RNS are either servicemarks or registered servicemarks of RealNames Corp.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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