REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 6, 2000 — In response to the successful launch of the new MSN® Explorer, MSN today announced a significant increase in the number of consumers using the best-of-breed online MSN services including MSN Calendar, the MSN Hotmail® Web-based e-mail service, the MSN MoneyCentral™ online personal finance service and MSN eShop. The overwhelming and immediate popularity of the new MSN Explorer and the surge in the number of consumers using MSN Services shows high demand for an easy way to get on the Internet combined with an integrated and personalized Web experience. More than 1.5 million consumers have experienced the new MSN Explorer that combines the best of MSN content and services, including MSN Hotmail, MSN Search and MSN eShop, with the best of Microsoft’s Internet software, such as the Microsoft® Internet Explorer browser software and the Windows Media™
Player. The new MSN Explorer delivers a single integrated experience that helps consumers get more from the Web. Both new and seasoned Web users whose previous experiences were not living up to their expectations have welcomed the new MSN Explorer.
“I used America Online a few times before trying MSN Explorer, and there is a big difference,”
said Heather Leonard, a 51-year-old health unit coordinator.
“MSN Explorer is so easy to use, and aside from the beautiful design, it has a lot of surprise features such as a calendar function and great search results. I would definitely choose MSN over AOL.”
MSN services have long been widely used and recognized as best-of-breed worldwide, but consumers wanted to shop, stay in touch with friends and family, search the Web and get local information all in one friendly, integrated and easy-to-use Web experience that is personalized and goes with them anywhere they go on the Web. The new MSN Explorer integrates all MSN Services into one central place and puts them at the consumers’ fingertips, providing them with a home on the Web to help them be more productive in life.
Since the launch of MSN Explorer on Oct. 25, the following have occurred:
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MSN Calendar has seen an increase of 183 percent in new users.
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The number of consumers using MSN MoneyCentral has increased by 40 percent.
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MSN Hotmail customers have increased by 10 percent.
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MSN Web Communities experienced a 33 percent increase in photo uploads.
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MSN eShop doubled its average daily number of purchases the day following launch.
Christie Hjelm, a 23-year-old student, is one of more than 200,000 new users who have started to utilize MSN Calendar in the past week.
“As a college student with a busy schedule, I appreciate that I can access my start page and e-mail from school, work and home, which allows me to keep up on the local news and weather and put all my information at my fingertips, wherever I am,”
Hjelm said.
“I now keep my class schedule online with MSN Calendar and always know where I am supposed to be. I’m also learning to manage my finances with MSN MoneyCentral, which has helped with paying taxes and investing money. When I need to have fun, I just look up my buddies on Messenger Service and make instant plans.”
The phenomenal number of new users, jump in the use of MSN Services and positive feedback from consumers have continued to drive excitement around MSN Explorer. As more people get online, more people are discovering how easy MSN Explorer is to use.
“The positive feedback we are hearing about MSN Explorer helping to simplify people’s lives is very exciting,”
said Yusuf Mehdi, vice president of MSN.
“It is gratifying that more than 1.5 million consumers have already used MSN Explorer to personalize their Web experience and take advantage of our great services.”
Designed from the ground up with the unfulfilled Internet user in mind, MSN Explorer is a result of extensive research conducted by Microsoft. Microsoft’s usability surveys indicate that many Internet users feel they are not getting value from their current online experience. MSN wanted to build a product to make the Web more personal, exciting and valuable for users. The result has led to users of all ages and Internet experiences getting exactly what they want online.
Jeff Bowersox, a 45-year-old attorney who owns his own law firm, downloaded MSN Explorer and immediately found MSN eShop of value.
“I couldn’t believe all the great new features,”
Bowersox said.
“With my hectic schedule, MSN Shopping has already helped me out of a few jams. I’ve purchased everything from John Wayne videos for my father’s birthday to hockey gear for my kids to flowers for my wife. MSN offers it all in one place.”
Perry Venugopal recently returned from India where he helped his family with the construction of a new home.
“I was looking for a way to share pictures from my recent trip home to India with my friends and family in the United States,”
Venugopal said.
“With MSN Web Communities, it took only a few minutes to put together an online photo album of the new family house, which I helped design, so I could share it with my friends who were not there to see.”
Availability
The new MSN Explorer is immediately available in the United States for free* download at http://explorer.msn.com/ .
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 visitors in September 2000, 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.
* Connect-time charges may apply.
Microsoft, MSN, Hotmail, MoneyCentral and Windows Media 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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