NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2002 — Microsoft Corp. today locked the price of MSN®
8 Dial-Up Internet Service at $21.95 per month for at least the next 12 months. This offer assures consumers that they can subscribe to MSN 8 — the Internet service preferred by three out of four consumers over AOL 8 in a recent study* — through at least fall 2003 for nearly $2 less each month than the AOL 8 dial-up service’s standard price of $23.90.
MSN also announced its policy with regard to pop-up advertisements within the MSN 8 user experience. With MSN 8 software, consumers will not receive third-party or MSN pop up ads other than those designed for obtaining valuable customer feedback on the product.
“This is really about continuing to give consumers a better product, at a better price,”
said Richard Bray, vice president for MSN.
“With MSN 8, people will get what they care about most, including communications, parental controls, better browsing and less unwanted junk e-mail.”
Over the next year, the savings on MSN 8 will add up to nearly $24 — or more if AOL increases its price. This also means that MSN 8 subscribers will pay roughly the same amount for one year of Internet service as AOL 8 subscribers pay for 11 months of service.
Today’s announcement of the price guarantee coincides with the launch of MSN 8 at New York’s Central Park. The launch event kicks off an eight-city tour that gives consumers a chance to sample MSN 8 and see for themselves why three out of four people who recently tested both Internet services chose MSN 8 over AOL 8.* Conducted earlier this month by respected research firm Usability Sciences Corp., the study also found that consumers preferred the junk-mail filtering, parental controls, personalization and other features of MSN 8 over those of AOL 8.
Webcast and Teleconference Information
Members of the press who are unable to attend the MSN 8 launch can view the webcast or join the teleconference being held today on MSN Internet service:
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Webcast. The webcast will take place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. EDT. It can be viewed at http://msn.cwusa.tv/. A link also will be available at http://www.msn.com/. Live video streams will be available at 56 Kbps, 100 Kbps and 300 Kbps.
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Teleconference Information
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Time: 2:45–3:15 p.m. EDT
Number to call in the United States: (800) 640-9765
Number to call internationally: (847) 413-4837
Host: Colleen Lacter
Title: MSN
About MSN
MSN has 9 million subscriptions and attracts more than 300 million unique users worldwide per month. With localized versions available globally in 34 markets and 18 languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering Web services to consumers and digital marketing solutions to businesses worldwide. The most useful and innovative online service today, MSN brings consumers everything they need from the Web to make the most of their time online. MSN is located on the Web at http://www.msn.com/ . MSN worldwide sites are located at http://www.msn.com/worldwide.ashx .
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.
* Study conducted by independent research firm Usability Sciences Corp., October 2002, among 150 users. Actual percent plus or minus 7 percent at 95 percent confidence level.
Microsoft and MSN 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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