Earthlink Network announces nationwide reseller program.NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 18, 1997-- EarthLink's Partner Program enables reseller and retail channels to provide a full range of turn-key, Internet business solutions to their customers EarthLink Network Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :ELNK ELNK EarthLink, Inc. (stock symbol) ELNK Ethernet Link ) Wednesday announced the launch of its channel Partner Program. This innovative program enables resellers, such as value-added resellers (VARs) and many other companies that target vertical markets, as well as retailers, to resell EarthLink's dial-up Internet service, TotalAccess, along with high-end business services, such as Web site hosting, ISDN ISDN in full Integrated Services Digital Network Digital telecommunications network that operates over standard copper telephone wires or other media. , LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. ISDN and frame relay A high-speed packet switching protocol used in wide area networks (WANs). Providing a granular service of up to DS3 speed (45 Mbps), it has become popular for LAN to LAN connections across remote distances, and services are offered by most major carriers. , to their customers. Through this partnership, these companies will be able to deliver a complete Internet product and service offering to their customers by providing them with a full range of turn-key, Internet business solutions. Currently, many Internet backbone (communications, networking) Internet backbone - High-speed networks that carry Internet traffic. These communications networks are provided by companies such as AT&T, GTE, IBM, MCI, Netcom, Sprint, UUNET and consist of high-speed links in the T1, T3, OC1 and OC3 ranges. providers are attempting to sell a complete Internet solution by combining their service with a hardware product, such as ISDN service with an ISDN modem An alternative name for ISDN terminal adapter. The term is widely used, because the unit looks like a modem, connects to the same serial port as a modem and may support analog phones. See ISDN terminal adapter. , directly bypassing the reseller and retail channels. This puts those resellers and retailers at a disadvantage because of their inability to provide a complete Internet solution. EarthLink's Partner Program provides these companies with a comprehensive, turn-key Internet solution, adding value to their hardware or integrated services In computer networking, IntServ or integrated services is an architecture that specifies the elements to guarantee quality of service (QoS) on networks. IntServ can for example be used to allow video and sound to reach the receiver without interruption. offering. "We discovered a gaping hole when it comes to resellers and retailers offering small- to medium-sized businesses a complete Internet solution," said Julie Mantis, vice president of sales for EarthLink Network. "Until now, no one had a sensible, cost-effective approach to providing a comprehensive Internet component in their product or service offerings." How It Works EarthLink will become a true partner for resellers by adding value to their Web integration and network service offerings or their hardware and software solution services. Some partners, like 3Com, Bay Networks and Ramp Networks, will allow their network of VARs to take advantage of co-branded hardware and Internet business service bundles to provide their customers with a turn-key Internet solution. For example, 3Com has developed a Gold Seal VAR program to recruit leading network integration companies to help 3Com expand ISDN and frame relay hardware sales. To enhance the VARs' product offering and sales potential, 3Com will bundle its hardware products with EarthLink's ISDN and frame relay services, providing a complete Internet-business solution. By adding value, EarthLink becomes an integral partner to these VARs. Leveraged-Model Approach In the past two years, EarthLink's Affinity marketing group has developed partnerships with more than 300 industry-leading companies that market EarthLink's products and services offerings to their customers. These strategic partnerships have allowed EarthLink to provide a comprehensive Internet solution as well as distribute millions of copies of TotalAccess by bundling them with other relevant products. Some of these products include CyberMedia's Oil Change and United Airlines' Connection reservation software. EarthLink's new Partner Program, which includes three types of partnerships -- Agent, Premier Partners, and Retail/Distribution -- will apply this leveraged-model approach to resell its Internet access See how to access the Internet. and high-end business services as part of a complete Internet-solution package. The three components of the new Partner Program are outlined below. Agent Program EarthLink's Agent programs are designed to provide a level playing field See net neutrality. for all companies interested in selling EarthLink's Internet access and business services in exchange for commissions. The programs cater to the needs of three distinctly different market niches: TotalAccess, Web Services (1) Loosely, any online service delivered over the Web. Such usage appears in articles from non-technical sources, but not in IT-oriented publications, because definition #2 below describes the correct use of the term. and Network Services. The TotalAccess Agent Program (TAAP TAAP The Autism Autoimmunity Project TAAP Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology (Journal of) TAAP Travel Agents Association of Pakistan TAAP The Anti-Abuse Project TAAP Tactical Air Armament Plan TAAP Transmission Administrator Advisory Panel ) allows retail outlets, Internet consultants, resellers, integrators and educators to earn commissions by distributing TotalAccess and securing EarthLink sign-ups. The Web Services program allows Web developers, design houses, ad agencies, printers, integrators and graphic artists to receive commissions and residuals for selling EarthLink frame relay or Web hosting services to their customers. The Network Services program allows systems integrators, VARs, computer resellers and consultants to receive commissions for selling EarthLink dial-up accounts and high-end business services to corporate clients. EarthLink currently has partnerships with 3Com, Bay Networks, Digi International Digi International was founded in 1985 as DigiBoard and is headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, USA. The company went public as Digi International in 1989 and is traded on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol DGII. , Farallon, Open Route and Ramp Networks to bundle access services, such as ISDN, with their hardware. More information on fees and commissions can be located at http://www.earthlink.net/company/partners or by email at agentinfo@earthlink.net . Mantis added, "The Agent Program is one of the most important components of our Partner Program. It allows us to team up with hundreds of companies in a variety of industries to offer their customers a full range of Internet services, including dial-up access hot Dial-up access is a form of Internet access via telephone line. The client uses a modem connected to a computer and a telephone line to dial into an Internet service provider's (ISP) node to establish a modem-to-modem link, which is then routed to the Internet. , Web site hosting, ISDN, LAN ISDN and frame relay." Premier Partner Program EarthLink's Premier Partners are companies outside of its Agent program that require special contracts and offer specialized services. EarthLink's first Premier Partner, AlphaGraphics, is a franchisor of 250 nationwide full-service and quick-print centers. For EarthLink, the partnership represents a nationwide opportunity to resell Web hosting services and positions EarthLink as AlphaGraphics' preferred Internet Service Provider Internet service provider (ISP) Company that provides Internet connections and services to individuals and organizations. For a monthly fee, ISPs provide computer users with a connection to their site (see data transmission), as well as a log-in name and password. (ISP (1) See in-system programmable. (2) (Internet Service Provider) An organization that provides access to the Internet. Connection to the user is provided via dial-up, ISDN, cable, DSL and T1/T3 lines. ). For AlphaGraphics, the partnership makes it the nation's largest provider of turn-key, Web site services. Retail/Distribution Program The Retail/Distribution program will leverage EarthLink's existing Affinity marketing relationships to include the sales of its Internet access and business services through retail and distribution channels. For example, as an Affinity marketing partner, a software manufacturer with a Web authoring tool will bundle EarthLink's Internet access service with one its products. To provide a complete Internet solution to a target audience, such as the small office/home office See SOHO. (SOHO Soho (sōhō`, sə–), district of Westminster, London, England, known for its continental restaurants. Once a fashionable quarter, it became popular among writers and artists in the 19th cent. ) market, EarthLink will bundle this integrated product with one of its high-end services (Web site hosting), and resell it through retail or other distribution channels. This opportunity enables EarthLink to create a unique product offering with selected software vendors to extend its high-end business services to the SOHO market, as well as to small- to medium-sized businesses. EarthLink will also extend its product offering opportunity to selected hardware vendors, utilizing their products, such as an ISDN modem, as part of a bundle with EarthLink's ISDN service for resale through retail and other distribution channels. EarthLink's Retail/Distribution program will also utilize nationwide retail chains, such as Micro Center and Nobody Beats The Wiz, to resell its Internet access and ISDN services. In each of these stores, EarthLink kiosks or end caps will be on display as part of a promotion to resell its Internet access and ISDN services. Information about EarthLink's business services, can be found at http://www.earthlink.net/company/wwwservices . About EarthLink EarthLink Network is a leading Internet service provider. Through a full range of innovative access and hosting services, the company makes the Internet relevant and productive to hundreds of thousands of individuals and businesses every day. With headquarters in Pasadena, Calif., EarthLink provides local access to thousands of communities from more than 673 points of presence (POPs) in North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. . Additional service and pricing information is available by calling 800/395-8425 and through EarthLink's Web site at http://www.earthlink.net . CONTACT: Earthlink Network Inc. Kirsten Kappos, 818/296-2467 kirstenk@earthlink.net or Manning, Selvage & Lee Kelly Fitzsimmons/Leasa Vignale, 213/782-6600 kfitzsim@mslpr.com lvignale@mslpr.com |
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