REPEATING/Comet Systems Scores Major Gains in Distribution; Cursor-Changing Company Inks Deals with RealNetworks and MindSpring.NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 20, 1999-- Comet Systems, developers of the Comet Cursor Comet Cursor was a software program manufactured by Comet Systems. It allowed users of Microsoft Windows Operating System to change the appearance of their mouse's cursor and to allow websites to use customized cursors for visitors. , scored major gains in distribution, closing separate deals with RealNetworks(TM) (Nasdaq:RNWK RNWK Real Networks (stock symbol) ) and MindSpring Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq:MSPG MSPG Mor Strioch Pian Gar (gaming) MSPG Middle School Parents Group MSPG Material/Military Support Planning Guidance ) that were announced today. Effective immediately, the cursor-changing plug-in, which recently eclipsed the ten million unique user mark at its first anniversary, will be bundled with RealNetworks' RealPlayer(R), as well as with the new MindSpring Internet Software 4.0. RealNetworks will immediately begin bundling the Comet Cursor with their RealPlayer, which is available at http://www.real.com. MindSpring will bundle the Comet Cursor with their recently released MindSpring Internet Software 4.0 which is available on CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc. CD-ROM in full compact disc read-only memory Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser). and via MindSpring's Website at http://www.mindspring.com, making the Comet Cursor available to MindSpring's more than 1.2 million customers. "We are excited to have companies as strong as and RealNetworks and MindSpring embracing the incredible advertising and branding potential of our technology," said Jamie Rosen, Chairman and Founder of Comet Systems. "We hope to see them leverage the Comet Cursor throughout their networks." The relationships with RealNetworks and MindSpring are expected to accelerate the Comet Cursor's already explosive growth. Currently, the software boasts a unique user base of 12 million and is logging a new user every 1.4 seconds. Data from recent cursor advertising campaigns on Lycos, Yahoo!, and AltaVista indicate that the technology now reaches more than 20% of the Web surfing Refers to jumping from page to page on the Web. Just as in "TV channel surfing," where one clicks the remote to go from channel to channel, the hyperlink on Web pages makes it easy to jump from one page to another. population. Additionally, AdWeek recently released Media Metrix data ranking Comet Systems as the 4th most popular Web tools site, following RealNetworks, ICQ ("I Seek You") A conferencing program for the Internet from Mirabilis, Tel Aviv, Israel (www.icq.com). It provides interactive chat, e-mail and file transfer and can alert you when someone on your predefined list has also come online. , and Macromedia, and getting more than one million unique visitors A count of how many different people access a Web site. For example, if a user leaves and comes back to the site five times during the measurement period, that person is counted as one unique visitor, but would count as five "user sessions. per month. With these two new deals, privately held Comet Systems expects a user base of 20 million prior to the close of Q1 2000. "The Comet Cursor is an exciting application which our users can use to personalize their web pages and computer desktops," said MindSpring's product manager, Kristin Post. "It is MindSpring's goal to constantly improve our customers' Internet experience, and Comet Systems' tools are another way we can make their online time more fun and productive." About Comet Systems Comet Systems, Inc. (http://www.cometsystems.com) is the developer of the Comet Cursor, a patent-pending, rich media technology that lets Websites and Web advertisers display a customized graphic or animation in place of the conventional "arrow" cursor. The Comet Cursor has been installed by more than twelve million Web surfers and has built a reach of more than 20% of the Web surfing public. Comet Systems' technology is now used on over 50,000 Websites; licensees include Warner Bros BROS Brothers BROS Benefits and Retirement Operations Section (King County, Washington) BROS Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society (London, UK) . Online, AT&T WorldNet, Comedy Central, Mattel, and Universal Studios Online. Comet Systems introduced the Cursor Ad(TM), a new form of online advertising, in 1999. BellSouth, Warner Bros., Toshiba, Energizer, and MSNBC MSNBC Microsoft/National Broadcasting Company have since run Cursor Ad campaigns at Yahoo!, AltaVista, theglobe.com, and Lycos. Comet Systems raised $7 Million in July, 1999, a second round led by Scripps Ventures, with follow-on investors MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings, PS Capital Ventures, Hudson Venture Partners L.P., Advantage Capital, Carlin car·line or car·lin n. Scots A woman, especially an old one. [Middle English kerling, from Old Norse, from karl, man.] Ventures, and Value Capital L.P. Comet Systems raised $2.5 Million in 1997 from Prospect Street Ventures and Bob Lessin. The 50-person company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in New York's Silicon Alley. For more information, contact Ben Austin at 212-231-2000 ext. 103 or marketing@cometsystems.com. About MindSpring MindSpring Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq:MSPG) is a leading 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. focused on delivering outstanding service and support to its customers. By following its Core Values And Beliefs, MindSpring is committed to doing an exceptional job of serving its customers, its employees, its owners and its community. MindSpring's dial-up subscribers can browse the World Wide Web, send electronic mail, and participate in informative online chats and access more than 20,000 newsgroups This is a list of newsgroups that are significant for their popularity or their position in Usenet history. As of October 2002, there are about 100,000 Usenet newsgroups, of which approximately a fifth are active. . MindSpring offers local Internet access in 890 locations throughout the U. S. The MindSpring Biz division of MindSpring Enterprises is a leading provider of Web Hosting services and domain registrations. For more information about MindSpring's services, please visit the Web site http://www.mindspring.net/ or call 1-888-MSPRING. |
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