NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 20, 1999--Comet Systems,
developers of the Comet Cursor, scored major gains in distribution, closing
separate deals with RealNetworks(TM) (Nasdaq:RNWK) and MindSpring
Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq:MSPG) 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 www.real.com. MindSpring will
bundle the Comet Cursor with their recently released MindSpring Internet
Software 4.0 which is available on CD-ROM and via MindSpring's Website
at 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 population.
Additionally, AdWeek recently released Media Metrix data ranking Comet
Systems as the 4th most popular Web tools site, following RealNetworks,
ICQ, and Macromedia, and getting more than one million unique visitors 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. (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. 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 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 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 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.
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
www.mindspring.net/ or call 1-888-MSPRING.
About Comet Systems
Contact:
For Comet Systems:
Comet Systems
Ben Austin
212/231-2000 x103
ben@cometsystems.com
or
For RealNetworks:
RealNetworks
Cara Jacobson
206/674-2234
caraj@real.com
or
For MindSpring Enterprises:
MindSpring Enterprises
Tish Spearman
tspearman@mindspring.net
developers of the Comet Cursor, scored major gains in distribution, closing
separate deals with RealNetworks(TM) (Nasdaq:RNWK) and MindSpring
Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq:MSPG) 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 www.real.com. MindSpring will
bundle the Comet Cursor with their recently released MindSpring Internet
Software 4.0 which is available on CD-ROM and via MindSpring's Website
at 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 population.
Additionally, AdWeek recently released Media Metrix data ranking Comet
Systems as the 4th most popular Web tools site, following RealNetworks,
ICQ, and Macromedia, and getting more than one million unique visitors 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. (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. 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 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 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 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.
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
www.mindspring.net/ or call 1-888-MSPRING.
About Comet Systems
Contact:
For Comet Systems:
Comet Systems
Ben Austin
212/231-2000 x103
ben@cometsystems.com
or
For RealNetworks:
RealNetworks
Cara Jacobson
206/674-2234
caraj@real.com
or
For MindSpring Enterprises:
MindSpring Enterprises
Tish Spearman
tspearman@mindspring.net
