Date: Mon, 10 Apr 1995 11:28:25 -0400 (EDT)
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Here's the press release on CompuServe's new Internet Services/Rates.
-Robert
------------------------------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Debra Young or Carrie Reber
CompuServe Incorporated
614/538-4553 or 614/538-4092
R. Pierce Reid
CompuServe Incorporated
Internet World Booth #1615
Cellular 614/581-9552
COMPUSERVE OFFERS FREE FULL INTERNET ACCESS,
FREE SOFTWARE
Three free hours per month, lower hourly rate, Internet Club plan
SAN JOSE, Calif., April 10, 1995 -- In a move clearly reinforcing its
leadership in Internet services, CompuServe Incorporated today announced the
industry's most competitive Internet pricing: free, full Internet access and
Web browsing software for its members.
CompuServe Information Service members enrolled in the standard pricing plan
($9.95/month) now automatically receive three free hours of Internet access
per month in addition to unlimited access to more than 120 basic services.
Additional hours of Internet use by these members will be billed at $2.50 per
hour, an hourly rate that is the lowest among online service providers.
For high-volume Internet users, CompuServe introduces the Internet Club,
which offers 20 hours of access to Internet services for a $15 monthly fee
(in addition to the basic $9.95 monthly membership fee). Additional Internet
hours will be billed to club members at $1.95 per hour.
In a separate announcement, the company unveiled additional Internet-related
services, specifically, free distribution of the CompuServe NetLauncher, a
software product providing one-step access to the World Wide Web via SPRY
Mosaic; and a full Internet connection using the Point-to-Point Protocol
(PPP) that is open to users of any operating system or platform.
Savings under the new pricing formula range from 58 percent to as much as 87
percent over CompuServe's previous Internet pricing, depending on how many
hours areused and whether or not the club plan is chosen. These prices apply
to CompuServe's extensive 9.6 and 14.4 kbps local access, and will apply to
28.8 kbps access as it becomes available. Internet services are free of
communication surcharges through CompuServe's network in the United States,
Canada and Western Europe. Supplemental network charges and any monthly fees
for access through other networks still apply.
"CompuServe is in a unique position to offer the best value to today's
Internet user," said Maury Cox, CompuServe president and chief executive
officer. "We have the largest customer base worldwide; we own our own
network; and we recently acquired SPRY, the leader in Internet software. From
this position of strength and profitability we can of fer not only the best
prices, but also the best features and service.
"Our members and prospective members can now eliminate the monthly fee they
have been paying to an Internet-only access provider and have the convenience
of meeting all their online needs in one place, inexpensively," Cox
continued.
"Internet Made EasySM" is CompuServe's strategy to provide easy-to-use,
affordable Internet access and related services to its information service
members. CompuServe was the first online information service to offer email
access to the Internet in 1989. Telnet access to the information service
from the Internet followed in 1994, as well as FTP capability and access to
USENET Newsgroups. For a complete listing of CompuServe Internet services,
access CompuServe's home page on the World Wide Web
(http://www.compuserve.com) or call for more information.
The CompuServe Information Service is the world's most popular online service
with 2.8 million members who access the service from more than 150 countries.
The undisputed industry leader in innovation, the service offers global
email, the industry's first CD-ROM supplement, libraries of free software,
selected 28.8 kbps access and worldwide Internet services. CompuServe is
recognized globally for its international membership and diverse content.
CompuServe's online international newsstand features more than 200 general
interest and niche publications, dozens of syndicated columnists and more
than 900 entertainment, hobby, games and personal computer forums. For a
$9.95 monthly fee, members have unlimited access to more than 120 services
including daily worldwide news, weather and sports reports. In addition to
the CompuServe Information Service, CompuServe offers networking, electronic
mail and business information services to major corporations worldwide.
CompuServe is an H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) company.
************************************************************************
Editor's Note:
CompuServe's new Internet pricing applies to a wide variety of Internet
services, accessible three ways:
* Members wishing to access Internet e-mail, USENET newsgroups, file
transfer protocol (FTP) and Telnet (remote login) can continue to do so with
the CompuServe Information Manager. The new pricing will be effective May 1.
* For access to the World Wide Web, CompuServe members who are Windows users
can utilize NetLauncher for maximum ease of use. The new pricing is
effective today.
* All members, including those running other operating systems or hardware
platforms such as OS/2 or Apple Macintosh, can choose the direct PPP
connection for access to the full range of Internet resources using their
choice of software, for the same pricing as the other access methods,
effective today.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Debra Young or Carrie Reber
CompuServe Incorporated
614/538-4553 or 614/538-4092
R. Pierce Reid
CompuServe Incorporated
Internet World Booth #1615
Cellular 614/581-9552
COMPUSERVE'S FREE WEB AND ACCESS SOFTWARE, DIRECT PPP
CONNECTION OFFER GREATEST INTERNET ACCESS FLEXIBILITY
SAN JOSE, Calif., April 10, 1995 -- The World Wide Web is now wide open to
CompuServe's global membership through a direct Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)
connection and the new CompuServe NetLauncher. NetLauncher has two
components: SPRY Mosaic and the CompuServe Internet Dialer. Together with
new lower pricing also announced today, CompuServe offers Internet users
unsurpassed access flexibility, affordability and ease of use.
CompuServe offers a solution for every type of Internet user.
* Because CompuServe's direct PPP Internet connection works with any Internet
software, CompuServe is the only major Internet access provider that is
unrestricted by operating system. All necessary information and instructions
for accessing the connection from Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh, IBM
OS/2, UNIX and any other TCP/IP-capable platform are available on the
CompuServe Information Service by entering GO INTERNET.
* For Windows users, accessing the Web couldn't be easier. NetLauncher
builds on technology developed by CompuServe and SPRY to provide everything
necessary to explore the Web at the click of a mouse button. For Windows
users who prefer to use another browser, the CompuServe Internet Dialer
facilitates a fast, direct connection to the Internet.
With CompuServe, World Wide Web access is a local call for 92 percent of the
U.S. population. The new Dial Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) service uses
CompuServe's reliable global network to access the Internet via more than
45,000 dial-up ports and more than 420 points of presence worldwide, at
speeds up to 28.8 kbps. This means that even as members travel, access to
the Internet remains a local call through CompuServe.
"Now we offer our members all the Internet, all the time," said Maury Cox,
CompuServe president and chief executive officer. "CompuServe has become the
first Internet access provider to deliver reliable, dial-up Internet access
on a worldwide scale.
"We've made the Web easily accessible to our 2.8 million members," Cox
continued. "With our competitive new Internet access pricing, we've made it
affordable. This is a natural outgrowth of the powerful combination of
CompuServe and SPRY."
How it works
NetLauncher has two components: the award-winning SPRY Mosaic and the
CompuServe Internet Dialer. SPRY Mosaic is an easy-to-use interface that
links Windows users to pictures, sound and video on thousands of Web services
and databases. Customizable hotlists, helper applications and
context-sensitive help make the Web manageable, even for novices.
Installation is as simple as clicking a mouse button, and technical support
is just a phone call away.
CompuServe Internet Dialer is the mechanism for Windows users to establish a
direct PPP connection, using SPRY Mosaic, another Web browser or any other
Winsock-compatible application. The dialer dials into the CompuServe network
through a local access number, just as if accessing the CompuServe
Information Service. The dialer, however, indicates automatically that the
user wants to establish a direct Internet connection. The user is connected,
while behind the scenes, the dialer verifies account number, network access
number, connectivity and billing information. When the user exits the
browser, the dialer automatically disconnects and ends the CompuServe
session. To use the dialer, a member must have installed the CompuServe
Information Manager for Windows (WinCIM), version 1.3 or later, or CompuServe
Navigator for Windows.
How to get NetLauncher
Free membership kits including the newest version of WinCIM and NetLauncher
are being distributed free by CompuServe at Internet World '95. Net Launcher
also can be downloaded free of charge from the information service (GO
INTERNET).
"Internet Made Easy"
"Internet Made Easy" is CompuServe's strategy to provide easy-to-use,
affordable Internet access and related services to its information service
members. CompuServe was the first online information service to offer email
access to the Internet in 1989. Telnet access to the information service
from the Internet followed in 1994, as well as FTP capability and access to
USENET Newsgroups. For a complete listing of CompuServe Internet services,
access CompuServe's home page on the World Wide Web
(http://www.compuserve.com) or call for information.
The CompuServe Information Service is the world's most popular online service
with 2.8 million members who access the service from more than 150 countries.
The undisputed industry leader in innovation, the service offers global
email, the industry's first CD-ROM supplement, libraries of free software,
selected 28.8 kbps access and worldwide Internet services. CompuServe is
recognized globally for its international membership and diverse content.
CompuServe's online international newsstand features more than 200 general
interest and niche publications, dozens of syndicated columnists and more
than 900 entertainment, hobby, games and personal computer forums. For a
$9.95 monthly fee, members have unlimited access to more than 120 services
including daily worldwide news, weather and sports reports. In addition to
the CompuServe Information Service, CompuServe offers networking, electronic
mail and business information services to major corporations worldwide.
CompuServe is an H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) company.
# # #
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