Lycos and Ericsson Form Alliance to Deliver Wireless Internet Services; Companies to Jointly Market Service to Carriers - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, Dec 6, 1999

Lycos, Inc., the fastest growing Internet portal and the world's largest online community, Thursday announced an agreement with Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERICY) to deliver Internet content to wireless devices. With this agreement, any visitor to Lycos will be able to have personalized Internet content and services delivered whenever and wherever they choose. Together, Lycos and Ericsson will leverage Ericsson's carrier market leadership to deliver personalized Lycos services through carriers to consumers.

This alliance brings together Ericsson's market strength as the global leader in mobile infrastructure and handsets and Lycos' audience reach of 30 million users each month. Lycos and Ericsson will jointly market the service to Ericsson's strong customer base of carriers providing the vital link to the ultimate Web customer. Ericsson's solid entrenchment in the carrier channel uniquely positions the Companies to gain significant market share in the burgeoning wireless Internet space.

"Ericsson is a world leader in mobile systems connecting nearly 40 percent of the world's mobile callers," said Jeff Crown, vice president of corporate development at Lycos. "With Ericsson's trusted carrier relationships, Lycos gains access to key distribution channels in the wireless market. Moreover, this relationship expands our commitment to continue to provide the best in personalized and customized content and services to our users on the device of their choice."

Lycos and Ericsson are set to capitalize on the immense market opportunity created by the convergence of wireless and Internet. The next generation of Internet users will be accessing the Web from a variety of different devices not just the desktop PC. In fact, the Strategis Group predicts that the number of wireless subscribers will be 530 million by 2001 with estimates to reach one billion by 2004. Lycos and Ericsson are well positioned through unique access to the carrier channel to meet the demand for delivery of high quality Internet content and services to wireless devices. This alliance pairs Ericsson's innovative product development in the wireless space and Lycos' best-of-breed personalized content and Internet services to capitalize on this expanding market.

"Lycos' breadth in content and services and the opportunity to pull from their best-of-breed network of sites make them an ideal partner for Ericsson," said Hans Davidsson, vice president and general manager at Ericsson Wireless Internet Solutions. "With this alliance, we reinforce our commitment to providing the best solutions for wireless customers."

The new service is tailored to individual needs. Users will choose the content they wish to receive when, where and how often. By simply logging on to the My Lycos personalized start page, users will be able to specify content or services such as sports scores, stock quotes or email to be delivered directly to their wireless device. It will be offered together with operators looking for ways to add value for their customers.

"Our market research shows that users want email, news, stock quotes, reminders and relevant information to their daily lives while they are on the go," continued Crown. "Ericsson and Lycos have now taken a leadership role in simplifying consumer and business travelers' access to the Internet anywhere and at any time.

Ericsson is the leading provider in the new telecoms world with communications solutions that combine telecom and datacom technologies with freedom of mobility for the user. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for its customers - network operators, service providers, enterprises and consumers - the world over.

Founded in 1995, Lycos, Inc. is a leading Web media company and owner of the Lycos Network, one of the most visited hubs on the Internet reaching one out of every two Web users. The Lycos Network is a unified set of Web sites that attracts a diverse audience by offering a variety of services, including leading Web navigation resources, homepage building and other Web community services and a comprehensive shopping center. The Lycos Network is composed of premium sites: Lycos.com, Tripod, WhoWhere, Angelfire, MailCity, HotBot, HotWired, Wired News, Webmonkey, Suck.com, Sonique, Quote.com and Gamesville. Lycos.com (http://www.lycos.com), "Your Personal Internet Guide," is dedicated to helping each individual user locate, retrieve and manage information tailored to his or her personal interests. Headquartered near Boston in Waltham, Mass., Lycos, Inc. is a global Internet leader with a major presence throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia and Latin America.