NaviNet Sets Sights on Emerging Virtual ISPs; Agreements with Covad, Critical Path, and Inverse Network Technology Place Provider of Private Label Internet Access at Forefront of Emerging Market

Business Wire, Oct 26, 1999

ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 26, 1999--

NaviNet, Inc., a majority-owned operating company of CMGI, Inc. (Nasdaq: CMGI) and a provider of high-performance, private-label Internet access solutions, today announced three relationships designed to broaden the company's line of services to include integrated solutions for the emerging Virtual ISP market segment. Virtual ISPs (VISPs) include mass marketers, retailers, manufacturers, financial service organizations, affinity groups, and others who are increasingly offering Internet access products along with their core products and services in order to extend their customer reach.

NaviNet's new relationships include Covad Communications (Nasdaq: COVD) for nationwide broadband Internet access; Critical Path (Nasdaq: CPTH) for email and messaging services; and Inverse Network Technology (recently acquired by Visual Networks Inc.; Nasdaq: VNWK) for service-level monitoring tools.

"These companies each supply 'best of breed' solutions in their respective industry sectors," said NaviNet CEO, T.C. Browne. "By providing broadband access, service level monitoring tools and a portfolio of network and information services to complement our dial access products, NaviNet is firmly positioned to be the premier provider of Internet access services for Virtual ISPs."

As demand for Internet access increases, companies with a large customer base and strong brand identity are seeking to add high-quality Internet access to their primary portfolio of services in order to enhance their customer relationships and reinforce their brands. NaviNet will lead this emerging market of next generation service providers by providing them with high-quality private-label access, as well as the required network and information services that will support the acquisition and retention of new customers.

"This expansion of NaviNet's service offering to include a bundled portfolio of access and services certainly enhances the company's value proposition in the marketplace," said George Peabody, Managing Director, Aberdeen Group. "It will also allow NaviNet to move a significant number of new customers onto its high-powered network."

In addition to Covad, Critical Path, and Inverse Network Technology, NaviNet already works closely with Lucent Technologies and Nortel Networks to deploy switch bypass technology, an important element of the NaviNet Technology Platform. The NaviNet Technology platform is a unique network architecture that provides cost, quality and performance advantages over the competition by avoiding Internet congestion and providing significant network efficiencies. NaviNet's rapid growth during its first nine months has been based upon the NaviNet Technology Platform's unique ability to provide the best price/performance Internet access available.

About NaviNet

Focused on organizations that want to extend customer reach through the Internet, NaviNet provides a portfolio of private-label Internet access solutions supported by a leading-edge, high-availability national network. Through a combination of superior technology and strategic partnerships, NaviNet delivers flexible Internet solutions enabling organizations to expand without investing in infrastructure and technology.

NaviNet's current network coverage reaches over 50% of the U.S. online population and will reach more than 80% by year's end. NaviNet clients include Prodigy, IDT, NetZero and Surfree.com.

NaviNet is a majority-owned operating company of CMGI, Inc. (Nasdaq: CMGI). For more information, visit NaviNet's website at http://www.navinet.net or call 877-NAVINET (877-628-4638).

About CMGI

With nearly 50 companies, CMGI, Inc. (Nasdaq: CMGI) represents the largest, most diverse network of Internet companies in the world. This network includes both CMGI operating companies and a growing number of synergistic investments through its venture capital affiliate, @Ventures. CMGI leverages the technologies, content, and market reach of its extended family of companies to foster rapid growth and industry leadership across its network, and the larger Internet Economy. Microsoft, Intel, Sumitomo and Compaq hold minority positions in CMGI.

CMGI's majority-owned operating companies include Engage Technologies (Nasdaq: ENGA), 1ClickBrands, Activerse, Adsmart, AltaVista, iCAST, Magnitude Network, MyWay.com, NaviSite, NaviNet, SalesLink and ZineZone. The company's @Ventures affiliates have ownership interests in Lycos, Inc. (Nasdaq: LCOS), Critical Path (Nasdaq: CPTH), Silknet (Nasdaq: SILK), Chemdex (Nasdaq: CMDX), Ancestry.com, Asimba.com, AuctionWatch.com, Aureate Media, blaxxun, BizBuyer.com, Boatscape.com, buyingedge.com, CarParts.com, CraftShop.com, eCircles.com, EXP.com, FindLaw, Furniture.com, HotLinks, INPHO/HomePriceCheck.com, Intelligent/Digital, KOZ.com, Mondera.com, MotherNature.com, NextMonet.com, NextPlanetOver.com, OneCore.com, ONElist, PlanetOutdoors.com, Productopia, Promedix.com, Raging Bull, Softway Systems, Speech Machines, ThingWorld.com, Vicinity, Virtual Ink, Visto, Vstore and WebCT.