AltaVista Enhances MSN Search; AltaVista's Value Added Link Program to Deliver Powerful and Relevant Results to MSN Search Users

Business Wire, Sept 23, 1999

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 23, 1999--

AltaVista Company, the leading Internet search site at http://www.altavista.com, today announced that MSN, the Microsoft network of online services, has become a partner in AltaVista's Value Added Link (VAL) program.

MSN will offer AltaVista premier search capabilities to users who seek Web information using MSN Search. This service is available today at http://search.msn.com. Terms were not disclosed.

"AltaVista Search is becoming a pervasive part of a user's online experience for a range of popular online destinations," said Greg Memo, AltaVista Search vice president and general manager. "Incorporating AltaVista search technology into MSN Search will enable its users to benefit from the most powerful and relevant online search experience."

MSN is the latest in a series of VAL relationships that has put AltaVista at the forefront of delivering its powerful search technology to Web portals and businesses, as well as ISPs.

Through the Value Added Link program, AltaVista offers parties the ability to serve results from AltaVista's leading search engine. When a user enters a query, the AltaVista engine searches its extensive index to deliver the most relevant results without users ever leaving the original Web site of their choice.

AltaVista offers its standard and advanced searching techniques to VAL partners. The standard service is ideal for quickly finding results with the most relevant content getting placed at the top of the page. Advanced text search is for very specific searches in finding Web pages within a certain range of dates or for complex Boolean searches.

About AltaVista Company

AltaVista Company is the premier online media and commerce network. The company integrates unique Internet technology and services to deliver relevant results faster for both individuals and Web-based businesses. By combining distinctive AltaVista brand services with 'best of the Web' relationships, the AltaVista Network creates the most satisfying Internet experience. AltaVista is building on its heritage of technology and innovation leadership, offering award-winning services including: My AltaVista, AltaVista Finance, FreeAccess, the AltaVista MicroPortal, AltaVista Search, AltaVista Local Portal Services, and AltaVista's Shopping.com. For more information, visit AltaVista at http://www.altavista.com. AltaVista is a majority-owned operating company of CMGI, Inc. (Nasdaq: CMGI), based in Andover, Mass. Compaq Computer Corporation holds the remaining minority stake in AltaVista.

AltaVista and Zip2 are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Shopping.com and Homebase are trademarks of AltaVista Company or its affiliates. Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.