The NIC: Larry Ellison's Internet Appliance Attracts Unexpected Bidding At Amazon.com Auction

Business Wire, July 11, 2000

Business & Technology Editors

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 11, 2000

Ten LIMITED EDITION NICs (New Internet Computers), produced by The New Internet Computer Company of San Francisco, went to two bidders at AMAZON.COM AUCTIONS for a closing price of $1650.00 plus shipping. The closing bids are more than five times the retail price of the items now being sold at The NIC Company's website, www.thinknic.com for $328 ($199 for the NIC plus $129 for an optional monitor).

"I would have been happy just getting bids at the retail price," says NIC CEO Gina Smith. "I think this clearly shows that we're onto something with the NIC. Consumers are looking for a reliable, inexpensive, user-friendly alternative to the PC experience for access to the Internet."

Eight of the individually-numbered NICs went to a single bidder, the head of WebOS, a Columbia, Maryland-based software company. WebOS CEO Shervin Pishevar told CNETNews.com that he plans to donate most of the units to the Washington, D.C., school district and keep one to see how the machine works.

"(Larry) Ellison has been talking about the vision for a while, but this is really something that's out there," Pishevar said. "We want to take a look at it and see what it's like."

The vision goes back to 1995, when ORACLE CORPORATION Chairman Larry Ellison began promoting the concept of affordable, easy-to-use network devices. In January 2000, Ellison and nationally-known technology analyst Gina Smith co-founded The NIC Company and started work on the New Internet Computer (NIC), a machine designed to allow consumers to pick their own Internet Service Providers while providing PC-quality web browsing and email.

The NIC has entered a segment that analysts predict will grow considerably faster than the PC marketplace. International Data Corporation projects the worldwide Information Appliance segment will reach $17.8 billion and 89 million units by 2004.

ABOUT THE NIC COMPANY:

Founded in January 2000, the NEW INTERNET COMPUTER COMPANY and its NIC Internet appliance bring fast, affordable and functional Internet access to consumers, schools and businesses without the cost or complexity of a PC. Starting at $199, the NIC offers plug-and-play email and Internet access.

The NIC Company is located at 781 Beach St., San Francisco, CA, 94109. Telephone 415-345-4900. For more information on the NIC, visit The NIC Company's website at www.thinknic.com.

ABOUT GINA SMITH:

Previous to joining NIC as its co-founder and CEO, Smith was one of America's best-known consumer computer advocates. Her syndicated column, Ask Gina, reached millions of newspaper readers every week, as did her award-winning radio call-in show, On Computers with Gina Smith. As ABC's Technology Correspondent, she gave tech advice and explained trends on Good Morning America, World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, 20/20 and Nightline.