Internet Commerce & Communications Joins with EarthLink to Provide Dial up Access Service Nationwide - Brief Article

ISP Business, April, 2001

Internet Commerce & Communications (IC&C), a national Web solutions/e-commerce and connectivity company, announced that EarthLink, the nation's second largest ISP, will acquire its existing dial-up customer base. IC&C will sell dial-up Internet services through EarthLink.

IC&C will continue to emphasize selling total Web solutions, managed hosting, co-location services, hosted applications, and broadband connections to small- and medium-sized businesses.

"This is a great opportunity for both companies, our shareholders, and the IC&C dial-up customer base," said Douglas H. Hanson, chairman and CEO of IC&C. "As we shift our focus to Web solutions, Web hosting, and broadband connectivity for small- and mid-sized businesses, this transaction with EarthLink will give us greater flexibility to achieve our goals in the future."

"We are happy to be working with a company of IC&C's reputation," said Cliff Bryant, director of acquisitions for EarthLink. "This arrangement will give IC&C customers the best of both worlds. EarthLink will provide IC&C subscribers Internet access and special features, while at the same time allowing them to maintain a relationship with IC&C for other services."

EarthLink currently has 4.7 million subscribers, a 24x7x365 technical support and customer service department and more than 6,500 local dial-in numbers. Former IC&C customers who transfer to EarthLink will have access to EarthLink's award-winning features and services, including broadband and wireless offerings, personalized home pages, programs that filter out spam, and a local dial-up number to the EarthLink network.