Internet Access: Dell and Amazon.com Announce Online Agreement; Strategic Marketing Agreement Links Web Sites and Can Provide Customized Content - Company Business and Marketing

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, March 15, 1999

Amazon.com, the No. 1 online retailer of videos, music and books, and Dell Computer Corporation, the world's leading direct computer systems company, Wednesday announced a strategic agreement to offer linked web sites and provide customized content for Amazon.com and Dell customers.

Both companies Tuesday launched links from the checkout sections of their respective sites that lead to new co-branded Dell and Amazon.com home pages. The sites recognize and welcome customers to the full www.amazon.com and www.dell.com online experience. Amazon.com is the first company Dell has linked to from its www.dell.com site, and Dell is the first computer systems company Amazon has linked to.

"Dell and Amazon.com have a shared vision of the future of online shopping," said Michael Dell, chairman and CEO. "That vision is to use the Web to deepen direct relationships with customers and deliver unique value and unparalleled service. Dell and Amazon.com will each offer our mutual customers customized services, competitive price and easy navigation."

"Amazon.com is obsessively focused on providing our customers the best possible online shopping experience, with the best selection, ease of use, and prices," said Jeffrey Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. "Dell has a track record of providing excellent customer service, and it's natural for our companies to begin to work together to provide customers enhanced benefits."

Dell recently launched www.gigabuys.com, an online superstore for computer-related products, and Tuesday's announcement with Amazon.com is further evidence of the company's commitment to expand its Web offerings. The company currently sells more than $14 million in products each day over the Web, which accounts for 25 percent of its business. Dell intends to do 50 percent of its business online by the end of the year 2000. The company Web site www.dell.com attracts more than 25 million Web site visits per quarter, and has unique Web pages for 44 countries in 21 languages.

Amazon.com, Inc., the Internet's No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click technology.

Ranked No. 125 among the Fortune 500 companies and No. 363 in the Fortune Global 500, Dell Computer Corporation is the world's leading direct computer systems company, based on revenues of $18.2 billion for the past four quarters. Dell designs, manufactures and customizes products and services to customer requirements and offers an extensive selection of software and peripherals. Information on Dell and its products can be obtained through its toll-free number 800/388-8542 or by accessing the Dell World Wide Web site at www.dell.com.

Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.