Point.com inks deals with ZDNet, The New York Times on the Web and New York Today - Company Business and Marketing

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Sept 20, 1999

Point.com (http://www.point.com), the leading Web retailer of wireless phones, service plans and accessories, Tuesday announced two separate agreements allowing users of ZDNet, The New York Times on the Web and New York Today to compare and buy wireless products and services online.

"As the worlds of computers and wireless communications converge, ZDNet's millions of visitors will be among the first to want to explore the many new features and options offered by cellular providers," said Dan Rosensweig, president and CEO of ZDNet, a leading source for technology and Internet content and commerce. "By teaming with Point.com, we will provide a best-of-breed e-commerce experience within our fast-growing Equip channel."

Soaring wireless phone adoption and sales of communications services have driven an annual growth of 149 percent, making cellular phones part of the fastest-growing segment of online retail electronics (Forrester Research, 1998). Most U.S. cities offer more than 50 different wireless rate plans to choose from, with larger markets such as New York offering more than 70 choices and Seattle more than 100.

"Millions of ZDNet, NYTimes.com and NYToday.com users can now quickly and easily shop for the right wireless products at the right prices from the largest selection using Point.com's one-of-a-kind shopping service," said Point.com co-founder and CEO Court Lorenzini.

Point.com/ZDNet cobranded e-commerce agreement

Through the cobranded e-commerce agreement with ZDNet, Point.com will be the primary content provider for ZDNet's Cellular Phones guide, a cobranded online wireless store available within ZDNet's Equip consumer electronics marketplace (http://www.zdnet.com/equip). The cobranded store allows ZDNet users to quickly and easily compare and buy wireless phones, rate plans and accessories online.

ZDNet visitors can access the Equip Cellular Phones guide from the following areas of ZDNet's Web site: ZDNet Shopping Hub, ZDNet Products Channel, ZDNet Road Warriors Guide, ZDNet Enterprise Hub and ZDNet Small Business Channel.

Point.com/The New York Times on the Web/New York Today agreement

Point.com, The New York Times on the Web (http://www.nytimes.com) and New York Today (http://www.nytoday.com) have a relationship establishing Point.com as a wireless retailer on NYTimes.com and NYToday.com.

NYTimes.com and NYToday.com users can access Point.com's comparison shopping service by selecting links within the Marketplace sections of each site, as well as from the NYTimes.com's Technology section.

Based in San Francisco, ZDNet develops and maintains the ZDNet Web site (http://www.zdnet.com), a leading source for technology and Internet content and commerce. By combining groundbreaking interactive technology with editorial from its own award-winning editorial team and from Ziff-Davis' worldwide network of journalists, ZDNet produces original, compelling content and communities of common interests in technology. ZDNet is consistently ranked by Media Metrix as the number-one Web site in the News, Information and Entertainment category. ZDNet is a division of Ziff-Davis.

Point.com (formerly Wireless Dimension) is the leading Web retailer of wireless phones, service plans and accessories. It is the only place where consumers in the top 50 metropolitan areas can compare virtually every available wireless phone and service plan in their area, identify what meets their needs and buy online. Point.com allows customers to shop more than 3,000 wireless service plans, 200 phones and 1,000 accessories.

Point.com has already helped nearly 4 million people buy wireless products and services since its May 1998 launch. The privately held company was formed in October 1995 by Lorenzini, formerly with Cisco Systems, and Chief Strategy Officer Doug DeSantis, formerly with Microsoft.