Dell and America Online Announce Agreement to Enhance Online Experience for Dell Customers - Company Business and Marketing

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Feb 14, 2000

Dell Computer Corporation and America Online, Inc. Thursday announced an agreement that will make it even easier for customers to go online with AOL through Dell PCs sold in the United States. The agreement will provide an installed version of AOL's next-generation 5.0 software that features fast and convenient access to Dell products, services and support.

Dell will offer customers a choice of the AOL service or its own Dellnet Internet service program with the purchase of select Dimension desktop and Inspiron notebook PCs. As a world leader in Internet commerce and integration, Dell plans to begin installation of the specialized version of AOL later this spring. Under the agreement, Dell also will offer one year of pre-paid AOL service included with the purchase of these select Dell computers.

Thursday's announcement underscores Dell's capabilities as a premier provider of Internet infrastructure, supplying products, services and direct relationships to meet customer demand for Internet access and personalized content.

"With the addition of AOL to Dell's factory-installed ISP offerings, Dell customers will be able to log on to the popular AOL Internet service and still use Dell services tailored to their individual needs," said Janet Mountain, vice president and general manager of Dell's consumer division. "By maintaining this direct connection to the customer, Dell is combining our world class customer services with the industry-leading content and interactive services of AOL."

When logging on to AOL with their new PCs, AOL members will find it easier than ever to link to www.dell.com where they can access services and information relevant to the Dell system they purchased.

Jan Brandt, America Online's president of marketing, said, "With consumers increasingly buying computers specifically to go online, the AOL software installed on Dell consumer computers will make it easier than ever for consumers to go online with AOL. With AOL's revolutionary 5.0 software on Dell's best-of-breed consumer computers, people will enjoy the best possible online experience."

According to industry analysts(1), more than 200 million people enjoy Internet access worldwide, and that number is predicted to grow to more than 1 billion over the next 10 years. Furthermore, Dell believes access to the Internet continues to be an important priority for its consumer customers.

Dell is extending its Internet focus on customer relationships through several initiatives such as affiliations with companies like Homestead.com for personal home pages on the Internet; Music Match to turn home PCs into stereos with MP3 music; and @Backup to remotely store and back up important data over the Internet. Other offerings include: E-Support-Direct from Dell; Gigabuys.com, Dell's online superstore for computer accessories and more; and product bundles that include Dellnet Internet access and AOL.

Founded in 1985, America Online, Inc., based in Dulles, Virginia, is the world's leader in interactive services, web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services. America Online, Inc. operates: two worldwide Internet services, America Online, with more than 21 million members, and CompuServe, with more than 2.5 million members; several leading Internet brands including ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger, Digital City Inc.; the Netscape Netcenter and AOL.COM portals; Netscape Navigator and Communicator browsers; AOL MovieFone; Spinner.com, and Nullsoft Winamp. Through its strategic alliance with Sun Microsystems, the company develops and offers easy-to-deploy, end-to-end e-commerce and enterprise solutions for companies operating in the Net Economy.

Ranked No. 78 among the Fortune 500 companies and No. 210 in the Fortune Global 500, Dell Computer Corporation is the world's leading direct computer systems company, based on revenues of $23.6 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 1-800-388-8542 or by accessing the Dell World Wide Web site at www.dell.com (http://www.dell.com).

(1) Information provided by the IDC Internet Commerce Market Model, Version 5.0, worldwide.