AltaVista Launches into E-Commerce with Amazon.com
SEATTLE, WA and LITTLETON, MA (October 9, 1997)-- Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Digital Equipment Corp (NYSE: DEC) today announced an agreement naming Amazon.com the exclusive bookseller on the AltaVista search service (www.altavista.digital.com). Under the terms of the agreement, Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) will have direct contextual links from search results pages to related Amazon.com titles as well as early promotion on the AltaVista home page. The agreement launches AltaVista in the new direction of electronic commerce. This alliance brings together one of the world's largest and most technologically advanced search engines with Earth's Biggest Bookstore.
"We are excited that AltaVista's entry into e-commerce is with the clear leader in this area," said Bob Hult, Digital's Vice President and General Manager for AltaVista. "We are looking forward to extending Digital's relationship with Amazon.com."
"AltaVista has quietly amassed a large and loyal base of business users," said George Aposporos, Amazon.com Vice President of Business Development. "This differentiated audience gives Amazon.com an important boost in drawing new users to our site."
According to a recent study conducted by NPD Group, Inc., AltaVista is one of the premiere destination sites on the Web for serious searchers and business users. AltaVista attracts approximately 18 million unique users each month, accounting for over 400 million page-views.
The agreement extends Amazon.com's ability to provide online customers with easy and enjoyable methods of shopping from its catalog of more than 2.5 million titles. Amazon.com also recently established premier bookseller agreements with AOL.com, Excite.com, Yahoo!, and the Prodigy Shopping Network.
About AltaVista Search Network
Digital's fast and powerful AltaVista Search Network is the premier solution for locating information in all concerns on the Internet. One f the top destination sites on the Web, AltaVista has won numerous awards worldwide for its Internet innovation and advanced technology. The AltaVista Search Network's flagship site is located at http://www.altavista.digital.com.
About Digital Equipment Corporation
Digital Equipment Corporation recognized for product and service excellence is a leading supplier of high-performance, Web-based computing solutions, which help enterprises compete in the global marketplace. Digital gives its customers a winning Internet advantage through a comprehensive portfolio of Internet solutions based on award-winning systems, advanced through networking infrastructure, innovative software, and industry applications M-^V including those from its business partners. The expertise and experience of Digital employees help customers plan, design, implement, manage and support Internet solutions in countries throughout the world. For the latest company information, visit Digital on the World Wide Web at http://www.digital.com.
About Amazon.com, Inc.
Amazon.com, Inc., Earth's Biggest Bookstore, is the leading online retailer of books and is the premier bookseller on AOL.com, Excite.com, Yahoo!, and the Prodigy Shopping Network. Amazon.com offers a catalog of 2.5 million titles, easy-to-use search and browse features, e-mail services, personalized shopping service, Web-based credit card payment, and direct shipping to customers. Amazon.com has virtually unlimited online shelf space and offers customers a vast selection through an efficient search-and-retrieval interface.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from predicted results. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, the unpredictability of its future revenues, and risks associated with capacity constraints and management of growth. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in the company's final prospectus, dated May 15, 1997, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Amazon.com and Earth's Biggest Bookstore are service marks of Amazon.com, Inc. All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Amazon.com, Inc., is headquartered at 1516 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101. Internet address: http://www.amazon.com. Telephone: (206) 622-2335.