Hard Cider Index

6-5-00
AltaVista today announced that it has added Mac support to their free Internet access service that PC users have been able to enjoy for some time. As we all know, there is no such thing as a free lunch and AltaVista's offer is no exception. While you don't have to pay for your dialup connection, you will need to give up roughly 5% of your screen real estate to a "microportal" (pictured below), an application that provides personalized news, information and links to AltaVista Network services. The microportal also includes rotating banner advertising and must be open while you are online, close the microportal and you lose you connection.

Are users willing to sit through additional banners while surfing the web? With a reported 2.5 million registered PC users and an additional 10,000 signing on each day AltaVista is betting the answer is yes. Actual connectivity is provided by 1stUp.com, which partners with sites like AltaVista to provide online access in exchange for ad exposure. AltaVista claims their dialup network has close to 5,000 phone numbers covering over 95% of the US and Canada. We contacted the folks at AltaVista with a few questions about the service:

MRZ: How long has AltaVista been offering free Internet access and what prompted the recent support for the Mac platform?

AV: AltaVista has been offering Free Access since last Fall. Incorporating the Mac was due to high Mac users requests, we also find value in making sure we cover all platform and users.

MRZ: With a reported 2.5 million registered users and a growth rate of 10,000 user per day, infrastructure could be a concern. What measures have AltaVista and 1stUp taken to insure that the service is not oversubscribed?

AV: AV has over 2.7 MM registered PC users, 1stUp is prepared from an operations standpoint and AV has a full customer support staff ready for any questions or problems Mac users may have. 1stUp.com has assembled the largest dial-up network in North American with close to 5000 dialup numbers covering 95% of the U.S. and Canada. This highly reliable network supports the AV free Mac service. The 1stUp.com network has never experienced any outages and because of its high redundancy, users rarely experience busy signals.

MRZ: Does the service include an e-mail account and web space?

AV: This service does offer an e-mail account through AV or the user can use their own web based account, there will be a button on the microportal to allow users to have online storage provided by NetDrives. The online storage and voicemail features currently on the PC version will be integrated into the Mac version over the next couple of months.

MRZ: Is data gathered on users' surfing habits/patterns etc? If so, who has access to this information and how is it used?

AV: Data is collected about users surfing habits. Below is 1stUp.com's official policy on privacy. 1stUp.com collects a small amount of information about consumers when they sign up for the service and also tracks anonymous clickstream data, such as sites visited. This information is used by 1stUp.com and its distribution partners to customize the end-user experience through targeted advertising and customized content. For billable services, 1stUp.com gains access to some personally identifiable data, such as name and address. Personally identifiable data and the anonymous clickstream data are kept in separate databases. Prior to subscribing to a 1stUp.com-powered service, consumers are presented with a usage agreement that notifies them of all tracking and explains how the information collected is used. 1stUp.com has never merged anonymous online behavior data with personally identifiable data, and we pledge not to do so until our industry, working together with governmental agencies, establishes standards in this regard.

MRZ: Is there a way for potential customers to see if the service is available in their area?

AV: The area code look-up box is provided to see if the user can access local numbers from their area.

Press Release: ALTAVISTA TO BRING FREE INTERNET ACCESS TO MACINTOSH USERS IN NORTH AMERICA

Popular Free Internet Service Now Available to 2.3 Million Macintosh Households Source: Odyssey HomeFront January 2000 survey

PALO ALTO, Calif., June 5, 2000. AltaVista Company, the premier knowledge resource on the Internet and a majority-owned operating company of CMGI, Inc. (Nasdaq: CMGI), today expanded its Free Internet Access program to include support for Macintosh computers. Beginning today, Macintosh users in the United States and Canada can begin saving money with AltaVista's Free Access service, which currently has more than 2.5 million registered users. AltaVista Free Access is a high-quality dialup service available for download in North America at: www.microav.com.

"This new service will continue to put pressure on the obsolete practice of paying for dialup access and introduces AltaVista Free Access to the Macintosh community as the leading Internet brand to offer such a service," said Bill Keenan, director of AltaVista free access. "Mac users have been an untapped market for high-quality free Internet access, and we're excited to bring the value of our free service to this dynamic group."

AltaVista Free Access is the first free, quality dial-up Internet service offered by a leading Internet brand. The service provides unlimited Internet usage at no cost in cities across North America through almost 5,000 dial-up phone numbers. AltaVista Free Access features the world's first microportal, a small desktop application that provides personalized, up-to-the-minute news, information and links to valuable AltaVista Network services. The microportal takes less than five percent of a user's screen space and contains a rotating advertisement within the window.

AltaVista Free Access is powered by patent-pending technology from 1stUp.com Corporation, a majority-owned operating company of CMGI, Inc. and a leading provider of private label Internet access solutions and innovative advertising technology.

Free Access Macintosh
AltaVista Free Access service for Macintosh is based on the same quality network as AltaVista's successful PC version with the following features:

AltaVista Free Access user seeking technical assistance can tap into the AltaVista Support program via phone or online technical support. Online support is available by email at questions-freeaccess@av.com and has a guaranteed response time of 48-hours or less. Toll-free telephone support in the US and Canada is also available at 1-877-584-5551, where users can speak directly with customer care representatives and technicians.

About AltaVista Company
AltaVista Company is the premier knowledge resource on the Internet at www.altavista.com. Building on its strong search heritage and patented technology, AltaVista unlocks the vast Internet to provide the richest, most relevant information access across multiple dimensions, including: Web pages, shopping, up-to-the-minute news, live audio and video, and community resources. AltaVista offers informative services including the multi-dimensional AltaVista Search, pure Web page Raging Search (www.raging.com) from AltaVista, AltaVista Shopping.com, AltaVista Live! personalized portal, and AltaVista Free Internet Access. AltaVista is a majority-owned operating company of CMGI, Inc. (Nasdaq: CMGI), Andover, Mass. AltaVista is headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif.

About 1stUp.com Corporation
1stUp.com, a majority-owned operating company of CMGI, Inc., is a market leader in providing online and offline brand names with private label Internet access solutions and innovative advertising technology. 1stUp.com's patent-pending technology enables its distribution partners to brand, market and distribute free and cost-effective Internet services to their customers. Multiple leading ISPs support 1stUp.com's extensive ISP network to provide reliable connectivity. The 1stUp.com network is the largest in North America based on total dial-up numbers and delivers reliable Internet access to over 95 percent of the U.S. and Canada. 1stUp.com powers Internet access solutions for leading brands like AltaVista, Lycos, Gratis1 by StarMedia, and more than 100 additional brands. By aggregating the over 3.5 million registered subscribers of its distribution partners, 1stUp.com is able to pass along the benefits of optimal connectivity costs and advertising revenues to those partners.