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Internet Appliance Network acquires MyInternetDesktop.com to add virtual desktop functionality to Internet devices.
New York, NY, April 17, 2000 - Internet Appliance Network (IAN), the marketing and media services company that helps brands turn Internet-enabled hardware and software into customer-focused marketing solutions, today announced its acquisition of MyInternetDesktop.com (MID), the premiere platform for the development, distribution and use of web-based applications via Internet connected devices.
MID (www.myinternetdesktop.com) is a virtual desktop that provides a wide range of Web-based applications such as the iWriter, iMail, Web Bookmarks, Contact Manager, Calendar, 100MB Virtual Hard Drive and more -- all free to registered MID users. MyInternetDesktop.com, founded in 1999, will continue to operate from its base in southern California. Marcelo Lewin, founder and CEO of MyInternetDesktop.com, will become an IAN VP and GM in charge of IAN's MID product and service offering. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The announcement comes on the heels of Internet Appliance Network's launch last week with Virgin Entertainment Group of its first branded Internet appliance - the Webplayer by Virginconnect. IAN and Virgin are providing new Internet devices to 10,000 applicants who qualify at www.virginconnectme.com.
"We've taken the next step towards the future of pervasive computing," said IAN President Audrey Parma. "Users of future IAN appliances will be able to reap the benefits of MID virtual desktop applications from many different types of Internet appliances, putting IAN one step closer to universal Web accessibility.
"The MID acquisition provides extended functionality for our appliances and will help strengthen the relationship between our brand partners and their customers," continued Ms. Parma. "MID also provides greater targeting opportunities for our commerce and advertising offerings."
"This is a major strategic win for MID," said Mr. Lewin, CEO of MyInternetDesktop.com. "Partnering with IAN helps us significantly increase our user base, as well as gaining a visionary partner who is a leader in this space. MyInternetDesktop.com will provide all future IAN devices with the MID OS and Web-based applications giving users access to their data any time, anywhere and from any device."
MID will continue to develop and license its OS and Web-based applications to private label brands and will release its simple yet powerful API beginning third quarter 2000. MyInternetDesktop.com runs on any computing platform or appliance with Internet access, and will soon be compatible with the most popular cell phones and PDAs available.
Future applications planned for MyInternetDesktop.com users include presentation / slide show creation, instant messenger, time card management, expense reports, databases, and photo albums, among others. MyInternetDesktop.com is an open system, which gives anyone the ability to create their own web-based applications to be shared among friends, family, co-workers or the entire MyInternetDesktop.com community.
MID is compatible with Macintosh-, Windows-, Linux-, QNX- and Unix-based desktop, notebook and handheld computers using Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.02 and above, Netscape Navigator 3.04 and above, AOL 4.0 and above, Opera: 3.6 and higher. MyInternetDesktop.com also supports non-PC Internet appliances such as WebTV New Classic and Plus, Espial 4.0, and current and future devices being developed by IAN.
Industry predictions estimate that sales of information appliances will reach the 300 million mark worldwide over the next five years, outpacing PC sales, according to market research firm ETForecasts. IDC similarly forecasts that U.S. shipments of consumer information appliances will outnumber those of consumer PCs by 2002, and predicts that by 2004, the worldwide market for information appliances will have a value of approximately $17.8 billion.
For more information on MyInternetDesktop.com, visit their web site
at http://www.MyInternetDesktop.com.
CONTACTS:
Marcelo Lewin
MyInternetDesktop.com
(626) 914 - 4190
Marcelo@MyInternetDesktop.com
David Murrow, Corporate Communications
Internet Appliance Network
(212) 633 - 8200
Dmurrow@internetappliance.net
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