Millions of Viewpoint Toolbar users will be given access to News, Weather, Horoscopes, Shopping, Search Information and Exclusive Skins at new website called The Viewpoint Exchange
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE via COLLEGIATE PRESSWIRE)--Oct 1, 2004--Viewpoint Corporation (NASDAQ: VWPT) - a leading provider of Internet graphics and delivery systems - will unveil a new consumer website at 8pm EST called the Viewpoint Exchange, providing support for its growing ranks of Viewpoint Toolbar users - now numbered at more than four million installed.* The Viewpoint Exchange, dubbed ''Your home away from your toolbar,'' allows consumers to personalize the site and provides access to the latest skins. The Viewpoint Exchange also serves as a new platform for in-page searching that will complement the functionality of their toolbars.
''We know our users love the advanced graphics they receive when searching and bookmarking through our toolbar,'' says Jay Amato, Viewpoint CEO and president. ''Many users have also asked us to provide a webpage from which they can search the Internet. They`ve told us they want a search webpage that isn`t cluttered like other search providers` pages but not `minimalist` like another popular search engine`s site. So we created a graphically pleasing location our toolbar users can call home, with elegant features that will help them search for news and information important to their everyday lives.''
The creation of the Viewpoint Exchange (www.viewpointsearch.com) is also part of an overall strategy by the Company to dedicate messaging on Viewpoint`s corporate site (www.viewpoint.com) primarily to its B-to-B businesses - the Viewpoint Platform, Creative Services and Creative Innovator, its ad serving and management system. The conversion of the corporate site will commence in mid-October.
At launch, the Viewpoint Exchange offers news from The New York Times, weather from The Weather Channel, Dictionary functionality, Viewpoint Search, Search categories, Horoscopes, and a Toolbar Skin Community with seven new toolbar skins that include animations and dynamic content functionality.
The new skins include an Astrology category providing skins for each sign of the Zodiac that deliver daily, weekly and monthly horoscopes directly into the toolbars, with alerts when new forecasts are ready for viewing.
''These skins take our technology to the next level,'' says Michael Salort, Viewpoint vice president for marketing and business development. ''By adding animation and dynamic content functionality, our users are starting to see how our toolbar can deliver content like text, images, 3D and video directly to them. And with the Viewpoint Exchange as our consumer platform, we can provide information and instructions for how to get the best from our technology and, in turn, the Internet.''
Viewpoint plans to continue adding functionality to the Exchange over time, with a beta Shopping site premiering on October 15th. The Company says Viewpoint Shopping will test the theory that consumers are looking for ways to browse top-tier retailers easily and quickly. Additionally, in the coming months, the Viewpoint Exchange will teach users how to create their own skins and post them on the site.
''The Viewpoint Exchange is one of the steps we`re taking to build a strong relationship with consumers,'' adds Mr. Amato. ''We value each and every one of our toolbar users and, with their feedback, we`re creating a complete search product that delivers an advanced experience at every level.''
(*) Acceptance rates (approx. 25%) and net revenue per installed toolbar per month (approx. $0.10) remained steady during the installation period.
About Viewpoint
The Viewpoint Platform is the technology behind some of the most innovative, visual experiences on the Web and on the desktop with leading clients such as America Online, General Electric, General Motors, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Lexus, Microsoft, Samsung, Scion, Sony and Toyota. Creative Innovator - the Company`s next-generation ad deployment and management system - and the Viewpoint Toolbar - the Vision for the Future of Search - are the latest breakthrough technologies using the full power of the Viewpoint Platform.
This press release may contain ''forward-looking'' statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar expressions that reflect Viewpoint`s current expectations about its future performance. These statements and expressions are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause Viewpoint`s actual performance to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these statements and expressions. Such risks, uncertainties and factors include those described in the Company`s filings and reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as the lack of assurances that Viewpoint will add functionality to the Exchange over time; that Viewpoint will add a beta Shopping site; that Viewpoint will add information to the Viewpoint Exchange that will educate users in the creation of toolbar skins.
Viewpoint, Viewpoint Exchange and Viewpoint Shopping are trademarks of Viewpoint Corporation. Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. Copyright 2004 Viewpoint Corporation. All rights reserved.
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