WDIG Sites Extend Acquisition Programs Via AvantGo

Walt Disney Internet Group Sites Extend Acquisition Programs Via the AvantGo Mobile Internet Service

AvantGo Hosts ESPN.com and ABCNEWS.com Media Channels

Walt Disney Internet Group and AvantGo Inc., the leading provider of mobile infrastructure software and services, have reached an agreement by which WDIG services will extend its customer acquisition programs and generate additional brand awareness via the AvantGo mobile Internet service.

Developed on the award-winning AvantGo 4.0 software infrastructure, the AvantGo mobile Internet service is a customer-facing, public service that enables mobile device users to access information wirelessly in real-time and offline via desktop synchronization. Mobile device and Internet-enabled phone users can now receive comprehensive, award winning content from WDIG services -- ABCNEWS.com and ESPN.com -- beginning today.

As part of the agreement, Walt Disney Internet Group provides the following channels on the AvantGo service:

• ABCNEWS.com -- news headlines and summary, while giving users the option to read full stories from ABCNEWS.com; and
• ESPN.com -- up-to-the-minute headlines from around sports.

"We see the AvantGo service as an ideal way to extend our existing customer acquisition programs and generate additional brand awareness," said Larry Shapiro, executive vice president, corporate development, Walt Disney Internet Group. "With our vast portfolio of services, we are able to provide AvantGo service users with all the information they need to stay tuned in while on the go."

Mike Aufricht, general manager of the AvantGo Mobile Marketing and Commerce division, added: "We are delighted to be hosting an AvantGo Media Channel for the Walt Disney Internet Group, providing WDIG with a mobile solution that allows it to reach a wider variety of customers at more times, in more places."

-- Posted June 20, 2001

Source: Company Release