British Telecommunications PLC
7 March 2000
BT AND LOOKSMART ANNOUNCE NEW INTERNET AGREEMENTS AROUND THE
WORLD
UK joins global Internet deal
BT and LookSmart - a leading US-based on-line navigation
company - today announced that their global Internet joint
venture has signed a number of major distribution agreements
and is extending its coverage to the UK.
The joint venture, called BT LookSmart, was set up last
November to create and distribute Internet portal services
throughout continental Europe and Asia. The venture will now
also operate in the UK.
Since its formation, BT LookSmart has signed a number
of syndication deals in the UK. These include: Tesco Net, a
free ISP from the UK's leading grocery retailer; Channel 4
Television, to develop a vertical lifestyle portal; BEME, a
new women's site; and Zoom, a popular ISP and shopping
portal. All these deals are announced for the first time
today.
In addition, BT LookSmart today also announced that a
number of BT's global alliance partners will use the new
venture's services for their own ISPs. Clear (New Zealand),
Mantra (India), Maxis (Malaysia), Infinito (Italy) and Ocean
(Ireland) will now offer their customers country-specific
web navigation and content to millions of Internet users.
As well as offering the business market syndicated web
directories and content services through ISPs and other
partners, BT LookSmart will provide Internet communications
and e-commerce services to consumers directly through its
own web sites.
The venture will leverage LookSmart's strength in the
field of search infrastructure, which enables it to build
country specific Internet search solutions throughout Europe
and Asia. The joint venture draws on the core assets and
established expertise of both LookSmart and BT.
Evan Thornley, chief executive officer of LookSmart,
said: 'The BT LookSmart joint venture is a key part of our
strategy to aggressively leverage and expand our successful
US search infrastructure business model into international
markets. We are delighted that the joint venture will now
provide coverage of the United Kingdom and its alliance
partners. With BT's strong worldwide Internet presence based
on its own ISP and significant interests, this arrangement
adds extensive reach to our rapidly growing distribution
network.'
Vernon Irvin, senior vice president of BT Worldwide,
said: 'It is very exciting to be able to hit the ground
running so quickly.
'The addition of the UK further endorses and enhances
the power of our venture as well as building on our strategy
to become the leading consumer Internet service provider and
portal. By combining BT's global Internet strengths with
LookSmart's leadership in search and navigation solutions,
we have established a very powerful partnership.'
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