16/06-03   -   Pressemeddelelse

Yahoo! Announces Major Agreement with BT to Deliver Innovative Co-Branded Broadband Service in UK

Companies also join forces to create narrowband product and compelling communication services using Yahoo! Mail and Messenger platforms


Sunnyvale, Calif. and London, U.K. (June 16, 2003) –Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO) and British Telecommunications plc have announced a far-reaching alliance to deliver a powerful new Internet experience to consumers in the United Kingdom. Through the agreement, BT Openworld broadband and narrowband ISP customers will receive access bundled with an exciting and exclusive Internet experience, featuring a co-branded browser and user environment and a range of compelling products and features. The companies also announced their intention to develop innovative communication services utilizing Yahoo! Messenger. Additionally, the companies plan significant developments to BT’s email offerings using the award-winning Yahoo! Mail platform.

“We believe that the powerful combination of Yahoo!’s world-renowned brand and BT’s leading market position can help drive increased DSL adoption in the United Kingdom," said Terry Semel, chairman and CEO, Yahoo! Inc. “With this announcement, Yahoo! is the first Internet brand to have entered into this kind of deep access and programming alliance in the three largest broadband regions, Europe, Asia and North America. Through our global network, Yahoo! serves the largest broadband audience in the world and we are committed to providing the best broadband user experience anywhere."

Pierre Danon, CEO of BT Retail, said: “I firmly believe BT and Yahoo! will offer a vastly superior customer experience compared to any Internet rivals and that we can attract more new subscribers by offering customers the best internet experience that money can buy. For customers to get the most of the Internet, several factors are crucial. Access must be safe and fast, use must be personalized and flexible, and content must be compelling. By joining with Yahoo! we can satisfy all of these criteria, as well as providing customers with support from two world class organizations. Both organizations share a common aim – to deliver the best possible online experience. Joining forces will allow us to achieve this, but also makes great business sense by strengthening both of our market leading positions."

The first product to be developed through the partnership will be a comprehensive broadband service. Designed from the ground up for broadband customers, BT Yahoo! Broadband will offer an array of new and exciting applications, not available elsewhere, in the first truly integrated service of its kind in Europe. With a customized browser, a personalized homepage, and a host of other broadband services, including streaming news and entertainment, BT Yahoo! Broadband will offer consumers in the UK an unrivalled Internet experience. BT Yahoo! Broadband is expected to launch to new customers later this year, and existing BT Openworld broadband customers will be able to migrate to the new service thereafter. Additionally, a version for narrowband customers is expected to be available in the coming months. Yahoo! and BT expect to embark on a significant, coordinated joint marketing effort to support the suite of integrated products.

Today’s announcement follows a limited commercial arrangement by the companies in February this year, for the co-promotion of Yahoo! premium services and BT Broadband.

About Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is a leading provider of comprehensive online products and services to consumers and businesses worldwide. Yahoo! is the No. 1 Internet brand globally and the most trafficked Internet destination worldwide. Headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Yahoo!’s global network includes 25 World properties and is available in 13 languages.

About BT Openworld
BT Openworld, BT’s mass market Internet division, is one of the UK’s leading Internet service providers. It delivers broadband and narrowband services to more than 1.7 million business and consumer customers in the UK through www.btopenworld.com.
The company offers a wide range of Internet access packages and payment options. Broadband packages include: BT Openworld Home 500 Plug & Go and Business 500 Plug & Go - self-install broadband products. Other products cover a choice of download speeds, from up to 500kbps, to up to 2Mbps, single or multi-user set-ups for PC or Mac, and static or dynamic IP addresses. BT Openworld also provides broadband over satellite for business users. Narrowband products include: BT Openworld Anytime, BT Openworld Surftime, BT Openworld Connect Anytime - designed specifically for business customers, and Pay-as-you-go services.

BT Openworld also provides additional value-added services to business users, such as Wireless LAN, Teleworker and Web Design solutions. BT Openworld is developing a range of applications and services available to its own customers and those of other ISPs. Last year BT Openworld launched five sites aimed at computer gamers, music fans, classical music lovers, sports and betting enthusiasts and keen travellers: www.gamesdomain.co.uk, www.dotmusic.com, www.btopenworld.com/classical, www.btopenworld.com/sport and www.btopenworld.com/travelclub. These provide a mix of free and subscription based services.