First Internet Navigation Service to Offer Breadth of Sites in Multiple Languages
SANTA CLARA, CALIF., USA (October 10, 1996) -- Finding information on the Internet is now easy for non-English speaking Internet users. Infoseek Corporation today launched versions of its award-winning search and navigation services in French, German, Japanese and Spanish. With the introduction of these sites, Infoseek is the first Internet navigation company to offer a breadth of sites in multiple languages. Infoseek also announced it has established advertising sales partnerships throughout Europe and in Japan and Israel, and will begin offering regionally targeted advertising.
"The Internet is a worldwide phenomenon, and now, users and advertisers outside the U.S. can benefit from the Web's leading Internet navigation service in a variety of languages," said Robin Johnson, president and CEO of Infoseek. "More than 10 percent of our users today come from outside the U.S., and that number grows daily. We expect our advertiser relationships to expand quickly, too."
Infoseek's introduction of language-specific services reflects the company's recognition of the tremendous opportunity beyond U.S. borders. The French, German and Spanish services can be accessed immediately through Infoseek's Web site (http://www.infoseek.com/). The Japanese service can be accessed at http://japan.infoseek.com/. All the sites feature localized help and navigation services. The Japanese site also includes a customized Japanese directory and search engine as well as Japanese news and reference material. Infoseek plans to add additional services in the near future as well as other languages based on demand.
"The amount of information in languages other than English continues to surge," said Johnson. "Our role is to provide users with easy to use, localized tools to help sift the Internet for the content they care about and to provide our advertisers with local target audiences."
Advertising Targeted by Language
Today's announcement is aimed at extending Infoseek's leadership in Internet advertising sales by establishing strategic partnerships with advertising representative firms in eight European countries and Israel. Infoseek representatives in each country will sell advertising on each language-specific site. Additionally, Infoseek has established a strategic development, marketing and advertising sales agreement in Japan with Digital Garage Inc. Digital Garage Inc. will maintain the Japanese section of the site and be responsible for marketing and sales in Japan. Infoseek's U.S. sales force also will sell ad availability to U.S. advertisers who want to reach non-English speaking customers.
"The ability to target our advertising based on the language people select is extremely valuable to advertisers inside and outside the U.S.," said Karl Spangenberg, Infoseek's vice president of Worldwide Advertising. "The regional representatives we have established are aimed extending Infoseek's leadership and expertise in Internet advertising sales worldwide."
About Infoseek
Based in Santa Clara, Calif., USA, Infoseek Corporation (NASDAQ:SEEK) provides a leading, free Internet navigation service. It remains one of the most frequently visited sites on the Internet because Infoseek's easy-to-use product allows new and experienced users to efficiently find the information they need on the World Wide Web, Usenet groups, company directories and from major news sources. Infoseek's search technology has won numerous industry awards for its precise, relevant responses. Awards include "Number One Rated Search Engine" (PC Computing), "Best of the Test" (Internet World), "MVP Internet Tools" (PC Computing), "Top 100: Editors' Choice" (Home PC) and "Top Rated Search Engine (Family PC). Infoseek also offers the world's largest directory of World Wide Web sites organized by topics. The company's World Wide Web site and award-winning Internet navigational services can be accessed at http://www.infoseek.com/.
Infoseek, Infoseek Ultra, Infoseek Guide, Infoseek Your News, Quickseek and the Infoseek logo are trademarks of Infoseek Corporation, which may be registered in certain jurisdictions.