FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 5, 1996--UUNET Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: UUNT), the first commercial Internet service provider and a leading supplier of Internet services for business, and TN Technologies, the digital and interactive marketing company of True North Communications, today announced that the two companies have formed an alliance to provide Internet-based digital marketing services.
With this announcement, TN Technologies will be able to provide its clients with a full range of digital marketing services, including Web site design, deployment, maintenance and analysis and on-line programming. In addition, the alliance will enable all True North agencies to execute the on-line creation of content across geographically-dispersed agency and client locations. The two companies will also work together to jointly develop products and services that will be delivered by TN Technologies.
This announcement marks the first strategic alliance between a leading advertising and marketing agency and a major Internet Service Provider. True North Communications is one of the world's largest global communications companies, whose brands include Foote, Cone & Belding, America's largest agency in billings. TN Technologies is the largest interactive marketing subsidiary of a top 20 advertising agency, according to Ad Age, and is a global leader in the creation and production of all forms of digital content. By selecting UUNET as its world-wide Internet services provider, TN Technologies is taking a major step forward in providing innovative digital marketing solutions for its clients. In addition to collaborating to offer industry-leading Web site creation and management services, the two companies will jointly develop new technologies.
Web sites developed by True North for their clients will be hosted by UUNET. Servers are operated at UUNET's facilities and are directly connected to UUNET's high-speed Internet backbone. This provides a level of performance and reliability that would be difficult or impossible for companies to achieve with an in-house solution. The result is that browsing a clients' site will be a more pleasing experience.
"TN Technologies is committed to being a dominant force in the digital and interactive marketing industry," said Greg Blaine, Chairman of TN Technologies, Inc. "In order to meet this objective, it was clear that we would have to create a strong alliance with an Internet Service Provider. After an exhaustive search, we concluded that UUNET offered a unique combination of industry-leading network infrastructure, sophisticated value-added technology services, a global presence, and a focus on business-to-business relationships. By collaborating with UUNET, we can now offer our clients a wide range of industry-leading services in a variety of areas. While we will be focusing on Web-based marketing services initially, this alliance will help TN Technologies create a new family of digital services."
"TN Technologies and UUNET are teaming to take a leadership role in the burgeoning digital and Internet marketing industry," said Dave Foster, Vice President, Business Development at UUNET. "Together, we will be uniquely positioned to help corporations take advantage of the opportunities for marketing, advertising and commerce on the Internet. With the sophisticated technical services that UUNET can provide, TN Technologies will be able to offer its clients the breakthrough marketing services that will help make the Internet a mainstream sales and marketing tool."
About TN Technologies
TN Technologies offers a broad range of digital and interactive marketing services. The company has created over 40 Web sites, interactive on-line programming such as Levi's Original Stores' touch-screen kiosks, interactive games and toys, and CD-ROMs. The company opened seven new offices in 1995 in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Miami, Toronto and Hong Kong.
True North Communications Inc. (NYSE: TNO) ranks as the 7th largest global communications company, with operations in 60 countries, and billings totaling $7.5 billion. The Company's agency brands include Foote, Cone & Belding; Publicis-FCB, its European joint venture with Publicis Communication; Mojo; Borders, Perrin & Norrander, as well as many other related communications companies.
About UUNET Technologies
Headquartered in Fairfax, Va., UUNET Technologies, Inc. is a leading worldwide provider of a comprehensive range of Internet access options, applications, World Wide Web hosting services, security products and consulting services to businesses, professionals, and on-line service providers. The company's network is comprised of Points of Presence (POPs) throughout the United States and in Canada, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, as well as connections to Internet service providers around the world. Founded in 1987, UUNET is recognized as the first commercial Internet service provider.
UUNET's network infrastructure allows local Internet access to users in 745 cities, 451 of them outside the U.S. On April 29, 1996, UUNET entered into an agreement to merge with MFS Communications Company, Inc., (NASDAQ: MFST), a leading provider of communications services for business and government. UUNET's World Wide Web address is http://www.uu.net.
CONTACT: UUNET
Paula L. Jagemann, 703/206-5960
News Media & Investor Relations
investor-relations@uu.net
or
True North Communications Inc.
Owen Dougherty, 312/751-7789
or
Bairey/Merritt Communications
Ben Merritt, 703/757-0282
ben@benmerritt.com
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