3-D Chat Service

[Gerry Mckiernan]

   In researching chat services in Academic Universe / Lexis/Nexis, I learned about this most interesting development.

/Gerry McKiernan
3-D Librarian 
Iowa State University
Ames IA 50011

gerrymck at iastate.edu 


                            October 3, 2000

                            Activeworlds.com and Juno to Provide 3-D Chat Service
                            [ http://www.activeworlds.com/press/index.html]
                            Activeworlds.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AWLD, the leading Internet 3-D
                            technology supplier, has announced an agreement with Juno Online
                            Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: JWEB) to provide real-time 3-D chat to Juno's
                            millions of subscribers. Juno is the nation's third-largest provider of
                            dial-up Internet services, after AOL and EarthLink, with more than 3.38
                            million active subscribers. 

                            Under the terms of the agreement, Activeworlds.com will create a
                            co-branded three-dimensional Internet chat environment, which will be
                            featured on Juno's Web portal site, www.juno.com. Activeworlds.com
                            enables users to participate in 3-D chat, join topic-related clubs, and
                            build their own 3-D online shops and virtual homes. Users choose an
                            avatar, a 3-D representation of themselves that other people can see
                            while they are chatting, and the virtual worlds they create can be
                            interconnected with their existing home pages while allowing them to
                            share in a multi-user system of worlds. 

                            All Juno subscribers, whether they use Juno's free basic service or one of
                            the company's premium billable services, will be allowed to visit these
                            environments for free. Subscribers to Juno's premium services will also
                            receive free "citizenship" in Activeworlds.com, which will entitle them to
                            additional features and benefits in the 3-D environment. Users of Juno's
                            free basic service will be able to register to become Active Worlds
                            citizens for a fee; revenues from such fees and from advertisements
                            shown within the 3-D environment will shared between the two
                            companies. 

                            "We are proud to have a strategic partner like Juno," said J.P. McCormick,
                            chairman of Activeworlds.com. "Juno is an Internet access provider with
                            tremendous reach, and this alliance will complement our own growth
                            strategy. The revenue-sharing aspect of the agreement makes it a
                            win-win proposition for both companies." 

                            "We're excited to bring 3-D chat to our members, especially with a
                            partner such as Activeworlds.com, which offers an outstanding
                            combination of creativity and solid functionality," said Leelila Strogov,
                            Juno's senior vice president for business development. "This partnership
                            will complement our existing features while at the same time adding a
                            whole new dimension to the Juno experience." 

                            About Activeworlds.com, Inc. (http://www.activeworlds.com)

                            Activeworlds.com, Inc. is an information technology company dedicated
                            to providing ASP delivery systems for the 3D Internet. Its
                            communications enhancement technology uses techniques initially
                            developed for virtual reality environments for the Internet, whether it be
                            the website author or application provider. Activeworlds.com, Inc.
                            currently has a worldwide user base of over 1,000,000 users on the
                            Universe server it operates, which receives over 1 million impressions per
                            day. Companies such as Boeing, NASA, Philips Multimedia, the US
                            Government, and many more are currently using Active Worlds(TM)
                            technology. 

                            About Juno (http://www.juno.com)

                            Juno Online Services, Inc. is a leading provider of Internet access to
                            millions of computer users throughout the United States. Founded in
                            1996, the company provides multiple levels of service, including free
                            basic Internet access, billable premium dial-up service, and (in certain
                            markets) high-speed broadband access. Juno's revenues are derived
                            primarily from the subscription fees charged for its billable premium
                            services, from the sale of advertising, and from various forms of
                            electronic commerce. 

                            Based on its total of 3.38 million active subscribers during the month of
                            June 2000, Juno is currently the nation's third-largest provider of dial-up
                            Internet services, after AOL and EarthLink. As of June 30, 2000, Juno had
                            more than 11 million total registered subscriber accounts. For more
                            information about Juno, visit www.juno.com/corp. To get a free copy of
                            the Juno software, go to www.juno.com or call (800) TRY-JUNO.