CompuServe Tuesday formed a custom solutions division to service specialty professional markets.
The new division’s mission is to develop and create co-branded customized
versions of its CompuServe 2000 service and to offer private label
Internet solutions for professional markets, businesses and trade
organizations.
Steve Owens, who assumes the title of managing director, will run
CompuServe’s custom solutions division. From its corporate base in
Columbus, Ohio, the business group will work to create custom end-to-end
Internet solutions for strategic partners.
CompuServe already provides such a service for airline personnel from
twenty major airlines. Beth Sibbring, CompuServe’s vice president of
commerce, will continue to manage CompuServe’s airline crew services
effort. For the past 10 years, the division has provided airline personnel
from twenty major airlines with CompuServe Internet access and support
communications.
“Custom Solutions will allow us to focus on an exciting new business
direction for CompuServe in addition to our core online service that will
drive significant new revenue streams, expand membership, and provide
additional exposure to the CompuServe brand,” said Audrey Weil, CompuServe’s
general manager.
“As the online service geared for the busy professional, CompuServe has the
unique ability to tailor its service to the specific needs of each of these
professional communities,” Owens said.
Owens added that CompuServe is “drawing upon this unique experience to
provide businesses and professional markets with a manageable Internet
experience, communications tools, news and research that professionals need
to be more productive on the job and to manage their lives overall.”
CompuServe’s Custom Solutions team plans to develop additional custom
environments for the accounting, human resources, insurance and medical
professions, as well as for large businesses.
“Partners also like our all new CompuServe 2000 for its faster speeds,
better e-mail and easy installation and registration. For the professional
user, reliability, global access and ease-of-use are at the core of what an
Internet service should be,” Owens said.
CompuServe, a subsidiary of America Online,
Inc., is a global ISP providing content and access for approximately 2
million worldwide members.
