Just in time for the holiday shopping season, Packard Bell NEC Inc. has chosen EarthLink Network Inc. as its preferred
Internet service provider.
EarthLink will be prominently featured on every Packard Bell and NEC
computer distributed in the U.S. Packard Bell will offer a $100 rebate to
new PC owners who sign up for
EarthLink service between Oct. 15 and Jan. 15, 1999. All Packard Bell and
NEC Ready desktop models are eligible for the rebate. EarthLink will also
waive the $25 setup fee for all Packard Bell customers and provide a 15 day
trial period.
EarthLink will also customize a
co-branded personal start page for each Packard Bell
customer signing up for the EarthLink Sprint Internet access service.
The marketing deal will be promoted in print advertising and
point-of-purchase displays at retailers including CompUSA,
Circuit City, Staples and Sears. Financial terms of the arrangement were
not disclosed.
Today’s announcement is the latest in a series of marketing alliances
computer makers and ISPs have made recently, including several other deals
P-B and NEC have made with other ISPs.
“Securing these types of default positions with leading brand-name computer
manufacturers such as Packard Bell NEC allows us
to gain share among the high percentage of consumers who are buying new
computers specifically to get on the Internet,” said
Garry Betty, president and CEO of EarthLink.
“EarthLink is the preferred
ISP on all Packard Bell and NEC Ready desktop
computers distributed during the holiday season rush, and for us, the
opportunity is significant,” Betty said.