Media giant Excite@Home Tuesday agreed
to a global alliance with IBM Corp. that will make Excite the default portal on IBM’s Aptiva PC line.
This deal gives Excite@Home (ATHM) important placement as the “Internet” button on IBM’s (IBM) new Rapid Access II Keyboard, a simple stroke the lets users have one-touch access to their favorite tools.
“Distribution continues to be key for the Excite portal and this
relationship extends that strategy to a new audience,” said Mark Stevens,
executive vice-president, corporate and business development, Excite@Home.
“IBM wants to give consumers the easiest solution possible for getting to,
and using, the Internet.”
After hitting the “Rapid Access Key,” users are taken to a joint IBM/Excite
site where they may personalize their own Excite page with personalized
stock quotes, news, sports scores or other information. They may also
access Excite’s free voice mail.