Press Release
February 20, 2002
G+J to Launch Desktop Messenger to Deliver Personalized Content through STERN Magazine Website and Other Online Properties
DENVER ¨C February 20, 2002 ¨C Jabber, Inc., a leading developer of software for extensible instant messaging (IM), whose investors include Webb Interactive Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: WEBB) and France Telecom (NYSE: FTE), today announced that Gruner + Jahr Electronic Media Service, an international printing and publishing company with majority ownership by Bertelsmann AG, has licensed the Jabber Communications Platform. Based in Germany, G + J publishes about 40 magazines, including STERN.
G + J¡äs initial launch of the Jabber desktop messaging application was on the www.Stern.de website in early February. The SternMessenger features a news ticker, MP3 player, and links to other websites run by the company.
"The Jabber platform is the perfect vehicle to allow us to deliver personalized content to our website visitors." said Stan Sugarman, Executive VP of Gruner and Jahr. "Offering IM is just one more way in which G + J leads the market in providing the latest multimedia and communication tools to our customers." G + J plans to introduce Jabber messaging applications to other online properties that they operate.
"G + J¡äs selection of Jabber demonstrates yet again why Jabber is the choice of service providers wanting control over their IM offering," emphasized Don Bergal, VP of Marketing at Jabber, Inc. "With Jabber¡äs open XML-based platform and enhanced instant messaging features, G + J is building a differentiated service for their customers that will give them access to the widest audience of IM service users anywhere."
About Jabber, Inc.
Jabber, Inc. is the developer of the world¡äs most widely used open platform for extensible Instant Messaging and presence management applications. An independently operated subsidiary of Webb Interactive Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: WEBB) with investment from France Telecom Technologies Investissements, Jabber, Inc. is a commercial software company that has its roots in the Jabber Open Source project. With over 60,000 servers deployed, Jabber has been adopted in the telecommunications, enterprise and software development markets. See www.jabber.com.
About Gruner + Jahr
Gruner + Jahr is an international printing and publishing corporation that produces more than 100 magazines and newspapers in 14 different countries. Gruner + Jahr is owned by Bertelsmann AG (74.9%) and the Jahr family (25.1%). For more information, see www.guj.de.
02-20-2002, 01:00 AM
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