CMP Launches ChannelWEB (http://www.channelweb.com), an Online Service for Resellers and Retailers

A Resource for Resellers and Retailers, ChannelWEB also Delivers Targeted Marketing for Advertisers and Vendors

PRNewswire
MANHASSET, N.Y.
May 19, 1997

Computer resellers and retailers who want one-stop vendor and industry information shopping should visit CMP Media Inc.'s ChannelWEB (http://www.channelweb.com/). Through the use of Intelligent Agent Profiling, ChannelWEB's online suite of interactive services delivers customized computer industry news, information and resources to resellers and retailers. Participating ChannelWEB vendors include Netscape (NASDAQ: NSCP), Mitsubishi Display Products and 3Com (NASDAQ: COMS). Just six months old, the service has already attracted more than 11,000 registered members, and Michael Tupanjanin, Director of Internet Strategy, CMP Channel Group, reports that more users are signing on each day.

"Our goal is to make ChannelWEB the reseller's first stop on the Web, and an advertiser's first buy in a media plan," Tupanjanin declared. "On one hand, ChannelWEB provides resellers with valuable tools and information. On the other hand, it offers advertisers opportunities for targeting qualified customers while they are engaged in the buying and selling process. For those business plans that call for selling hardware, software and networking products through the channel, ChannelWEB's targeted message delivery maximizes the ability to reach this audience."

Intelligent Agent Profiling -- a system that requires resellers to fill out a profile of their business during the ChannelWEB registering process -- is the technology that enables ChannelWEB advertisers to target only those customers who have a specific interest in their messages. For example, resellers who specify that they are Internet developers will automatically have ads from Internet solutions vendors featured in their rotation while they are online with ChannelWEB. Activity reports and usage statistics help advertisers gauge and maximize the effectiveness of their ads.

Following is a look at ChannelWEB's core features:

-- Business Centers - These vendor-sponsored business centers provide easy-to-use gateways to product information and channel support pages on participating vendor Web sites.

-- News Center - The ChannelWEB News Center utilizes Intelligent Agent Profiling technology to deliver customized news to resellers each time they log on to ChannelWEB.

-- Discussion Center - Here, resellers can get involved in threaded discussions about topics relevant to the high-tech retail and reseller

channel. Resellers can create their own content, and Business center Partners can interact with the channel in a more direct way than ever before.

-- Research Center - ChannelWEB's Research Center is an editorial search function for all CMP Channel publications -- Computer Reseller News, Computer Retail Week, VARBusiness -- archives. The Research Center also has a polling section that features questions covering topics of timely interest. Completed polls are available online for review.

-- Opportunity Center - Resellers can visit this business-to-business message board for job opportunities, advertisements, and other announcements.

-- International Center - The International Center connects resellers to international partnering opportunities which leverage CMP Channel licensees from countries around the world.

In addition to ChannelWEB's core features, the service will also carry many of the products and services formerly found on Computer Reseller News MAX CD-ROM. These include the Product Center, Software Center, Presentation Center, and Promotions Center. Resellers can access the Product and Software Centers to catch up on the latest products, software titles and software upgrades.

The Presentation Center houses tools and templates resellers can use to create customized sales presentations. The Promotions Center keeps resellers informed of channel vendors' current promotions.

"In carrying these elements over from MAX," Tupanjanin said, "We believe we've made ChannelWEB a value-added product that resellers will rely on to conduct their day-to-day business."

For information about ChannelWEB sponsorship opportunities and/or advertising rates, call Michael Duranko, National Sales Manager, CMP Channel Group, at 415-513-4354, or send an e-mail to mduranko@cmp.com.

Located in Jericho, NY, CMP's Channel Group publishes Computer Reseller News, Computer Retail Week, and VARBusiness.

The hallmark of CMP's Channel products are their integration across print and online mediums. VARBusiness (http://www.varbiz.com/), is a source of information for more than 105,000 VARs, integrators, software developers and consultants. Computer Retail Week has been delivering breaking news to retailers each week for the past seven years, and those stories can be viewed by visiting the CRWi home page (http://www.crw.com/). Computer Reseller News (http://www.crn.com/), reaches influential readers from Wall Street to Silicon Valley with the product trends and industry news needed to sell comprehensive technology solutions.

CMP Media Inc. provides publishing, marketing and information services to the broad high-technology spectrum -- the builders, sellers and users of technology -- through print and electronic media. All of CMP's publications and online products can be accessed through the company's TechWeb® site on the World Wide Web (http://www.techweb.com/).

-0- 05/19/97

SOURCE: CMP Media Inc.

CONTACT: Leslie Dunbar, 516-562-7040, or ldunbar(at)cmp.com, or Catherine
Jarrat Koatz, 516-562-7827 or ckoatz(at)cmp.com, both of CMP Media