ICQ #1 on CNet Downloads
America Online, Inc.'s ICQ and Winamp rank #1 and 2 on C-NET list of most downloaded products for 1999 ICQ, Instant Messaging Leader, Outpaces Rest of Top 10 Combined In Coveted Measure of Hottest Applications Netscape Navigator, at #8, Makes AOL Only Company With Three Products in Top Ten
DULLES, VA, JANUARY 7 -- ICQ and Winamp, both interactive media properties of America Online, Inc. (NYSE:AOL), took the top two positions in CNET's annual ranking of the Top 10 Downloads for 1999, a coveted measure of the hottest applications available in cyberspace. Holding down the number eight position was yet another AOL product, Netscape Communicator, making AOL the only company with three products in the CNET Top Ten.
CNET indicated that the software for ICQ, the world's largest online communications community, was downloaded more than 52 million times, more frequently than the rest of the top ten combined. CNET praised the fact that "despite its immense popularity, ICQ hasn't rested on its laurels during the past year" but had added exciting new features such as ICQ Active Lists, which let users create and join communities of shared interests, and ICQ Surf, which allows users to others surfing the same Web pages.
CNET noted that Winamp, the world's leading high-fidelity audio player for digitally downloaded music, was "the player of choice among devoted MP3 heads," downloaded nearly 10 million times in 1999. Winamp, acquired by AOL last year, and ICQ are both part of AOL's Interactive Properties Group.
The Netscape Communicator, a product of AOL's Netscape Communications unit, was downloaded more than 2.2 million times last year and drew praise from CNET for its convenient Smart Browsing, Netscape Radio Service and Shopping Toolbar features. Netscape Communicator launched its new 4.7 version in September of last year.
Ted Leonsis, President of the AOL Interactive Properties Group, said, "There's no better barometer of 'the next big thing' online than what's being downloaded, and there's no question that ICQ and Winamp fit that bill. ICQ's spectacular growth past the 50 million registered user mark last year is a tribute to the power of viral marketing, as users share the power and immediacy of the ICQ experience with others and encourage them to get on the service. Winamp is the hottest and most feature-rich player in another 'tornado app,' downloaded music. Together, ICQ and Winamp are keeping America Online, Inc. on the cutting edge of the development of the interactive medium as a truly central part of people's lives."
About ICQ
Created in 1996 by the Israel-based company, Mirabilis, and acquired by America Online, Inc. in June 1998, ICQ is the world's largest communications community with more than 50 million registrants worldwide. The ICQ service is a communications portal built around the ability to seek and communicate with your friends, family and colleagues online. ICQ, whose unique and free software is available for download at www.icq.com, is part of the AOL Interactive Properties Group.
About AOL's Nullsoft Winamp
Launched in January 1998, Winamp is the world's leading high-fidelity audio player, giving millions the ability to listen to digitally downloaded music. Winamp supports MP3, CD, Audiosoft, Mjuice, MOD, WAV and other audio formats, custom appearances called skins and audio visualization and audio effect plug-ins. The Winamp (www.winamp.com) and SHOUTcast (www.shoutcast.com) brands and services were acquired by America Online, Inc. in May 1999, and merged with Spinner.com. All three brands reside in San Francisco's Audio Alley and are an integral part of AOL's Interactive Properties Group.
About Netscape Communicator
Netscape Communicator ® 4.7, the latest version of its award-winning Internet browser and email software, is now available for download free or on a CD via Netscape Netcenter. Netscape Communicator 4.7 enhances the consumer online experience by offering an integrated Shop@Netscape button designed to give users fast, easy one-click access to the leading consumer shopping destination in cyberspace. Communicator 4.7 also makes it faster and easier for consumers to search the Internet by simply entering new Internet Keywords such as "shop" into the Navigator browser location bar. The new browser offers next-generation music and multimedia features such as Netscape Radio, which rebroadcasts Spinner content, Winamp 2.5 and Flash Player 4.0, taking online music to the next level of accessibility.
About America Online, Inc.
Founded in 1985, America Online, Inc., based in Dulles, Virginia, is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies, and e-commerce services. America Online, Inc. operates: two worldwide Internet services, America Online, with more than 20 million members, and CompuServe, with more than 2 million members; several leading Internet brands including ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger and Digital City, Inc.; the Netscape Netcenter and AOL.COM portals; the Netscape Navigator and Communicator browsers; and AOL MovieFone, the nation's largest movie listing guide and ticketing service. Through its strategic alliance with Sun Microsystems, the Company develops and offers easy-to-deploy, end-to-end e-commerce and enterprise solutions for companies operating in the Net Economy.
DULLES, VA, JANUARY 7 -- ICQ and Winamp, both interactive media properties of America Online, Inc. (NYSE:AOL), took the top two positions in CNET's annual ranking of the Top 10 Downloads for 1999, a coveted measure of the hottest applications available in cyberspace. Holding down the number eight position was yet another AOL product, Netscape Communicator, making AOL the only company with three products in the CNET Top Ten.
CNET indicated that the software for ICQ, the world's largest online communications community, was downloaded more than 52 million times, more frequently than the rest of the top ten combined. CNET praised the fact that "despite its immense popularity, ICQ hasn't rested on its laurels during the past year" but had added exciting new features such as ICQ Active Lists, which let users create and join communities of shared interests, and ICQ Surf, which allows users to others surfing the same Web pages.
CNET noted that Winamp, the world's leading high-fidelity audio player for digitally downloaded music, was "the player of choice among devoted MP3 heads," downloaded nearly 10 million times in 1999. Winamp, acquired by AOL last year, and ICQ are both part of AOL's Interactive Properties Group.
The Netscape Communicator, a product of AOL's Netscape Communications unit, was downloaded more than 2.2 million times last year and drew praise from CNET for its convenient Smart Browsing, Netscape Radio Service and Shopping Toolbar features. Netscape Communicator launched its new 4.7 version in September of last year.
Ted Leonsis, President of the AOL Interactive Properties Group, said, "There's no better barometer of 'the next big thing' online than what's being downloaded, and there's no question that ICQ and Winamp fit that bill. ICQ's spectacular growth past the 50 million registered user mark last year is a tribute to the power of viral marketing, as users share the power and immediacy of the ICQ experience with others and encourage them to get on the service. Winamp is the hottest and most feature-rich player in another 'tornado app,' downloaded music. Together, ICQ and Winamp are keeping America Online, Inc. on the cutting edge of the development of the interactive medium as a truly central part of people's lives."
About ICQ
Created in 1996 by the Israel-based company, Mirabilis, and acquired by America Online, Inc. in June 1998, ICQ is the world's largest communications community with more than 50 million registrants worldwide. The ICQ service is a communications portal built around the ability to seek and communicate with your friends, family and colleagues online. ICQ, whose unique and free software is available for download at www.icq.com, is part of the AOL Interactive Properties Group.
About AOL's Nullsoft Winamp
Launched in January 1998, Winamp is the world's leading high-fidelity audio player, giving millions the ability to listen to digitally downloaded music. Winamp supports MP3, CD, Audiosoft, Mjuice, MOD, WAV and other audio formats, custom appearances called skins and audio visualization and audio effect plug-ins. The Winamp (www.winamp.com) and SHOUTcast (www.shoutcast.com) brands and services were acquired by America Online, Inc. in May 1999, and merged with Spinner.com. All three brands reside in San Francisco's Audio Alley and are an integral part of AOL's Interactive Properties Group.
About Netscape Communicator
Netscape Communicator ® 4.7, the latest version of its award-winning Internet browser and email software, is now available for download free or on a CD via Netscape Netcenter. Netscape Communicator 4.7 enhances the consumer online experience by offering an integrated Shop@Netscape button designed to give users fast, easy one-click access to the leading consumer shopping destination in cyberspace. Communicator 4.7 also makes it faster and easier for consumers to search the Internet by simply entering new Internet Keywords such as "shop" into the Navigator browser location bar. The new browser offers next-generation music and multimedia features such as Netscape Radio, which rebroadcasts Spinner content, Winamp 2.5 and Flash Player 4.0, taking online music to the next level of accessibility.
About America Online, Inc.
Founded in 1985, America Online, Inc., based in Dulles, Virginia, is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies, and e-commerce services. America Online, Inc. operates: two worldwide Internet services, America Online, with more than 20 million members, and CompuServe, with more than 2 million members; several leading Internet brands including ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger and Digital City, Inc.; the Netscape Netcenter and AOL.COM portals; the Netscape Navigator and Communicator browsers; and AOL MovieFone, the nation's largest movie listing guide and ticketing service. Through its strategic alliance with Sun Microsystems, the Company develops and offers easy-to-deploy, end-to-end e-commerce and enterprise solutions for companies operating in the Net Economy.