April 11, 2001, 4:38 PM — IBM WILL BUNDLE access software for NetZero's Internet access services with new PCs sold through its Affinity program, the companies said.
The Affinity program allows employees or members of companies and institutions involved in it to purchase IBM PC products at special prices.
"IBM has been offering programs that make available IBM products, such as IBM ThinkPad notebooks and NetVista desktops, at special prices to interested businesses and institutions for about two years," Jennifer Kinsmann of IBM's personal computing division said.
NetZero, a Westlake Village, Calif.-based free and pay Internet access service provider, signed a two-year contract to provide IBM's Affinity programs with Internet access, according to NetZero in a news release.
IBM will primarily be utilizing NetZero's pay service. However, it will strive to establish partnerships through NetZero's free Internet service, Rene Lorenz, director of sales for IBM's personal computer division, said. Lorenz also noted that NetZero is one of the last Internet services to offer a free service.
Lorenz said Armonk, N.Y.-based IBM was looking to provide customers with as many Internet choices as possible.
"[The partnership with NetZero] allows us to offer more choices to our customers," Lorenz said. "NetZero provides a very high-quality service, at a reasonable price."
The NetZero Platinum service costs $9.95 per month. With NetZero Platinum the user will receive Internet access without the typical advertising banner that appears with the free service. The NetZero Platinum service was launched March 16, 2001 to NetZero's 8.4 million user base.
