The Interactive
Services Association, based in Silver Spring, MD, is the preeminent
trade association representing businesses involved in delivering interactive
services to consumers. In addition to all of the major consumer online companies
and many leading Internet businesses, its members include companies developing
products and services for the interactive television, interactive telephone
and screen telephone platforms. Since it was founded in 1981, the more-than-350-member association has played a leading role in the development of the online medium. In November 1994, it brought together seven major online services and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to produce "Child Safety on the Information Highway," a first-of-its-kind brochure designed to help parents ensure that their children have a positive experience online. The association is frequently called on to represent the industry before Congress and regulatory agencies.
The National Consumers
League--America's pioneer consumer advocacy organization--has represented
consumers and workers since 1899. An action -oriented organization working
for better quality of life for all Americans, NCL is a private, nonprofit
membership organization. It is governed by a Board of Directors with diverse
experience in consumer protection and advocacy, law, business, and labor.Founded in an era when child labor, sweatshops, starvation wages and the 6 and a half day work week were commonplace, the League mobilized citizens to fight for equity in the marketplace and workplace. The League began its work by investigating factories and issuing a consumer label certifying products made under safe and healthful conditions.
America
Online, Inc., (AOL), (NASDAQ symbol: AMER), based in Vienna, Va.,
is the largest and fastest growing provider of online services in the world
with more than 8 million subscribers. AOL offers its subscribers a wide
variety of services including electronic mail, conferencing, software, computing
support, interactive magazines and newspapers and online classes, as well
as easy and affordable access to services of the Internet. AOL has a global
workforce of more than 4,000 people. Founded in 1985, AOL has established
strategic alliances with dozens of companies, including Capital Cities/ABC,
Viacom, Bertelsmann, Hachette, IBM, Compaq and American Express. Personal
computer owners can obtain America Online software at major retailers and
bookstores, or by calling 800-827-6364.
AT&T is a $50-billion global
company that provides its 90 million consumer, business and government customers
a full menu of communications and information services -- anytime, anywhere.
These services include long-distance, local and wireless calling, credit
cards, access to home entertainment, online services, consulting and electronic
commerce. The company operates the world's largest and most advanced long-distance
network. AT&T chose the Internet as the foundation for its electronic
commerce services and provides customers with a variety of open standards-based
services, including AT&T WorldNet brand Internet and intranet services,
AT&T WorldNet BusinessReach, AT&T Toll-Free Internet Directory,
AT&T EasyCommerce Services, AT&T Easy World Wide Web, AT&T Enhanced
Web Development Package, AT&T EasyLink® and AT&T MultiQuest
Services.
CompuServe®
Incorporated- Founded in 1969, CompuServe provides the worlds most
comprehensive online services, business network and Internet access. More
than 5 million home and business users in over 185 countries access the
Internet and 3,000-plus online information, education and entertainment
services and products through the flagship CompuServe Information Service
(http://www.compuserve.com), the
first online information service when launched in 1979; and SPRYNET from
CompuServe (http://www.spry.com), launched
in February 1996 as a value-added, Internet-only access service. In addition,
CompuServe Network Services, established in 1982, provides more than 1,000
corporate customers worldwide with frame relay, remote LAN access, X.25
packet services, IBM connectivity services, private replication for Lotus
Notes users, and complete Internet/intranet services. The CompuServe-owned
network serves as the worlds mailbox and check-out lane, hosting millions
of e-mail messages per month and more than one billion point-of-sale transactions
per year. With world headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, CompuServes offices
include European centers in Munich, London and Paris.
MSN, The Microsoft
Network is one of the world's leading Internet service providers,
offering integrated Internet access including an e-mail account, full World
Wide Web access (where available) with seamlessly integrated links to popular
Web sites, and thousands of Internet newsgroups. MSN also offers hundreds
of special-interest bulletin boards and unique multimedia content such as
encyclopedias, dictionaries, home-repair titles, car-buying guides, and
up-to-date news and information from the service's news package, MSN News.
MSN has content relationships with numerous companies such as NBC, Paramount,
USA Today, United Airlines, Starwave Corp., Dun and Bradstreet, and Individual
Inc. The Microsoft Network is available in 50 countries and access software
is localized into 26 languanges. Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT")
is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company
offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use,
each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for
people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
NETCOM On-Line
Communication Services NETCOM On-Line Communication Services, Inc.
is an international Internet service provider. The Company's core business
includes providing dial-up accounts at 28.8Kbps for individuals and high-speed
dedicated connections up to T1 for businesses. A public company since December
1994, NETCOM has experienced substantial growth by aggressively building
a coast to coast network, providing an easy-to-use software platform with
NetCruiser, and expanding its distribution channels. Since NETCOM operates
its own network employing TCP/IP, the backbone technology of the Internet,
both business and individual subscribers benefit from a stable, reliable
network at low prices.
Prodigy Services
Company, a partnership of IBM and Sears, is creator and distributor
of Prodigy, the pioneering consumer online service that's been available
nationally since 1990. The company also funds promising Internet-based content
providers through its Wildflower Partners division, which debuted last December
with the purchase of an equity stake in SonicNet, the number one provider
of alternative music content on the World Wide Web. In addition to providing
complete access to the World Wide Web and Usenet Newsgroups, Prodigy offers
its members constantly updated, searchable news, weather, computing, sports
and financial information; interactive games; communication features such
as e-mail, bulletin boards and real-time chat; online shopping through major
retailers; downloadable file libraries; the industry's largest selection
of online banks; educational and reference materials; the industry's most
used online brokerage and travel reservation systems; and hundreds of other
offerings.
