Desktop News Launches Version 2.0

For Immediate Release:   
February 1, 2000

Contact:
Carolyn Bingham (212) 584-4920
cbingham@desktopnews.com
Kathleen Drohan (212) 584-4922
Kdrohan@desktopnews.com

Desktop News Launches v2.0 Web Broadcast Platform and News Ticker

Platforms Attractiveness to Web Publishers Means Virtually Unlimited Content Choices for Users

NEW YORK -- Desktop News Corporation, developer and marketer of the premier free Web news ticker, today announces the release of Desktop News v2.0, an enhanced version of the companys open Web broadcast platform, including a component-based redesign of the ticker client application. Desktop News scalable, distributed broadcast model is unique in that it is completely free to both end users and content providers. Users customize the unobtrusive ticker toolbar to enable one-click access to favorite Web sites and continuous, direct to the desktop news delivery of desired news and information from a virtually unlimited number of content channels. In v2.0, channel administration has been simplified, allowing even non-technical Web site publishers to easily establish and manage their own channels. With the opportunity to broadcast content on the Desktop News platform open to any Web site, Desktop News users are not limited to receiving content from a single source or from a preordained ‘exclusive provider in a category.

Because the customizable, low-bandwidth Desktop News Ticker is always active on the desktop, broadcast enables a Web publisher to reach users any time, whether or not they are online or working in other applications, thus driving new and additional traffic back to the publishers own Web site. Says Paul Fusco, Desktop News Corporation CEO/President, With the launch of version 2.0, we have made it incredibly easy for any site to broadcast, and build their Web audience and traffic levels. In fact, it takes just minutes to set up a channel and create headlines. By making it this easy, and free, we are rapidly attracting new content partners, which makes our ticker that much more valuable for all users. Users have their pick of content from our growing channel menu, with a range and depth of content that mirrors that of the Web itself. No other Web content delivery vehicle can offer the flexibility of Desktop News."

Desktop News open content delivery model does not require users to divulge personal information to download the free client application or initiate free subscription to content. In v2.0, Desktop News has streamlined its registration process, making the provision of such personal contact and demographic information completely optional. The latest version also provides simplified access to customization options to allow users to easily integrate the ticker within a personal desktop environment. New features include a toolbar button that opens a Web search in a single mouse click, more control over content update frequency and ticker display settings, and proxy server support for communication through network firewalls. Adding channels requires just a mouse click in the dropdown menu in the ticker, or the point & click listings at the Desktop News Web site or at partner sites. A click on a scrolling headline in the ticker toolbar launches associated content – news, announcements, stock prices, database records, audio files, etc. – from the publishing sources own Web site.

About Desktop News:
The Desktop News open Web broadcast platform, including the industrys first low-profile news ticker, was introduced in 1997. Desktop News Corporation markets branding opportunities for Desktop News Ticker components and the ticker toolbar itself, as well as ticker advertising, ecommerce and channel promotion opportunities. The Desktop News platform can also be licensed for information management and distribution over corporate networks/intranets. Desktop News partners enjoy free access to online support systems and tools, enabling the creation and management of public or private channels and headlines with minimal administrative effort or technical expertise. Information on becoming a Content Partner is available from the Desktop News Web site at www.desktopnews.com. The Desktop News Ticker, also available free for download from the Desktop News Web site and from partner sites, provides users with powerful functionality while minimizing consumption of screen, CPU, and bandwidth resources.

Technical Notes:
Desktop News open broadcast platform utilizes CDF, an industry standard file format for delivering subscription-based content over the Web. The Desktop News Ticker runs on Windows 95 or 98 and Windows NT, and works with any standard Web browser. Client download size is under 1 MB, and the application is 1 to 2MB installed, including headline content. Content updates will utilize approximately 56K/hour. Bandwidth requirements will vary from user to user, depending upon subscribed channels and individual update frequency settings.