Press Release Summary = India Becomes First Country to Offer AOL's Next-Generation E-mail Service, Includes Unlimited Storage, Best-in-Class Spam Blocking, Web Site Offers E-Mail, Messenger, Mobile Services, Google Search, Videos, Channels Like Bollywood, CityGuide, Education, International Music, and More.
Press Release Body = BANGALORE, INDIA - April 26, 2007 - AOL, a division of Time Warner, the world's leading media company, today announced the launch of www.AOL.in, a website that offers e-mail, AOL Messenger, mobile services, videos, news, sports, entertainment and more.
With this launch, AOL.in will become the first service worldwide to offer AOL's next-generation e-mail service. AOL's e-mail will include unlimited storage, leading safety and spam protections, and mobile access. AOL.in also offers mobile services, including messaging and downloads, at the short-code 51515, and AOL.in users have access to Google search, the Internet's leading search engine, right on the site.
"AOL has built one of the world's largest online communities, and now we want to extend that community into India," said Ron Grant, President and COO of AOL. "As part of the world's leading media company, AOL brings together a global audience of hundreds of millions of users with the latest products and technologies. AOL.in will combine the best of America with the best of India."
AOL.in gives users a wide range of content, including robust video and special channels dedicated to Bollywood, CityGuide, Cricket, Education, Hollywood, News, Sports, International Music and a Gurus channel with video advice from experts. Leveraging popular brands within the Time Warner family, AOL.in will also include videos and other content from other Time Warner companies, including Warner Bros and Cartoon Network.
Among the features of the new www.AOL.in Web site:
. AOL's easy-to-use e-mail service will have unlimited storage, industry-leading spam blocking, and powerful security protections against viruses.
. The leading AOL Messenger product with cool features like offline messages, picture sharing, personalization, grouped messaging and simultaneous multiple IDs.
. Integrated Google search that offers users the power of the Internet's leading search engine without leaving the site.
. Video content in many channels with a superior video experience.
. News and entertainment channels include Bollywood, CityGuide, Cricket, Education, Gurus, Hollywood, International Music, News and Sports.
AOL is also launching a full mobile communications and infotainment suite that includes:
. WAP Mail that allows users to access their AOL Mail on their mobile device.
. A service extending AOL Messenger onto users' mobile devices via SMS.
. Cool downloads like wallpaper, ringtones, games, animations, and videos.
. GPRS services are available on wap.aol.in. SMS services will run on the short-code 51515.
"By launching our new mail product in India, we are making a powerful statement about the importance of India to AOL and the online world," said Maneesh Dhir, AOL's Executive Vice President, International. "AOL.in is our first portal launch outside of North America and Europe, and it shows how committed we are to this market for the long term."
Dhir was named Executive Vice President in charge of AOL's international operations in January 2007. Prior to that, Dhir was Senior Vice President and Country Manager for AOL's operations in India. Upon being named head of AOL's international operations, Dhir announced that he would lead his worldwide efforts from Bangalore, making him the first international head of a global online company to be based in India.
"As India's online world rapidly grows and matures, the needs of online consumers are quickly evolving," said P.G. Ponnapa, VP and General Manager of AOL Interactive Media India. "We are building a portal to meet the needs of India's millions of online users. AOL.in will have better e-mail, messaging, mobile services, videos and content."
AOL has more than five years' history working and building new services in India. It began with the Bangalore Service Centre, which opened in 2002. In 2004, a Software Development Centre was established, chartered to develop applications and products for AOL. In 2005, the company's Knowledge Centre was launched, devoted to business analysis, search operations, and technology support. AOL currently has more than 2,000 employees in India.
About AOL AOL Global Operations Limited runs the http://www.AOL.inportal and other international ventures. AOL Global Operations Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL LLC. AOL is a global Web services company that operates some of the most popular Web destinations, offers a comprehensive suite of free software and services, and provides a full set of advertising solutions. A majority-owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., AOL LLC is based in Dulles, Virginia. AOL and its subsidiaries also have operations in Europe, Canada and Asia. Learn more at AOL.com.
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