WORLDS.COM REPORTS INITIAL ADVERTISING,
E-C0MMERCE RESULTS
FROM FREESERVE,
UK'S LEADING ISP
New York, NY, February 28, 2000 - Worlds. com Inc. (OTC: BB: WDDD), the leading three-dimensional (3D) Internet portal, today said it has begun to generate advertising revenue from its relationship with Freeserve (FREE/ADR), the leading ISP in the United Kingdom.
The exclusive provider of chat services to Freeserve, Worlds.com began selling advertising on the site in November 1999. Advertising revenues increased 58 percent from November to December while total impressions increased 71 percent. The total number of visitors increased from 135,800 in November to 166,900 in December, or 23 percent. Worlds.com said it would release revenue figures with its 1999 earnings report during March.
"We are extremely encouraged by these initial results," said Steven G. Chrust, Worlds.com chairman. "Many sites when they begin selling advertising find that 90 percent of available impressions go unsold . Our results point out that we were able to sell nearly 20 percent of the available impressions during the first two months. The 20 percent figure is what most companies in the industry experience on average and we were able to reach that level in only two months."
The Company also said that revenues from merchandise sales on the Worlds.com website from its 33 e-Commerce stores, which are tied to its entertainment, chat and music sites, increased 126 percent from November 1999 ($62,000) to December 1999 ($139,000).
Worlds.com derives its revenues from three sources: e-Commerce, user subscriptions and advertising. The Freeserve relationship is the Company's initial activity on the advertising front. "Our early success with Freeserve is in line with our business model," Chrust said. "We believe that when people are able to 'get into' rather than 'on' the Internet with our 3D technology and content that they will spend more time and ultimately purchase more products because the experience is more entertaining and interactive. This makes our sites extremely attractive to advertisers."
In June, 1999 Worlds.com signed an agreement with Freeserve that provides for advertising revenue sharing between the companies. A second agreement also provides for an e-Commerce link between Freeserve's Shopping Channel Page and WorldsStore.com, which sells the merchandise for major recording artists, including Elton John, Sting, U2, Shania Twain, Hanson and David Bowie.
"The addition of Worlds content and technology in traditional 2D and our proprietary 3D Internet technology is an enormous enhancement to the Freeserve user's experience," Chrust said. "It creates an even greater member loyalty and longer online experience."
About Worlds . com
Worlds.com, the only 3D entertainment portal, leverages its proprietary technology to offer visitors a network of virtual, multi-user environments that have rich media graphics, text chat, voice-to-voice chat, streaming video and e-commerce. The environments are focused around entertainment interests and targeted communities such as music (Hanson World, Bowie World), Sports (New York Yankees) and general entertainment environments (beaches, space landings, shopping areas). In the Worlds' Avatar Gallery, visitors select an avatar (3D character), and customize it into a personal virtual representation of themselves. The avatar is used to travel in and through the various virtual environments and participate in interactive activities involving entertainment, promotions, or e-commerce. Avatars can chat with one another, dance in a nightclub, e-shop, watch video clips and participate in other activities.
About Freeserve plc.
Freeserve is a subsidiary of the Dixons Group plc, the UK's largest electrical retailer and was launched on September 22, 1998. It was the first company to offer a fully featured free Internet service UK wide. Freeserve is available on a free CD in all Dixons, Currys, PC World, the Link and @jakarta stores in the UK and is primarily intended for home users and small office/home business users.
Forward Looking Statements. Except for any historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are described in the company's filings with the SEC. Given these uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The company disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to announce publicly the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments.
|
