CLEAR Makes Internet Merger
Press Release
CLEAR NET
21 January 2000
CLEAR
Net partners with Internet leader LookSmart to deliver best
New Zealand web sites
CLEAR Net has enlisted one of the world’s biggest Internet directory companies, LookSmart, to bring its users the best of New Zealand web sites.
The partnership gives CLEAR Net a portal with more than 1.5 million web sites, with 25,000 New Zealand web sites listed by category and keyword search.
Behind every site listing is a LookSmart editor, who has assessed the quality and relevance of the site in relation to its subject. This unique approach ensures users are directed to the information that best meets their needs in the shortest time possible.
The partnership follows the announcement in November of a joint venture between LookSmart and BT, CLEAR’s 100 per cent shareholder. The joint venture, to create and distribute portal services throughout Europe and Asia, is expected to be worth about US$200 million.
CLEAR Net Multimedia Business Manager Michael White says CLEAR is pleased to be LookSmart’s first New Zealand partner. “LookSmart provides one of the most comprehensive collections of quality web content on the Internet. No one site can push itself up the list by paying more – each site is reviewed by professional editors.”
The arrangement with LookSmart assists CLEAR in continuing to be one of New Zealand’s leading portals with a broad range of information and links to other sites.
Access to LookSmart’s New Zealand database is available on CLEAR Net’s search page at http://www.clear.net.nz/search.
Other search engines and web site directories are still available through the CLEAR Net Searchilator on that page.
ENDS