-- B&N.Com On the Go Program Enters Next Phase With Mobile Phone Application --
-- Online Bookseller In Agreements with Sprint PCS, Verizon Wireless, Ericsson OmniSky, and Phone.com WorkSpot, Inc. --
Barnes & Noble.com (Nasdaq:BNBN) (www.bn.com) announced today the launch of an enhanced mobile commerce initiative that will see the expansion of the company's B&N.com On the Go program to give customers the ability to shop at the online bookseller on a variety of platforms, including mobile phones and handheld computers.
As part of the expansion, Barnes & Noble.com has entered into strategic agreements with a number of leading wireless providers, including Sprint PCS, Verizon Wireless and OmniSky. The web clipping application, used on a Palm VII(TM) handheld with the Palm.Net(TM) service, the core of the B&N.com On the Go program since its launch last December, has also been enhanced, by WorkSpot, Inc., with features such as a graphical interface and account creation.
B&N.com On the Go enables users to shop and search for books, music and software, locate and contact the closest Barnes & Noble stores and send e-cards. Through the expanded B&N.com On the Go program, customers can now access Barnes & Noble.com through a variety of mobile phone carriers and devices in addition to the Palm VII handheld, such as Sprint PCS and OmniSky's wireless service for the Palm V handheld. Later in the second quarter of 2000, customers will also gain access to Barnes & Noble.com through a menu selection on Verizon Wireless' mobile Internet service.
B&N.com On the Go is free of charge to customers and can be accessed from Sprint PCS Wireless Web and Verizon Wirelesss Internet-ready mobile phones through the URL: mobile.bn.com. In addition, users of the Sprint PCS Wireless Web can access B&N.com On the Go directly through the browser menus; users of Verizon Wireless' Web Access can do so next month. Currently Palm VII handheld users can download the application by visiting www.bn.com/onthego. OmniSky's service for the Palm V handheld will insert On the Go automatically during the installation process.
"Barnes & Noble is the first multi-channel retail brand to provide customers with the wireless technology to find any book, CD or software title anywhere, any time, on our Web site and in Barnes & Noble stores," said Carl Rosendorf, senior vice president of Barnes & Noble.com. "We see enormous potential for the wireless market, as industry analysts project that the number of Net-enabled wireless devices will surpass the number of PCs connected to the Internet by the year 2003."
Barnes & Noble.com is the first company to enable the sending of e-cards wirelessly. In addition, the company is the first to offer customers wireless access to a broad selection of bargain and rare books.
B&N.com On the Go features:
- Books, Music and Software - Search, browse and buy from Barnes & Noble.com's selection of millions of book, music and software titles. Synopses, reviews and Top 10 lists are also available.
- Store Locations - Find information about the nearest Barnes & Noble store, then connect to it with the push of a button.
- eCards -- Select and send eCards to anyone with an e-mail address.
- Order Status - Check the status of recent orders made through Barnes & Noble.com.
- Account Management -- Create a new account. Send a gift to an address other than the account holder's. Contact Customer Service.
As part of the B&N.com On the Go initiative, Barnes & Noble.com also has relationships with Ericsson for mobile applications development, WorkSpot, Inc., for Palm VII handheld development, and Phone.com, for mobile phone application development.
Barnes & Noble.com is a member of the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) Forum and the WAP Forum's E-commerce Expert Committee.
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