VIVA EVOLUTION!
HOTBAR LAUNCHES ANTICIPATED VERSION 3.0 TOOLBAR TECHNOLOGY, SIGNALS INTERNET EVOLUTION
New Software Categorizes Over 2.5 Million Web Sites into 3,000 Major Categories and 200,000 Niche Categories
August 15, 2001 (New York, NY & Tel Aviv, Israel) - Hotbar, the undisputed leader in browser enhancement technologies, announced today the launch of their highly anticipated Version 3.0 Hotbar Toolbar software. The software is completely unique in its breadth and scope, categorizing over 2.5 million Web sites into 3,000 major categories and 200,000 niche categories. Hotbar's Smart Toolbar symbolizes an evolutionary step in Internet technology and efficiency, immeasurably simplifying the end user's surfing experience.
The uniqueness of the software is in its functionality. Once the software is downloaded from the Hotbar website, the technology's Smart Buttons on the browser toolbar change, relating to any site the user visits. For instance, if a user visits a site such as Expedia, immediately upon arrival to that site Hotbar's Smart Toolbar serves up travel-related Smart Buttons. Each button, once clicked, offers a menu filled with related links and services on that topic, giving the user unparalleled access to the Internet with just a click of the button.
The Smart Toolbar's other features include a search engine, powered by Looksmart and Infospace, an optional stocks, news and sports ticker and a Price Comparison feature. This Price Comparison feature automatically searches other prices on the Web while you shop online. A flashing yellow Click for More Prices Smart Button appears whenever the user shops, offering competitive pricing. In addition, Hotbar offers a gallery of close to 60,000 Hotbar Skins, letting users customize their toolbar with a variety of images, including some of today's hottest musical artists like U2 and Jay-Z.
"We believe that we are spearheading the next phase of Internet evolution," says Hotbar CEO and co-founder Oren Dobronsky. "The Version 3.0 Smart Toolbar is the next logical phase of Internet technology - with the Smart Toolbar, users can have the whole Internet at their fingertips without having to go back and visit portal sites to search or find what they are looking for. All of the in-depth information that a user would ever need when online can now be gleaned directly from their toolbar. It's a complete and uninterrupted surfing experience."
Hotbar's Smart Toolbar also serves as a powerful revenue generator, offering Hotbar clients the opportunity to consistently brand their message throughout the user's experience. As the Smart Toolbar stays with the user throughout the surfing experience, tens of thousands of advertisers in all Internet niches have the opportunity to be integrated into millions of browsers overnight.
Says Shany Paz, VP of Business Development, "Hotbar's Version 3.0 Smart Toolbar is the ultimate culmination of the Internet's targeting capabilities. Through Hotbar, advertisers can communicate directly with the most relevant consumers at the most relevant time. For example, an airline ticket provider can convey a message to a user seeking tickets directly through the shopper's browser. This is the most fruitful, efficient media platform for online and offline advertisers."
"Hotbar's Smart Toolbar is simply everything a user needs and wants from their surfing experience, " says Hotbar President and co-founder Gabriella Karni. "Since 1999, we have paid attention to the comments and requests that we have received from our virally growing, large user base. Throughout this evaluation process, Version 3.0 was born, and what we have created is not only a practical tool for our community, but also a revenue generator that will expedite our path to profitability. It's the next Internet evolution. Needless to say, we are extremely pleased."
About Hotbar
Founded in August 1999 with a vision to change the way people browse the Web, the Hotbar toolbar is a light dynamic browser plug-in that enhances and personalizes the users' surfing experience, while successfully branding and exposing third-party content, service and technology partners.
Hotbar offers e-businesses a new and creative way to cut through Web clutter and effectively reach an enormous, globally distributed audience almost overnight. By partnering with Hotbar, these Web sites achieve unmatched branding by integrating into the browser. Hotbar is a platform that delivers, and business models are based on performance. For the individual Hotbar user, this translates into a more personalized, enhanced surfing experience while fulfilling a basic human need for aesthetics and fun; for the e-business, a more profitable Internet. Partners who have already recognized Hotbar's value proposition include: MySimon, CNET, Dealtime, and uBid.
Hotbar is a privately held company with sales and marketing based in New York City and research and development in Tel Aviv, Israel. For more information, please visit www.hotbar.com.
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