MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and LONDON, United Kingdom – February 26, 2001 – Google Inc., developer of the award-winning Google search engine, today announced that it will provide its powerful search and wireless technology to Vizzavi’s European multi-access portal. Established in July 2000, Vizzavi today operates portals in the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands. Vizzavi is the rapidly growing joint venture between Vodafone Group plc and Vivendi Universal. Effective immediately, Google will be the preferred search engine provider, offering its advanced web search engine as a complement to Vizzavi’s comprehensive range of personalized services and content, accessible to users via desktop PCs and mobile devices.
The co-branded service is currently available to users in the United Kingdom (www.vizzavi.co.uk) and the Netherlands (www.vizzavi.nl), and is soon expected to be rolled out across other European markets. The Vizzavi relationship broadens Google’s reach across major European markets, and establishes the company more prominently as a leading provider of pan-European search services.
"We needed a search technology that not only satisfied our current requirements, but also had the ease of integration, functionality and scalability to support our aggressive business plans to become the leading European multi-access portal," said Evan Newmark, CEO of Vizzavi. "With Google’s unmatched search technologies and extensive wireless functionality, we were able to quickly provide a high-quality, scalable service offering to our growing user base."
"Vizzavi is rapidly becoming one of Europe’s leading Internet businesses for online services and mobile data with a prospective user base of more than 80 million," said Larry Page, CEO and co-founder of Google. "Google’s comprehensive search service is ideally suited to form an integral part of the Vizzavi web and wireless service offering. We anticipate this relationship will help increase our visibility in the European market."
About Vizzavi
Vizzavi is a 50/50 joint venture between Vodafone Group plc, the world’s leading mobile communications company, and Vivendi Universal, Europe’s leading media company. Vizzavi is a multi-access portal designed to provide services to customers in a consistent format, throughout Europe, across different platforms, including mobile handsets, personal computers, television and personal digital assistants. Vizzavi was established in July 2000. For more information on Vizzavi please go to www.vizzavi.net.
About Google Inc.
With the largest index of websites available on the World Wide Web and the industry’s most advanced search technology, Google Inc. delivers the fastest and easiest way to find relevant information on the Internet. Google’s technological innovations have earned the company numerous industry awards and citations, including two Webby Awards; WIRED magazine’s Reader Raves Award; Best Internet Innovation and Technical Excellence Award from PC Magazine; Best Search Engine on the Internet from Yahoo! Internet Life; Top Ten Best Cybertech from TIME magazine; and Editor’s Pick from CNET. A growing number of companies worldwide, including Yahoo!, AOL/Netscape, and Cisco Systems, rely on Google to power search on their websites. A privately held company based in Mountain View, Calif., Google’s investors include Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Sequoia Capital. More information about Google can be found on the Google site at www.google.com.
Google Contacts:
Sophie Nguyen
(650) 930-3562
sophie@google.com
Cindy McCaffrey
(650) 930-3524
cindy@google.com
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