Apple Reference & Presen… 1994 February Supplement/ARPL-Feb-94-Supplement-PowerPC.iso/Info Center/Personal Integrated Products/eWorld Press Info/eWorld NewsWire Press Release

Text File | 1994-01-20 | 9.8 KB | 194 lines | [TEXT/GEOL]

THIS RELEASE MOVED OVER PR NEWSWIRE MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 1994 AT 8:38 AM, EDT.

Contact:
Emma Bufton
Regis McKenna, Inc.
[phone]

Jennie Shikashio
Regis McKenna, Inc.
[phone]

Apple Computer's eWorld To Change The Shape Of Online Services

CUPERTINO, California--January 3, 1994--Apple Computer, Inc. today
added a new dimension to the world of electronic information services
by announcing eWorld , a new family of online services which will
bring the world of electronic information within reach of millions of
people across the globe. eWorld services will keep people in-touch,
informed, and entertained, at home, at school, and at work.
     eWorld for Macintosh  will be the first of a series of eWorld
interactive services, and will be available to Macintosh personal
computer users in the United States in Spring 1994, with releases for
the global market later in 1994.  eWorld for Macintosh will be
distinguished by its collection of meaningful information and
transactional services from popular, well-known publishers and
service providers, initially targeted to meet the needs of
professional users at work and at home, via a simple, intuitive and
engaging interface.
     These publishers and service providers are expected to include such
industry leaders as the Boston Computer Society (BCS), Berkeley
Macintosh User Group (BMUG), Claris Corporation, Dow Jones Business
Information Services, Grolier Electronic Publishing, Inc., Inc.
Magazine, INDIVIDUAL, Inc., InfoWorld, MacWorld, Regis McKenna, Inc.,
Reuters America, Inc., Tribune Media Services, USA TODAY Information
Center, WordPerfect Corporation, and ZiffNet/Mac, among others.

[EDITORS" NOTE:  See separate release for more information.]

Following the introduction of eWorld for Macintosh, Apple will also
provide eWorld interactive services for Windows-based PCs, and for
devices based on Newton technology.  The first eWorld messaging
service for Newton , NewtonMail , was announced in November 1993 and
will become commercially available during the first quarter of 1994.
     "eWorld is designed for people seeking order from the chaos of the
vast electronic universe, who need relevant information rather than
volumes of data, and who are looking for a compelling electronic
medium which is easily accessible anywhere in the world," said Peter
Friedman, director and general manager of Apple Online Services
(AOS), Apple's electronic services business unit.  "eWorld defines a
new user interface and publishing structure, providing a less
complicated and more meaningful experience for both publishers and
subscribers."

Real World Metaphor
Recognizing the appeal of the familiar, eWorld is modeled on a real
world metaphor, presenting people with a bird's eye view of a
colorful and attractively-illustrated online community.  The eWorld
community consists of an electronic neighborhood of buildings, each
representing a specific area of the online service--the Library for
research, the Newsstand for news and sports publications; the
Business and Professional Plaza for business information and
services; the Arts and Leisure Pavilion for after hours entertainment
and hobbies; the Computer Center for computer assistance and
software; the Marketplace for purchasing products and services; the
eMail Center for worldwide electronic mail; and the Community Center
for interactive communications ("chats" and discussion areas) and
online events.
     As people explore eWorld--to read up-to-the-minute news, to plan a
business trip, or to scan reviews of the latest movies--the online
experience is made familiar and comfortable through the use of a
consistent interface design.  This extension of the real world
metaphor is supported by color-coded organizational schemes, a
carefully-designed language of icons representing standard eWorld
functions, and a thoughtful sound design to provide useful cues and
helpful feedback.  For example, each area of eWorld is distinguished
by a different color, and each online publication within eWorld is
represented by a unique icon.  Both these navigational aids prevent
subscribers from getting lost or disoriented, and clearly indicate
when they have moved from one area of the eWorld community to
another.
     This attractive, understandable, and familiar interface empowers
people to filter and select information according to their
professions, their interests and their needs.   eWorld enables people
to find what they want efficiently, and revisit that location
quickly; to purchase goods and services conveniently; and to exchange
information interactively in real time.

Communications
eWorld provides customers with a powerful, easy-to-use global e-mail
service that offers professional features and reliability.  eWorld
users can also easily communicate with users of the Internet, as well
as many other electronic mail services, through mail gateways that
allow the use of simple address abbreviations instead of complex
network addresses.  eWorld offers a range of real-time interactive
communications capabilities, including lecture and information
sharing forums, or town meetings, that enable up to 250 people to
participate simultaneously.  People can witness lectures, debates,
and discussions of topical issues by experts in a wide variety of
fields.  Smaller groups of eWorld users can chat and collaborate
electronically in both public and private forums.  In the future,
eWorld's communications capabilities are expected to include
incorporation of Apple's Open Collaboration Environment (AOCE)
technologies to provide integration with PowerTalk services.

Global
eWorld is uniquely designed to be a global online service.
Incorporated into eWorld"s distributed architecture are numerous
capabilities specific to supporting worldwide operation.  These
include support for multiple languages for both content and
applications, a global/local content model that allows publishers of
all sizes to reach a global market and still offer information of
local interest, and network services from multiple vendors providing
local access points around the world.  While initial availability
will be provided in the United States, eWorld services will steadily
expand their reach toward worldwide access and availability.  English
language versions of eWorld for Macintosh will be extended to
countries around the world in 1994, followed by native language
versions for German, Japanese, and French.

Cross-Platform
eWorld services will be made available on a range of devices,
including Macintosh personal computers, Windows PCs, and Newton
devices, and people will be able to access common features across the
different platforms.
     For example, an eWorld customer will be able to use the same e-mail
address and mailbox from any supported device, allowing consistent
communications across a variety of situations.  An eWorld customer
who uses a desktop computer for electronic mail in the office or at
home will be able to use a Newton MessagePad, or other device based
on Newton technology, to send and receive e-mail while traveling.
Services and information will also be consistent across supported
platforms, allowing Macintosh and Windows users to interact in
forums, post messages to bulletin boards, send mail, and perform
transactions without boundaries related to platform.

Publishing Tools
Publishers will find eWorld an appealing environment, rich with
intriguing business opportunities.  Building on the principles of
empowerment which Apple pioneered with great success in the desktop
publishing industry, Apple Online Services has designed powerful
publishing tools to simplify dramatically the creation and
maintenance of online publications.  Under the name eWorld Press,
these tools allow publishers to design and prototype new online
products and then to update those products cost-effectively by
migrating information from the publisher's existing repositories to
eWorld's global servers and online services infrastructure.

Pricing
In the United States, the basic monthly subscription fee will be
$8.95 which will include two free hours of evening or weekend usage.
Each subsequent hour of evening or weekend usage will be $4.95.  An
additional network surcharge of $2.95 per hour will apply during
business hours in the United States.  For customers who receive the
software bundled on their hard disk, there is no sign up fee.
Neither is there a surcharge for use of the Internet Mail gateway or
9600 baud access.  Pricing for services outside the United States
will be announced later.

Availability
eWorld for Macintosh will begin beta testing in January of 1994 with
commercial launch slated for Spring of 1994 in the United States.
Some of the publishers currently working with Apple will be
furnishing eWorld with pilot versions of their services during the
beta testing period.  eWorld for Macintosh will be bundled in most
Macintosh computers by the end of 1994 in the United States.  eWorld
services will be made available outside the United States in stages,
starting with native language versions in French, German and
Japanese.
     Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple Computer, Inc.
develops, manufactures and markets personal computers, servers,
personal interactive electronic systems, software and interactive
services for use in business, education, home, science, engineering
and government. A recognized pioneer and innovator in the personal
computer industry, Apple does business in more than 120 countries
around the world. Apple Online Services (AOS), the information
services business unit of Apple Computer, Inc., currently provides
commercial information services such as eWorld, NewtonMail,AppleLink
and AppleLink CD to over 60,000 subscribers in 52 countries around
the world.
-30-
Apple, the Apple logo and Macintosh are registered trademarks; eworld
Newton and NewtonMail are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.

END

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