Car Buying Goes Wireless With 'Autobytel.com on the Road'
22 March 2000
Car Buying Goes Wireless With 'Autobytel.com on the Road'
AvantGo Agreement Is First in a Series of Wireless Solutions
From Number-One Automotive E-commerce Company
IRVINE, Calif., March 22 Autobytel.com , the
company that controls nearly 50% of all online car-buying purchases, today
announced its "Portable Automotive Asset Manager," giving wireless and
handheld computer users access to their vehicle's service and maintenance
records whenever and wherever they want. "Autobytel.com on the Road" delivers
car buying, personalized content and interactive applications through AvantGo
(http://www.avantgo.com/channels), a free mobile Internet service.
Palm and Windows CE platform device users, and soon Internet-enabled phone
users, will be able to access "Autobytel.com on the Road" through a wireless
Internet connection or by downloading the pages during HotSync. In addition
to conducting vehicle research and purchasing a new or used car, consumers
will also be able to track their vehicle's maintenance needs and its service
history from the palm of their hand.
"Autobytel.com's launch in 1995 led the automotive industry onto the web.
With today's introduction of 'handheld' or 'wireless' car buying, we are once
again blazing new trails as the only automotive content provider to reach the
emerging global wireless audience," said Mark Lorimer, Autobytel.com's
President and CEO. "Additionally, this service lets users manage their
vehicle from the palm of their hand and will ease deployment to the over
1.3 million people already registered with Autobytel.com's asset management
program. Partnering with AvantGo lets us reach a rapidly growing audience of
millions of handheld users and enables us to once again change the way cars
are bought and maintained. Wireless users can look forward to additional
wireless solutions from our Advanced Technology Department in the upcoming
months."
One of the biggest assets consumers own is their vehicle. As the 6th
largest generator of car sales in the U.S. (behind GM, Ford, DaimlerChrysler,
Toyota and Honda), Autobytel.com realizes the importance of giving consumers
appropriate tools to manage this asset. By placing vehicle data in the palm
of consumers' hands, Autobytel.com has created what it calls a "Portable Asset
Manager," giving users a quick and easy way to track and monitor their
maintenance and service issues.
"AvantGo provides an ideal solution for mobile users who want access to
Autobytel.com anytime, anywhere," said Daniel Pesikoff, partner marketing
manager for AvantGo Mobile Internet. "As the leader in online car buying, we
believe Autobytel.com will be a very popular destination for AvantGo users who
are rapidly developing a desktop-free way of life."
With "Autobytel.com on the Road," car buyers will be able to analyze
vehicle information at their convenience -- whether on a plane, in a train or
during their lunch break. Additionally, Palm users will have access to
Autobytel.com's Your Garage, personalized pages featuring users' vehicle
information, enabling them to manage recall information and general service
needs.
The AvantGo mobile Internet service provides free interactive and
personalized content and applications to people with handheld devices based on
the Palm and Windows CE platforms, as well as Internet-enabled phones. Using
a wireless, real-time connection or via desktop synchronization, AvantGo users
can access the entire web directly from their mobile devices or they can
select from over 350 content channels that have been optimized for the small
screen. Optimized channels include car buying, up-to-date news, stock quotes,
flight schedules, movie listings, restaurant reviews, maps, weather and much
more from brand-name partners. The free mobile Internet service is available
at http://www.avantgo.com.
About autobytel.com inc.
Internationally-branded Autobytel.com (http://www.autobytel.com) is the
acknowledged leader in online automotive commerce(1). The most comprehensive
automotive Internet site, Autobytel.com offers consumers a positive purchasing
and ownership experience, while providing its Accredited Dealer Network with
the most efficient way to reach online car buyers. As it assists consumers
through every aspect of the automotive lifecycle, Autobytel.com provides
continuity into the next vehicle purchase. Launched in March 1995,
Autobytel.com's low-cost, no-haggle car-buying program is available in the
U.S., Canada (http://www.autobytel.ca), the United Kingdom (http://www.autobytel.co.uk),
Sweden (http://www.autobytel.se) and Japan (http://www.autobytel-japan.com). In 1999,
Autobytel.com was ranked #1 in Dealer Satisfaction with Online Buying Services
for the second year in a row(2).
The statements contained in this press release that are not historical
facts are forward-looking statements under the federal securities laws. These
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and
involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to
predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is
expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Autobytel.com
undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Among the
important factors that could cause Autobytel.com's actual results to differ
materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking
statements are changes in general economic conditions, increased or unexpected
competition, changes in A.I.N. Corporation's financial performance, and other
matters disclosed in Autobytel.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
(1) As reported by J.D. Power and Associates, Autobytel.com accounts for
45% of all new vehicles sold through an online service. (8.23.99).
(2) J.D. Power and Associates 1998-1999 Dealer Satisfaction With Online
Buying Services Studies(SM). 1999 study conducted among dealership
Internet specialists who completed 1,024 individual evaluations.