LookSmart Teams Up with CarSmart.com
24 March 2000
LookSmart Teams Up with CarSmart.com, Creditland and eCoverage to Provide Automotive Services Across LookSmart's Network
SAN FRANCISCO--March 24, 2000--Sponsorships Enhance LookSmart's Search Infrastructure Services
LookSmart , a global leader of Internet search infrastructure, today announced agreements with CarSmart.com, Creditland, and eCoverage to integrate their content and services into the LookSmart Auto Center (http://auto.looksmart.com), a destination center for premier automotive services.
LookSmart users will now have access to comprehensive automotive information and resources from three leading automotive web sites in a single destination. CarSmart.com enables users to thoroughly research car buying decisions, get price quotes on potential purchases, buy and sell pre-owned vehicles, and search nationwide listings of auto dealerships and vehicles for sale.
Creditland (http://www.creditland.com) -- which is also a featured sponsor on the LookSmart Real Estate Center -- enables consumers to comparison-shop and pre-qualify for an auto loan, as well as home loans, personal loans and credit cards from a variety of leading lenders, including Bank of America, First Union, Household and more.
eCoverage provides a simple and straightforward online insurance offering that allows consumers to conduct the entire insurance transaction online, from quote to claim, and is backed up by 24/7 customer support.
"We are pleased to build relationships with leading players in the online automotive market and to provide them with an appropriate platform to deliver their best-of-breed content to LookSmart's millions of users," said Brian Cowley, senior vice president of global sales at LookSmart.
"With the Auto Center, we continue to achieve LookSmart's goal of helping users find comprehensive, relevant information quickly and efficiently, at the same time generating valuable new revenue streams for LookSmart."
LookSmart's search infrastructure services are available to more than 45 million people a month in the U.S. -- nearly 70 percent of all Internet users -- through LookSmart's expansive distribution network of partner sites, which consists of Internet portals, media companies, ISPs and affiliate partners.
"LookSmart's Auto Center is a perfect place for CarSmart.com because it offers an unparalleled opportunity to reach a vast audience of prospective car buyers and sellers," said Mike Gorun, president of CarSmart.com. "The center delivers tremendous conversion of customers on our site, providing a much more efficient and effective strategy for CarSmart.com than traditional online advertising."
"We are extremely pleased to expand our relationship with LookSmart," said Tony Wilbert, founder and CEO of Creditland. "Through our multifaceted partnership with LookSmart, we now have the opportunity to provide consumers in both the auto and home loan markets with quick and easy access to the best selection of loans tailored to their personal needs and credit history."
"We're enthusiastic about our partnership with LookSmart and pleased to be a part of the Auto Center," said Michael McNally, vice president of business development at eCoverage. "We believe that by bringing together LookSmart's superior content with sponsors providing best-in-class services that the Auto Center will be a great success."
About LookSmart
LookSmart is a global leader of Internet search infrastructure, dedicated to helping the world find useful stuff quickly. LookSmart's search and navigation service reaches over 45 million people a month -- nearly 70 percent of all Internet users in the U.S. -- through LookSmart's partner sites.
LookSmart provides its search solutions to leading Internet portals, ISPs and Web sites including The Microsoft Network, Netscape Netcenter, Time Warner Inc., Excite@Home, Sony, BT, Road Runner, Prodigy, US West, AltaVista, NetZero, over 370 Internet Service Providers and 600,000 web sites.
LookSmart has built web directories for 25 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, Japan, Korea, Mexico and Brazil. LookSmart's search solutions include a collection of over 1.5 million high quality URLs organized into more than 100,000 categories.
Through its partnership with Cox Interactive Media, LookSmart also offers one of the largest collection of quality local Web content in more than 70 U.S. markets. The company is headquartered in San Francisco and can be contacted at 415/348-7000 or visited at www.looksmart.com.
About CarSmart.com
CarSmart.com (http://www.carsmart.com) is an established, top-rated facilitator of automotive sales. CarSmart.com aggregates an extensive collection of rich automotive content to assist consumers in researching, buying, selling, leasing, financing and insuring new and pre-owned vehicles. CarSmart.com offers the consumer an Accredited Dealer Network of nearly 1,500 nationwide.
CarSmart.com is headquartered in San Ramon, Calif. CarSmart.com/A.I.N. Corp. is a subsidiary of Autobytel.com .
About Creditland
Creditland (http://www.creditland.com/) is the Internet's premier unbiased independent credit marketplace, to offering consumers a fast, easy and private way to comparison-shop -- and pre-qualify -- for the best auto loans, home loans, personal loans and credit cards from the industry's leading lenders, including Bank of America (Ticker:BAC), First Union and Household .
The company, which was founded by CEO Tony Wilbert in February 1998 and is headquartered in San Francisco, maximizes consumers' time and buying power by providing choices among the best lenders and products based on their individual needs. is able to provide the best lending experience available online thanks to its patent-pending decisioning technology, the Creditland Decision Engine.
This unique technology provides consumers with ongoing credit advice and personalized recommendations, in addition to the convenience of accessing and pre-qualifying for a wide variety of products from leading lenders with just one application. And, lenders enjoy a fast and predictable way to acquire new, highly-qualified Internet customers.
Creditland's lending partners span the credit spectrum, from super-prime to sub-prime, making it easy for credit-worthy consumers to find the right loan or credit card. For more information about Creditland please contact Eileen Gordon at 415/551-2114, eileen@creditland.com.
About eCoverage
eCoverage (www.ecoverage.com) makes every aspect of insurance efficient and easy, from quote to claim. The company offers the speed, control and convenience of self-service transactions supported by simple language and simple processes. There are no middlemen to drive up prices and sell unnecessary coverage.
With around-the-clock customer service, eCoverage has people on the ground when you need them. Launched in September 1999 with California car insurance, San Francisco-based eCoverage will offer a full line of personal insurance products nationwide in 2000. For more information, please contact Wendy Moro at 650/340-0242 (wmoro@code8.com) or Shirley Gines at 858/395-0888 (sgines@code8.com).