World Online International and Getronics announced today plans to cooperate intensively across the broad sector of e-business.
The partnership is based on the rapidly increasing demand of companies and institutions for professional solutions and systems for processing transactions via the Internet.
World Online currently delivers e-business solutions to 15 countries. The Company provides Internet access (primarily on a subscription-free basis), operates Web portals, conducts e-commerce and provides business solutions to its customers. It is one of the leading pan-European Internet communication companies, targeting both individual and business customers.
Getronics is a leading global provider of ICT services and solutions with extensive activities in e-business, consulting, business solutions and infrastructure services. Getronics, as the world`s no. 2 in networking and desktop outsourcing services, has upgraded in line with its strategy its portfolio with a broad range of e-business solutions and services.
The terms of cooperation between the two companies initially focus on Europe, where both Getronics and World Online have strong market positions. In the longer term, the partnership will go global, both directly between the two companies and through alliances with third parties.
Both World Online and Getronics focus on the business-to-business market, from small-and-medium enterprises to large and multinational organizations, where the demand for conducting business via the Internet is growing rapidly.
Getronics and World Online together plan to focus on the important function of application service provision, the implementation of specific intranet concepts, and the building, developing and creating of data centers in Europe and elsewhere.
Nina Brink, Founder and Executive Chairwoman of World Online, commented: "Based on the enormous demand from the business Internet market, the cooperation of World Online International with Getronics has powerful potential. With the far-reaching capacities of this ICT solutions and service provider, we are able to implement phenomenally large international projects in a relatively short period to bring the client to the world of e-business and internet immediately."
Cees van Luijk, CEO of Getronics, commented: "World Online`s market proposition brings its customers the most advanced e-business products and technologies and creates the opportunity for Getronics to offer an unbelievably complete package of solutions and services to the main players in the fast growing business internet sector."
Both Nina Brink and Cees van Luijk agree that Getronics and World Online International are strongly complementary in many ways, as a result of which the partnership will speed up the expansion of both companies` activities in this market.
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World Online International
World Online International is headquartered in the Netherlands. With more than 1.2 million individual users and 30,000 business clients at the end of 1999, the company provides internet access and a wide spectrum of internet content and services in 15 countries. As a result of organic growth, at February 29, 2000 the number of consumer subscribers was in excess of 1.5 million (excluding 400,000 users via the Telinco network). World Online`s principal shareholders include the Swiss-based Sandoz Family Foundation, Intel and Reggeborgh Beheer. World Online has strategic alliances with companies which include Shell, Bouygues, Microsoft, Sun, Bertelsmann, Reuters, Oracle, McDonald`s and Vodacom (South African affiliate of Vodafone).
Getronics
Getronics is one of the world`s leading providers of Solutions and Services to the professional users of Information and Communication Technology. With 34,000 employees in 44 countries, Getronics works with many of the world`s largest companies to help them maximize the value of their technology investment. Getronics` headquarters is in Amsterdam, with regional head offices in Boston, London, Singapore and Washington D.C. Getronics shares are traded on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange (`GTN`). Further information about Getronics and its solutions and services can be found on the World Wide Web at www.getronics.com.