Johannesburg, 23 Jun 1999
Vodacom says it will not abandon the Yebo!net brand in favour of World Online as rumour would have it.
Joan Joffe, corporate affairs group executive for Vodacom says the Yebo!net brand will be maintained. "The brand is strong in SA and will continue. World Online is hardly known in this country." She adds that a lot of money has been invested in branding Yebo!net over a long period.
Rumours that the international brand may take over started shortly after the announcement of a joint venture between Vodacom and World Online, a major European Internet service provider. The companies said they could double the Yebo!net subscriber base by combining Vodacom`s telecommunications expertise with World Online content.
World Online International owns 50% of the joint venture company.
While Yebo!net subscribers are to join the World Online network of Internet users, it seems they are to maintain their unique identity.
The denial is supported by the worldonline.co.za domain registration, which is on the point of being suspended. World Online in the Netherlands registered the name in May but has failed to make the necessary payment to date. That seems to indicate that the brand is not to be promoted in SA.
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