First Retailer to Offer Audible's Audio Player; Promotion Includes Two Free
Audiobooks and More
POWAY, Calif. and WAYNE, N.J., April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Extending its leadership in digital content, Gateway, Inc. (NYSE: GTW) today
becomes the first retailer to offer Audible, Inc.'s (OTC Bulletin Board: ADBL)
Otis digital audio player through its retail stores, Web site and call
centers. Audible.com's Internet audio service and Otis digital audio player
were created for anyone from commuters who want the daily newspaper read to
them to those who want to take back precious reading time by listening to
books rather than music at the gym. It's also the perfect option for the
vision impaired or senior Americans who have difficulty reading small text.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020930/LAM050LOGO )
Gateway's special offer includes two free audiobooks and a free one-month
subscription to a leading audio periodical for just $99.99(3). In addition to
the 3.5-oz. Audible.com Otis digital audio player -- which holds up to
17 hours of Audible's spoken word audio files and plays MP3s -- Gateway's
digital media solution comes with a car cassette adapter, carrying case and
batteries.
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, more than 97 million people drive alone
to work every day, logging more than 600 million hours behind the wheel each
week. Census figures also point to busier schedules, longer work days and
more multi-tasking than ever before.
"Gateway is all about helping customers use technology to enhance the
quality of their lives," said Matt Milne, Gateway's general manager of digital
solutions. "In this case, we're providing a solution that enables our
customers to be productive during time that is typically unproductive, such as
making it possible to listen to each day's audio edition of The Wall Street
Journal or learning a new language while driving to work."
"Audible is proud that its Otis audio player and Internet audio service
will be sold by Gateway, clearly an innovator in the sales and service of
leading edge technology," said Foy Sperring, Audible Inc. senior vice
president, strategic alliances. "This is a landmark moment as we continue to
expand our retail presence, and endeavor to expand awareness of our
information and entertainment service that makes downloading the latest audio
books and periodicals quick, easy and affordable."
Orchestrating A Perfect Play for the Value-Driven
Gateway customers who purchase the Otis digital audio player for $99.99
will receive a free month of Audible's BasicListener(TM) membership plan(3),
which consists of one audiobook from Audible.com -- the largest downloadable
collection of English-language spoken word audio on the Internet. Customers
can choose from over 6,000 audiobook titles such as contemporary fiction,
history, mystery, and business. They also get a one-month subscription to one
of Audible's audio newspapers, magazines, public radio programs or original
programs as well as a free CD that comes with the James Patterson best seller
"Second Chances" plus excerpts from 900 other audiobooks. If a customer likes
the excerpt, they can purchase the complete book.
Gateway's offer is more than $50 less than what customers would pay for
these products individually. Customers can purchase any of Audible's
20,000 titles on an individual basis or subscribe to a monthly AudibleListener
membership. There is no need to wait for boxes of tapes to arrive or pay
costly shipping charges. Downloads are easy and once completed, the audio
file can be played back on the personal computer, transferred to the Otis
player or burned onto standard audio CDs.
About Gateway
Gateway, Inc. (NYSE: GTW), a personal technology company, improves
people's lives through a combination of the latest and best hardware,
communication tools, applications, training and service, all offered with a
custom financing package. The company takes a localized approach, utilizing
its Web site, call centers and nationwide network of Gateway retail stores to
build direct relationships with consumers, small and medium businesses and
government and education institutions. In 2003, Gateway was named the second
most admired American company in the computer industry by Fortune magazine(1).
In 2002, Gateway's products and services received more than 90 awards and
accolades and the company's retail stores outperformed its competitors in a
"mystery shopper" comparison(2). For more information, visit Gateway's Web
site at http://www.gateway.com .
All offers subject to change without notice or obligation.
(1) Source: Fortune magazine, March 3, 2003 issue
(2) Source: Computer Shopper magazine, February 2003 issue
(3) Major credit card required. After 30 days, your credit card will be
charged a monthly fee for your AudibleListener subscription.
Monthly renewal charges will be billed automatically without prior
notification. You may cancel your Audible subscription at any time
by calling (888) 283-5051. Details available at http://www.audible.com .
About Audible.com
Audible.com, recently named the best entertainment software in the
Internet by CNet.com (June 2002), and one of the "Best of Today's Web" by PC
World (August 2002) features daily audio editions of The Wall Street Journal
and The New York Times -- available on a subscription basis in time for the
morning drive to work each day-as well as Forbes, Harvard Business Review,
Scientific American and Fast Company. The site offers a powerful collection
of audiobook best sellers and classics by authors such as Tom Clancy, Stephen
King, John Grisham, Mary Higgins Clark, James Patterson, the Dalai Lama, David
McCullough, Stephen Hawking, William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson and Jane
Austen. There are also speeches, lectures, and on-demand radio programs
including Marketplace, All Things Considered, Car Talk, Fresh Air and This
American Life, and original shows such as RobinWilliams@audible.com. All of
the programs at audible.com are available for computer-based playback, burning
to audio CD, and on-the-go listening using numerous AudibleReady(TM) portable
digital audio players offered by leading consumer electronics and computer
manufacturers.
About Audible, Inc.
Audible(R) ( http://www.audible.com (R)) is the Internet's largest, most diverse
provider of premium spoken audio services for content download and playback on
personal computers, CD or AudibleReady(R) computer-based mobile devices.
Audible has more than 34,000 hours of audio programs and 135 content partners
that include leading audiobook publishers, broadcasters, entertainers,
magazine and newspaper publishers and business information providers.
Audible.com is Amazon.com's (http://www.amazon.com) exclusive provider of spoken word
products for downloading or streaming via the Web. Additionally, the Company
is strategically aligned with Random House, Inc., to pioneer the first-ever
imprint to produce spoken word content specifically suited for digital
distribution, Random House Audible. Among the Company's key business partners
are Apple Corp., Casio Inc., Handspring, Hewlett-Packard Company, Microsoft
Corporation, Palm, Inc., Royal Philips Electronics, RealNetworks, Inc.,
SONICblue Incorporated's Rio Audio Group, Sony Electronics, Texas Instruments
and VoiceAge Corp.
Audible, http://www.audible.com and AudibleReady are registered trademarks of
Audible, Inc.; AudibleListener and Otis trademarks of Audible, Inc. and all
are part of the family of Audible, Inc. trademarks.
Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of
their respective owners.
This press release contains information about Audible, Inc. that is not
historical fact and may be deemed to contain forward-looking statements about
the company. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in
any forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties,
including, without limitation, Audible's limited operating history, history of
losses, uncertain market for its services, and its inability to license or
produce compelling audio content and other risks and uncertainties detailed in
the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
SOURCE Gateway, Inc.
 back to top
Photo Notes:
NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020930/LAM050LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or 212-782-2840
Related links:
http://www.gateway.com
CONTACT:
Lisa Emard of Gateway, Inc., +1-858-848-3426,
lisa.emard@gateway.com; or Jonathan Korzen of Audible,
+1-973-837-2718, jkorzen@audible.com
|
