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...Malaysia Site To Become Third Affiliate in the AltaVista Worldwide Network... KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, and MAYNARD, Mass., January 29, 1997 - Digital Equipment Corporation’s AltaVista Internet Software subsidiary today announced the next phase of expansion in its AltaVista Worldwide Network with the signing of a Network Affiliate agreement with a Malaysian company to establish an AltaVista Internet Search mirror site in Asia. Alam Teknokrat Sdn Bhd, a Malaysia Internet Content Organizer, will manage the site, which will be hosted at the Universiti Pertanian Malaysia-Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (UPM-MTDC) Incubation Centre, located within the vicinity of Malaysia’s Multimedia Super Corridor. The Malaysian site primarily targets Internet users in Asia and will provide them with faster response to their AltaVista Internet search queries because their requests for Internet information will be serviced in Asia rather than from the U.S. When complete, the mirror site will provide Asian Internet users with searches that bring Asian-based Web content to the forefront. In addition, Alam Teknokrat will offer related intranet services to corporate customers in the region. The site is expected to be operational in by mid-1997. Also today, Alam Teknokrat Sdn Bhd signed a systems integration agreement with HTI Systems Sdn Bhd, a Digital Equipment (M) Sdn Bhd business partner, for the purpose of implementing the AltaVista mirror site. Responding to the rapid growth of Internet users from outside the United States, AltaVista is aggressively implementing plans to mirror the search service by establishing the AltaVista Worldwide Network. The Network will include sites in Europe, Asia, Australia, Latin America, and Africa, managed by Affiliate partners in each region. Affiliates use the same index, search and retrieval software as the home site in Palo Alto, California (http://www.altavista.digital.com), but adapt the service to the needs of their users by translating the user interface and help pages into local languages and providing content, advertising, and related services targeted to their regional markets. To date, AltaVista Internet Software, Inc. has established two mirror sites: in Northern Europe (http://www.altavista.telia.com) with Affiliate Telia TeleCom AB of Sweden; and in Australia (http://www.altavista.yellowpages.com.au) with Affiliate Telstra/Yellow Pages. "We are very pleased to partner with Alam Teknokrat for this next step in the expansion and growth of the AltaVista Worldwide Network," said Ilene H. Lang, president and chief executive officer of AltaVista Internet Software, Inc., and vice president of Digital Equipment Corporation. "Internet use is growing explosively in Asia, and we anticipate great interest in the AltaVista Search service. Based in Malaysia’s Multimedia Super Corridor, this mirror site will provide access to AltaVista for significantly more Asian users at higher performance, and will open opportunities for companies seeking to use the Internet and intranets for business purposes." On the same note, YBhg, Dato Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ridzuan Salleh, chairman of Alam Teknokrat Sdn Bhd said, "We are equally pleased and honored to have been afforded the opportunity to be an Asian affiliate of the AltaVista Worldwide Network. The establishment of this Asian mirror site signifies Alam Teknokrat’s commitment to facilitating and developing the growth and use of the Internet in Asia. Simultaneously, we intend to position ourselves as one of the major catalysts in realizing the Government’s effort to promote Malaysia as a regional hub for the development and growth of the Information Technology industry." HTI Systems Sdn Bhd’s executive director, Kamaluddin Abdullah Badawi, in reference to the systems integration component of the AltaVista Asian mirror site said, "As a home-grown Malaysian company we are especially pleased to play our part in helping other Malaysian companies take Malaysia to the forefront of technological excellence in the world of the Internet. Our role here ties in neatly with our corporate tag line of Computing for the Future." Jamaludin Ibrahim, chief executive officer and managing director of Digital Equipment (M) Sdn Bhd said, "Digital Malaysia is extremely proud to have Malaysia chosen as the third mirror site in the world for the AltaVista Worldwide Network expansion. It is indeed a timely decision in sync with the vast growth of the IT industry in the region. This also goes to show that the world recognizes Malaysia for its technological skills and credibility." The AltaVista Internet Search service, created by Digital Equipment Corporation researchers in Palo Alto, California and operated by Digital’s AltaVista Internet Software subsidiary, enables an Internet user to find precise information on the World Wide Web and the Usenet newsgroups without having to know where on the Internet the information resides. AltaVista’s index includes over 15 billion words from more than 30 million Web pages on over 275,600 Web servers around the world, plus four million articles from 14,000 USENET newsgroups. It is the fastest and most popular search engine on the Internet, responding to more than 24 million queries daily with sub-second performance. AltaVista OnSite Computing solutions provide secure, simple and direct access to information and people over the Internet and private intranets. AltaVista Search, Directory, Tunnel, Firewall, Forum and Mail products give users a competitive edge, enabling productive business to take place from anywhere. Further information on AltaVista OnSite Computing is available at http://www.altavista.software.digital.com, or by calling 1-800-336-7890 in the U.S. Alam Teknokrat Sdn Bhd is an entrepreneurial company providing a broad range of Internet tools and solutions to allow businesses improved interaction with their customers. Alam Teknokrat also enhances the online experience of Internet users by providing an easy-to-use search platform that is current, entertaining, and informative. HTI Systems is an IT solutions company specializing in systems integration, consultancy services, application services as well as operation and maintenance services. With its corporate tag line "Computing for the Future," its breadth of commercial and industrial solutions, and the depth of its technology applications, HTI Systems aims to be a premier IT solutions provider contributing significantly to the development of the Multimedia Super Corridor. Digital Equipment Corporation is the world’s leader in open client/server solutions from personal computing to integrated worldwide information systems. Digital’s scaleable Alpha and Intel platforms, storage, networking, software and services, together with industry-focused solutions from business partners, help organizations compete and win in today’s global marketplace.
Note to Editors: DIGITAL, the DIGITAL logo and AltaVista are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. PRESS CONTACTS:
AltaVista Internet Software
Digital Equipment Corporation (Malaysia)
CORP/97/526   
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