Netzero and Juno are merging to form United Online, Inc.

[NFS4]

Just got this email, as I am using Netzero Platinum right now:

Dear NetZero Users,

Earlier today, it was announced that NetZero and Juno Online Services have agreed to a strategic merger. Together we will form a new company, United Online, Inc. This exciting merger will bring together the two clear leaders in the free and value priced Internet access markets to form the second largest Internet access provider in the United States.

While the merger will take a few months to close, be assured that you will continue to receive top quality Internet access from NetZero and your email address will not change. In the future, United Online will unveil new products and services that will further enhance your online experience.

It is important to note that both services, NetZero and Juno, will continue going forward and we will strive to create the best possible Internet access experience for each and every one of you. As a bigger, stronger company with significant resources in capital, technology and people, the new United Online, Inc. will be one of the premier ISP organizations in the world.

We thank you for your continued support and look forward to
a very exciting future under the United Online umbrella!

Sincerely,

Mark R. Goldston
Chairman and CEO of NetZero, Inc.

 

[pulse8]

United Online? Is that anything like America Online?

 

[purplecow]

This is getting scary!

 

[dcdomain]

Ok, what I don't get is why they are creating a new company. It sounds like they care continuing the services of the two separate companies in addition to this new company. If I were them (which I'm not and probably not qualified to decide) I would have kept the Netzero name. Throw the Juno name out and just consolidate everything into Netzero. Why? Because I think Netzero is more known than Juno, and obviously more known than United Online.

After the merger basically, all the money they spent marketing the Netzero name in the advertisements and sponsoring all those NBA games will be lost. They are going to have to waste more money getting United Online out there.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Juno is very well known by name for their free E-Mail.

 

[somethingwitty]

the united online halftime show...doesnt sound too good.

On a more serious note, any idea if the new company will take on Juno's Service Terms, which, I recall hearing, allows for some form of forced distributed computing?

 

[The Wildcard]

Hmm, the name "United Online" sounds stupid, lol.

 

[Homer_Simpson]

Hmm...this will be interesting...

Homer

 

[bonkers325]

oh my
are they trying to kill aol

 

[monto]

now for your United Online Half-time Report

 

[tim0thy]

<< now for your United Online Half-time Report >>

shivers... that just doesn't sound right... and even then it took me a while to get used to netzero half-time report... sigh.

 

[huey1124]

i wonder if United Online will have user interface like that of AOL. in my opinion, AOL has gotten very popular and became #1, by making internet easy enough for monkeys to navigate. on top of that, majority of teens and pre-teens got on AOL just for the chatrooms and the buddylist. unless AOL has some kind of patents on those, United Online should probably adopt some of those features to compete with AOL.

 

[dc]

i agree with dcdomain, they are stupid for just throwing out two brandnames they spent millions to make known.

 

[dcpsoguy]

I disagree with your reasoning of changing the name. I think it is a very good decision to change the name. IT would have hurt them if they changed their name in a crowded market, but, the free ISP market is not a crowded market