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24th November 2003

FreePint Launches Interactive VIP Service Click for Press Release PDF. FreePint, the world's largest online community of research workers, launches VIP on stand 292 at Online Information 2003, London December 3-5th. VIP is targeted at the international business information community and is vital reading for information professionals, knowledge managers, IT professionals, Web content managers and intranet managers. The new service is unique because it is interactive. VIP will evolve and adapt with reader feedback. The new VIP service from FreePint comprises two separate subscription- based electronic products, the main monthly publication ‘VIP' and the twice-monthly ‘VIP Eye'. Both focus on information products and information people. Subscriptions will start in January 2004. VIP, published monthly, includes information product reviews, case studies, interviews with senior information industry figures. An invaluable monitoring service will also examine current research and future trends in the information industry. VIP Eye provides a twice- monthly news and analysis briefing service, delivered by email.

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FreePint Brand Continues to Grow

Since 1997, the FreePint community has grown steadily, based primarily on word of mouth. Now with over 60,000 people reading the free newsletter in more than 200 countries, FreePint is the largest community of information searchers in the world.

FreePint will continue to develop the essential free services: the newsletter, the very active FreePint Bar, the Web portal and the recently launched URL shortening service DigBig. All these services remain free due to advertising and sponsorship.

William Hann, Founder and Managing Editor, FreePint, says:

"In the past year we have extended the FreePint brand into selling research reports and interactive training exchanges which have been very popular. We are excited to be adding VIP and VIP Eye to our growing portfolio of products and are delighted that Pam Foster is joining us as Editor of VIP. Annabel Colley from the BBC joined us earlier this year as Editor of FreePint."

VIP's Editor Pam Foster previously edited Headland's ‘Business Information Testdrive' and ‘What's New in Business Information', both of which cease publication at the end of 2003.

Pam Foster, Editor VIP, says:

"The monthly VIP is an exciting development as it is the first publication to give its subscribers the opportunity to really influence content. The emphasis in VIP Eye is on information news analysis rather than merely repeating the latest news. The business information industry is a fast moving sector and it's difficult enough to keep track of products, companies and upcoming developments without considering what the implications mean."

The VIP web site at also has two free services that complement the subscription publications: the Wire and the Lounge. The Wire is a press release database enabling information- related companies and organizations to post their press releases for free, in the knowledge that their news is being read by a targeted community.

Users Drive Content via the VIP Lounge

The VIP Lounge is a free discussion area where VIP members can post their views and ideas for content. Part of VIP's editorial agenda gives readers the chance to directly influence the content. The VIP Lounge will therefore become a significant part of the VIP service -- it will enable the Editor to gather the views of subscribers on what content they'd like to see included in the monthly publication.

Feedback received so far has already revealed that business information researchers want to see comparative reviews of products and this will form the basis of the review section. The first issue contains a comparative review of BVD's AMADEUS and OneSource's Global Business Browser: European Edition. Both provide European company data and financials and the review looks, in particular, at how they compare in their coverage of private companies in the region.

Subscription Information

Annual subscriptions cost GBP145 for VIP and GBP145 for VIP Eye. Discounts are available to non-profit organisations and when subscribing to both. Back issues will be available to purchase online along with one-off reprints.

More information is available at <http://www.vivaVIP.com> together with the opportunity for readers to register their interest.

For further information visit the launch of VIP at Online Information at stand 292 or contact the Editor, Pam Foster by email to <pam.foster@vivavip.com>.

Information for Editors

Established in 1997 and now with more than 60,000 subscribers worldwide, FreePint is the largest community of information searchers in the world. It grows by 1,000 new subscribers every month.

FreePint is a free email newsletter, Web portal and online discussion area (the FreePint Bar). The newsletter is packed with tips and articles on using the Internet for work and serious research. In the six years since FreePint's launch, our expert consultant authors have helped business users find reputable Web sources on a very diverse range of topics - aviation, charities, military history, marketing, law and finance.

FreePint also publishes information-related jobs, book reviews, events and interviews with key industry figures. It commissions and sells original research reports, and hosts interactive exchange seminars on hot topics like search engines, knowledge management and electronic copyright.

FreePint is delighted to be collaborating again this year with Online Information 2003 in running the award for innovation in customer service which will be presented to an exhibitor at the Gala Awards dinner at this year's show.

FreePint's sister company Willco Limited at <http://www.Willco.com> provides modular community hosting technology to online communities and member- oriented Web sites. Willco technology runs the FreePint site and over 50 other network sites. Willco also provides the popular URL shortening service DigBig.com.

Useful Addresses

http://www.vivaVIP.com
http://www.freepint.com
http://www.Willco.com
http://www.DigBig.com


SPECIAL ONLINE INFORMATION PROMOTION. Win an advertising account. Stand 292 for details.

Press Contact:

Annabel Colley

annabel.colley@freepint.com
+44 (0)7730 972733
http://www.vivavip.com

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