Plaxo Releases Plaxo 2.0, Enabling Users to Access Yahoo - Search From the Microsoft Outlook Platform
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA (ots)
New API Allows Businesses to "Plaxo-Enable" Applications, Extending Reach and Utility of the Plaxo Network
Plaxo, Inc. creator of the fastest growing contact management software and network, today announced the availability of Plaxo 2.0, a new version of the company's popular contact management software. For the first time ever, Plaxo 2.0 enables users to access Yahoo! Search directly from their Outlook and Outlook Express programs by embedding the Yahoo! Search window in the Plaxo toolbar. Plaxo will generate revenue on searches performed.
Other featured enhancements of Plaxo 2.0 include the ability to synchronize a user's calendar, contacts, tasks and notes on a Plaxo Web page for anywhere, anytime access. Plaxo 2.0 also includes a major redesign of the user interface and a new "microblog" feature.
"Plaxo 2.0 with Yahoo! Search functionality brings search and email -- the two most popular online activities -- together in a single platform," said Todd Masonis, co-founder and vice president of products, Plaxo. "We believe the new features will be instrumental in the continued rapid growth of the Plaxo Network. Since launching in May 2003, we've registered more than two million users and are growing at a rate of 10,000-12,000 new members daily. The Plaxo Network is fast becoming an important new layer of the Internet, like email, instant messaging and Web browsing."
Plaxo 2.0 seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, and PDA devices via the Outlook platform. Plaxo 2.0 works by enabling users to choose contacts in their address book from whom they want to receive updated information. Users then send Plaxo Update Requests to the selected contacts, allowing the contact to reply either by email or via a secure Website. Plaxo processes the replies and integrates updated information into the user's address book.
Users join the Plaxo Network by downloading Plaxo 2.0. The benefits of membership include automatic updates to their address book whenever a contact's information changes, Web-based access to their address book, calendar, task, and notes information, as well as synchronization and backup. At all times, members of the service control how their information is used and with whom it is shared.
Plaxo adheres to the strictest security standards, taking the same precautions as major banks and financial institutions. Plaxo uses Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology for all communication both on the Web and in the Outlook Platform. In addition, Plaxo has adopted one of the industry's most stringent privacy policies.
Plaxo 2.0
More than two million users stay connected via the Plaxo Network, the first robust contacts infrastructure for Internet users, and more than 30 million unique users have responded to Plaxo Update Requests. Many of the new features of Plaxo 2.0 are based on user feedback. New features include:
- Yahoo! Search: The most valuable Internet real estate is no longer in the Web-browser but in email, where users spend a significant time online. Plaxo 2.0 enables users to conveniently search the Internet from within their Outlook or Outlook Express email client, making it unnecessary to leave their inboxes and open a browser to perform a search.
- Calendar, Tasks, and Notes: Plaxo 2.0 empowers users to synchronize more than just Outlook Contacts and get more organized. Outlook Calendar, Tasks and Notes are now synchronized with Plaxo.
- Redesigned and Enhanced User Interface: Plaxo 2.0 comes equipped with a new My Plaxo start page with improved layout and user features. The Plaxo Toolbar, Plaxo Cards and Update Requests are also completely redesigned with increased functionality.
- Microblog: Plaxo 2.0 allows a Plaxo member to include a short amount of text in their Plaxo Card on what's new in their life. The microblog can be updated as often as members would like.
Plaxo 2.0 is free for non-commercial use and is available at www.plaxo.com.
In other news today, the company also announced the availability of an open application program interface (API) to enable third party applications and Web sites that maintain address books for customers to leverage the power of the Plaxo Network. By "Plaxo-enabling" applications, partners using the API benefit from having their customers' address books sync with the Plaxo Network, enabling their customers to stay connected with the most up-to-date contact information.
About Plaxo
Plaxo, Inc. is the creator of the fastest-growing contact management software, Plaxo 2.0. With more than 2 million registered users, and over 30 million unique users, Plaxo has created the critical network infrastructure that keeps people connected on the Internet. Founded by Stanford engineers, Todd Masonis and Cameron Ring, and former Napster co-founder Sean Parker, Plaxo is a privately held company funded by Cisco Systems, Sequoia Capital, Globespan Capital Partners, Harbinger Ventures, Ram Shriram, Tim Koogle and other angel investors. For more information or to become a part of the Plaxo Network please visit www.plaxo.com.
Contact:
Scott Epstein
Plaxo Inc
Phone: +1/650/810-1088
E-Mail: sepstein@plaxo.com
Dariana Lau
Bite Communications
Phone: +1/415/365/0404
E-Mail: dariana.lau@bitepr.com