| Thu 22 Mar 2001, 0:00 | | Isolution In Joint Venture With Media24 Limited To |
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Interconnective Solutions Limited
PRESS RELEASE
22 March 2001
ISOLUTION IN JOINT VENTURE WITH MEDIA24 LIMITED TO FORM AUDIO24
Media24 Limited - which is one of South Africa's largest print media vendors
and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Naspers Limited - has entered into a joint
venture agreement with Interconnnective Solutions Limited (which is listed on
the Venture Capital Sector of the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa ("JSE")
as Isolution), and has formed an operating company which will trade under the
name and style of Audio24. Naspers Limited is one of the JSE's biggest media
groups.
This new company will provide a number of services for the various brands
within the Media24 stable - including such household names as You, Huisgenoot,
Drum, City Press, Beeld, Finance Week, Finansies en Tegniek, and many more from
the approximately 140 Naspers titles currently being published.
Commenting on this new venture, Isolution Managing Director Mark Smith says:
"The relationship which has been established with Media24 is extremely exciting
as it provides the platform from which Isolution can launch a number of its
services with the ability to syndicate across the Media24 brands."
"This will allow Isolution, in conjunction with Media24, to provide a host of
value-added services to the subscriber and readership base of Media24. The
services developed and those currently under development will allow Isolution,
via Audio24, to enhance and utilise the content of the various publications of
Media24 by providing a voice portal."
Media24's Managing Director, Salie de Swardt, commented that its business
fundamentally comprised developing quality content into trusted brands, and
that Media24 is excited about this tie-up which promises not only to enhance
its existing clientele's experience of those brands but also to create new
revenue opportunities.
Isolution recently announced its intention to restructure its business to focus
primarily on Interactive Voice Response networks, operating as a bureau-based
facility which hosts and terminates voice and data on behalf of a wide variety
of clients as well as providing its own proprietary services. The formation of
Audio24 is well-timed to take advantage of Isolution having been licensed
recently by Telkom to operate as a Premium Rate Service Provider.
As the first company to pilot the re-introduction of premium rate services in
South Africa via the Telkom network, the award of this license enables
Isolution to answer calls on behalf of Telkom on its own IVR platform, which
means that Audio24 will be able to provide its clients with a number of
value-added services including competitions; televoting and information lines;
financial, medical, health, and logistical services; research and information
services; and much more.
Managing Director, Mark Smith says: "Our focus is to develop a mix of services
with the lion's share orientated around business applications, and then to top
this up with services which are seasonal, such as competitions, televoting and
general entertainment. We pride ourselves in developing and managing
intricate and innovative services which elevate premium rate services to
different dimensions.
ENDS
For further technical information, contact:
Mark Smith
Interconnective Solutions Limited
P O Box 2404
RANDBURG
2125
Tel: (011) 787 2127
Fax: (011) 787 2137
Compiled and issued on behalf of the client by:
Jacquerie Marketing cc
P O Box 32848
GLENSTANTIA
0010
Tel & Fax : (012) 993 1668
e-mail: dsoons@vtms.co.za
For editorial queries, please contact: Dave Soons
