MANCHESTER UNITED OFFERS NEW INTERNET SERVICE TO BRING FANS EVEN CLOSER TO OLD TRAFFORD
World's largest football club teams up with UUNET to make it even easier for fans to connect to the club
Manchester United Football Club is to offer free Internet access to its fans. The club has chosen UUNET, the Internet services division of MCI WorldCom, to deliver ManUFree.net to UK fans from July 15th 1999.
The initiative will be a major first for any free online access service as Manchester United and UUNET are currently developing a similar package that will be available for its international supporters and global markets. This will begin roll-out later in the year.
UK subscribers to ManUFree.net will receive five e-mail addresses in the form of: xx@manchesterunited.net. E-mail messages will be accessible from any PC connected to the Internet via a WWW browser interface. The package will also include dial-up access to the Internet via an '0845' telephone number charged at local call rates; access to the official Manchester United online news server providing up to the minute club news, as well as 20MB of web space for fans to create their own personal Web site.
The service is supported by a helpdesk, contactable online or via the telephone (charged at 50 pence per minute in the UK), providing advice with any problems encountered using the service, e.g. registration, software installation, sending/receiving e-mail, connection to the network, accessing the News server.
Manchester United is using the global Internet infrastructure of UUNET to deliver the high quality service. This is the highest capacity, most widely deployed Internet network in the world. Manchester United already uses the UUNET network to run its popular Web site, www.manutd.com, which, among other things, delivers live radio commentary on all of Manchester United's Premiership matches to a worldwide audience.
David Gill, Finance Director of Manchester United PLC, said:
"The aim of the Manchester United Web site is to connect our fans both in the UK and around the world to the Club and offer a comprehensive set of online services that they can enjoy. ManUFree.net is a natural extension of this offering. However, it is paramount that this service, as with all Manchester United offerings, be of the highest quality. UUNET has met our demanding criteria for an Internet Service Provider that could provide a robust, reliable and truly global Internet network for our fans around the globe."
UUNET's UK Marketing Director, Joe Clift, added: "The relationship with Manchester United signifies an exciting phase for UUNET. The ongoing investment of US$2 million per day in our global Internet infrastructure has enabled us to develop and support the innovative services of world class organisations, such as Manchester United. I have no doubt that this alliance of 'premier providers' will deliver an exciting future for the club, its millions of fans and, of course, for UUNET."
Online registration facilities for ManUFree.net can be found at www.manutd.com or obtained via CD-Rom from "Manchester United" the official club magazine.
