WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. and OAK BROOK, Ill., Dec. 8, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- During the next few months, United Online, (Nasdaq:UNTD), a leading provider of consumer Internet subscription services, will equip all 155 U.S.-based Ronald McDonald Houses(r) with its new Internet phone calling service, NetZero Voice. The service, which provides local and long distance calling over virtually any dial-up or broadband Internet connection, will enable families of ill children to stay connected with friends and family across the country for free.
United Online has been the official Internet service provider for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC(r)) since 2003. Roughly 80 percent of all Ronald McDonald Houses in the United States are equipped with complimentary NetZero or Juno Internet access plans. The goal is to equip all U.S. Ronald McDonald Houses with NetZero Voice.
"We think it's incredibly important for families, who may be apart due to the illness of a sick child, to be able to stay connected, especially during the upcoming holiday season," said Matt Wisk, chief marketing officer for United Online. "Our goal is give these families one less thing to worry about during their stay at a Ronald McDonald House -- their long-distance phone bill."
"Being able to reach out to family members back home is crucial for our guest families," said Ken Barun, president and CEO of RHMC. "The ability to make free phone calls will help our guests maintain the familial support that is so crucial during such a stressful time."
The Ronald McDonald House program, the cornerstone of RMHC, began with one House in Philadelphia in 1974, with the goal of providing a "home-away-from-home" for families of seriously ill children receiving treatment in nearby hospitals. Today, there are more than 250 Ronald McDonald Houses in 28 countries.
NetZero Voice uses Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) to provide local and long distance calling over the Internet via almost any dial-up or broadband Internet connection. Using a computer equipped with a headset, users can make free calls and talk as long as they want to friends and families anywhere in the United States, Canada or Puerto Rico.
For more information about NetZero Voice, please visit www.netzerovoice.com.
About United Online
United Online, Inc. (Nasdaq:UNTD) is a leading provider of consumer Internet subscription services through a number of brands, including NetZero, NetZero Voice, Juno, and Classmates. The company's services include Internet access, accelerated dial-up services, Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) calling plans, premium email, personal web hosting and domain services, photo sharing services and social networking. United Online is headquartered in Woodland Hills, CA, with offices in New York City, NY, Renton, WA, San Francisco, CA, Orem, UT, Munich, Germany, Jarfalla, Sweden, and Hyderabad, India. For more information about United Online and its Internet services, please visit http://www.untd.com.
About Ronald McDonald House Charities
Ronald McDonald House Charities, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. Its programs are grassroots-driven to enable the Charity to offer help where children need it most -- right in their own communities. RMHC makes an immediate, positive impact on children's lives through its global network of local Chapters in nearly 50 countries and its three core programs: the Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family Room(tm) and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile(tm). RMHC and its global network of local Chapters have awarded more than $410 million in grants and program services to children's programs around the world. For more information, please visit www.rmhc.org.