WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Dec. 8, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Just in time for the holidays, United Online, (Nasdaq:UNTD), a leading provider of consumer Internet subscription services, announced that it is auctioning off 10 specially-created NetZero Voice "Long Distance for Life" accounts on eBay(r) starting today, with all proceeds going to Ronald McDonald House Charities(r). The ultimate gift for those with the gift of gab, these accounts will provide free NetZero Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) Internet phone calling to anyone, anytime, anywhere in the world for life. The auction starts today, Thursday, December 8th (8:00 am Pacific), and ends on Saturday, December 17th (8:00 AM Pacific). The minimum opening bid price for this unique gift will start at $50.00. To bid in the auction, go to the NetZero Voice auction page on www.ebay.com.
"We are all looking for a unique gift to give someone special for the holidays," said Matt Wisk, chief marketing officer, United Online, Inc. "Giving them free long distance for life is not only unique, but with long distance and international phone rates being what they are, it can be a life saver for those who have loved ones who live far away."
These 10 specially-created NetZero Voice "Long Distance for Life" accounts will include unlimited calling from your computer to cell phones and landlines in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. You also get $200 per month of international calling, a personal phone number that allows you to receive unlimited incoming calls to your computer, call forwarding to up to five numbers, and much more.
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 complementary NetZero or Juno Internet access plans. United Online is in the process of equipping all 155 U.S.-based Ronald McDonald Houses with NetZero Voice service to enable families of ill children to stay connected with friends and family across the country for free during their stay.
NetZero Voice works with virtually any ISP service, dial-up or broadband, can be quickly downloaded from www.netzerovoice.com, and installed in just a few minutes. There are five value-priced NetZero Voice calling plans ranging from free to $14.95 per month. To sign up for a pay service, a U.S. billing address is required. All five plans include an assortment of premium features including:
-- Free voicemail with the NetZero Message Center -- Free NetZero email account -- Instant messaging capabilities -- Caller ID -- Call waiting -- Call blocking -- Unlimited calls to other NetZero Voice members worldwide
To sign up or for more information about NetZero Voice, please visit www.netzerovoice.com.
The specific terms and conditions regarding this auction and the NetZero Voice service are available on the NetZero Voice auction page on www.ebay.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, social networking services, Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) calling plans, premium email, personal web hosting and domain services, and photo-sharing services. 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.