[wg-b] www.bye-bye-aol.com

[Judith Oppenheimer <joppenheimer@icbtollfree.com>]

Below is an August '98 Businesswire release put out by US
Xchange for its www.bye-bye-aol.com site and service.  I'm
curious how the group feels about this use of the AOL name
in the domain name of an AOL competitor etc. ...

Judith

-----------------------------------------------

Billboard Headline Leads to Interactive Payoff for
Telecommunications Company


    MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 17, 1998--US
Xchange is utilizing a unique multimedia campaign to
advertise its
new Internet services. The headline of US Xchange's new
billboard,
"www.bye-bye-aol.com" is also a registered Internet address
for the
company. Meyer & Wallis, creator of the campaign, is unaware
of
any other instance where a campaign's marketing message has
been
used as an Internet domain name.


"The headline in this campaign could stand alone," said Tom
Dixon creative director at Meyer & Wallis. "The fact that
there is a
registered interactive payoff when consumers type in
www.bye-bye-aol.com on their web browser is unique."


    "We suspect that people will be curious and try the
advertised site just like the thousands of people
who called 867-5309 and asked for Jenny in the 80s," added
Steve Yoder, Copy Writer at Meyer &
Wallis.


    At "www.bye-bye-aol.com" consumers will be greeted with
a waving animated hand and
information on why they should switch from America Online to
US Xchange Internet services. The
interactive page begins with the copy: "So long slow,
overcrowded online services. Farewell
overpriced monthly access rates." And goes on to offer the
starting rate of just $8.95 a month for fast,
reliable access and better customer service than any of the
existing providers. Visitors to the site than
are provided an 800 telephone number, as well as a hot link
to the US Xchange home page for
sign-up information.


    "Bye-bye-aol.com" (Billboard and Site)
    Creative Director - Tom Dixon
    Copy Writer - Steve Yoder
    Art Director - Jim Brooks
    Production Artist - Cathy Pritzl


    Formed in 1996 by former telecommunications executives,
US Xchange is a regional, full service
telecommunications provider, mainly targeted to businesses,
that offers more personal service than the
existing competition. In addition to unparalleled service,
US Xchange offers consumers a complete
portfolio of telephone and Internet services,
easy-to-understand invoicing, and guaranteed satisfaction.
Currently, US Xchange services are available in targeted
cities in Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana and
Illinois.


    Meyer & Wallis is a full service communications firm
headquartered in downtown Milwaukee with
a second office in Indianapolis. In addition to US Xchange
major clients include: Meijer stores,
Sheaffer Pen, Voortman Cookies, The Milwaukee Bucks,
Shorewest Realtors, Pick 'n Save and
Cardinal Stritch University.

--
Judith Oppenheimer, 1 800 The Expert, 212 684-7210
mailto:joppenheimer@icbtollfree.com
Publisher of ICB Toll Free News: http://icbtollfree.com
Publisher of WhoSells800.com: http://whosells800.com
Moderator TOLLFREE-L:
http://www.egroups.com/group/tollfree-l/info.html
President of ICB Consultancy: http://JudithOppenheimer.com:
800 #
Acquisition Management, Lost 800 # Retrieval, Litigation
Support,
Regulatory Navigation, Correlating Trademark and Domain Name
Issues.