Steganos Expands Partnership with asknet and Benefits from the Extensive Portfolio of eMarketing Services A new online marketing tool boosts sales in just 3 months Karlsruhe, 08 March 2006. asknet AG, a global leader in outsourced electronic software sales and distribution services (ESD), and eCircle AG, the leading provider of software and services for Digital Direct Marketing throughout Europe, report increased online marketing results for asknet customer Steganos. Steganos has successfully utilized permission marketing for several years. To improve newsletter efficiency, in November 2005 the company started using the newsletter software eC-messenger from eCircle, one of asknet’s Strategic Alliance marketing solutions partners. After just 3 months, Steganos has reported stunning results. Utilization rate up 50% with effectiveness increased by 60% Since 2002, asknet has developed and hosted the local and international electronic shops for Steganos. Among all eCommerce activities, permission marketing has been one of the most important elements that have driven online sales. In the first two newsletter mailings using the eCmessenger software, the Open Rate improved by 50%. At the same time, Click Through Rates (CTR) surpassed the results from previous mailings as well. A rich set of reporting tools allows tracking the effectiveness of clickable links embedded in the newsletter. By developing more effective links, Steganos reports that the results from the latest mailing have improved yet again and the Click Through Rates are at their highest performance ever. „We look at our 3 year partnership with a great deal of satisfaction, “says Aston Fallen, Managing Director of Steganos GmbH. „asknet offers convincing competences for the development and the operation of eShops that satisfy our high requirements for flexibility, integration and transparency. Moreover we are able to benefit from a broad range of excellent marketing opportunities, custom-tailored to our needs. At the same time, asknet guarantees seamless integration into the existing system. “ „Technology, distribution and marketing go hand in hand, “adds Gerhard Rumpff, Chief Executive Officer, asknet Inc. „In order to support software publishers with increasing their online sales and brand recognition, we have formed strategic alliances with high class marketing providers. The services offered represent best of breed marketing solutions from around the world. Our customers are able to choose from an extensive variety of marketing services to complement their own marketing activities with latest successful online marketing methods. asknet’s eMarketing services offer personalized marketing campaigns, specifically catered to local market needs.” asknet’s Strategic Alliance partner eCircle is a pioneer in the field of professional newsletter systems and Multi Channel broadcast solutions. As one of the largest "senders" in Europe, their software and system management team has ensured reliable email and SMS broadcasting for more than 300 clients who send over 500 million emails per quarter.
About Steganos: Founded in 1996 in Germany, Steganos offers a complete portfolio of user-friendly security and privacy products, including encryption/steganography, antivirus protection, personal firewall and internet anonymity software. Steganos has more than two million users throughout Europe, North America and Latin America. The company markets and sells its products through its website and through its growing network of global resellers, retailers and electronic software distributors. Steganos is a privately held company. For more information on Steganos please see: www.steganos.com About asknet: asknet Inc. is one of the leading global providers of outsourced electronic software sales and distribution services (ESD). The company helps software and other digital media publishers to maximize their online sales by offering hosted eCommerce and vendor marketing services. asknet focuses on fast growing and already established software publishers that demand individualized service--companies that have outgrown in-house and one-size-fits-all offerings. From its own high-availability data center, asknet operates more than a hundred end-to-end eCommerce sites that promote, sell, license, distribute and maintain/upgrade software and digital media worldwide. Customers include ACD Systems, Anonymizer, Astaro, DivXNetworks, InterVideo, Konica/Minolta, Open-Xchange, Opera, Punch!, Simple Star, Steganos, TechSmith,Webroot and Website Pros. For more information, please visit: www.asknet.com/?pr=steganoseCircle About eCircle: eCircle AG is the leading provider of software and services for Digital Marketing throughout Europe. eCircle offers customers – including market leader like Deutsche Post, Thomas Cook, Aral, German Telekom, Quelle, SUN Microsystems or UNICEF – integrated solutions from one source. The portfolio includes high end solutions for newsletter send-outs and email / SMS campaigns, the option to book permission address lists for the management of campaigns and extensive consulting services. eCircle was founded 1999 and is represented with offices in Europe’s key markets Germany, UK, France and Italy. www.ecircle-ag.com Media Contacts: asknet Inc. Inese Hoover Director of Marketing, NA (630) 300-4787 Email: inese.hoover@asknet.com asknet AG Katja Speck Director of Marketing, EMEA + 49 721 96458-6369 Email: katja.speck@asknet.de