180solutions Endorses ITSA Best Practices23 March 2006
180solutions, Inc. today announced its endorsement of and support for the new "Best Practices for Adware" standards issued this week by the Interactive Travel Services Association (ITSA), a Washington, D.C.-area association of online travel-related companies.
180solutions' has long been pushing for strict but fair industry standards designed to safeguard and protect consumers, and has devoted significant effort towards demonstrating that commitment. As a leading provider of Internet search marketing solutions, 180solutions is proud to state that it fully complies with the ITSA best practices guidelines.
"As part of our commitment to best practices, 180solutions' consumers are not only required to provide informed consent before installing our software, but we also provide consumers with a post-installation confirmation message, a reminder of install within 72 hours, an additional reminder 90 days after install, and further reminders every 90 days thereafter," said Keith Smith, Founder and CEO of 180solutions. "In addition, we provide system tray icons for our products that present an obvious and convenient source of information for our users, including un-install information. Further, we label all of our ads with a link to similar program information."
Smith added: "We fully support industry efforts to better define our space and proudly endorse the ITSA's best practices guidelines, which provide consumers and advertisers a reliable and independent way to distinguish between legitimate software and malware."
Ad-serving software that complies with ITSA guidelines is legitimate and beneficial, as ITSA itself recognizes in its guidelines: "Adware can be useful to many consumers because it provides timely, relevant and money-saving information, or it helps defray the cost of free linked software programs. . . . When offered and executed in [compliance with best practices guidelines], ITSA believes that Adware can deliver meaningful benefits to consumers and endorses its use."
180solutions serves more than 20 million active users, offering each user free access to a large and growing catalog of premium content, while at the same time providing unprecedented ROI for advertisers. 180solutions' top priority is to ensure that its applications are safe for users. Simultaneously, it consistently increases value to those consumers, keeping the most compelling online content available for free.
ITSA Best Practices for Adware (also available on ITSA's web site at http://www.interactivetravel.org/Attachments/ITSAAdwarerevised5.pdf):
-- Companies offering Adware to consumers should obtain contemporaneous,
affirmative consent from the consumer prior to download of Adware
and/or bundled software onto the consumer's computer. Adware companies
should provide an easy-to-find, easy-to-understand, prominent
explanation that the program will deliver advertisements once it is
installed, as well as any other information important for consumers to
know so they can decide whether to install the software.
-- In addition to obtaining consent from new prospective consumers, Adware
companies should obtain consent in the manner described above from all
consumers who previously received such Adware (i.e., "Legacy Users") if
such Legacy Users reside on networks where advertisements from a
participating ITSA member are being delivered.
-- Adware companies should provide consumers with an easy-to-find,
easy-to-understand, and easy-to-use means to un-install the Adware at
any time they choose. Un-install applications should clearly identify
all programs and applications that will be removed as part of the
un-install. This includes, but is not limited to, all programs
contained in a bundled software offer and the creator/source of the
Adware offer. Un-install applications should be available from the
Add/Remove Programs facility in the consumer's operating system.
-- Adware companies should conspicuously identify the creator of the
Adware application in all download offers and resulting marketing
communications which are delivered outside of a consumer's browser
window, such as pop-unders and pop-ups.
-- Advertisers should require that, when conducting marketing activities
on the Advertiser's behalf, Adware companies: (i) agree to abide by
these same guidelines, and (ii) establish comparable guidelines with
their marketing affiliates.
About 180solutions, Inc.
180solutions, Inc., headquartered in Bellevue, WA, fuels the creation of the online content economy by providing the tools and marketplace that allow anyone to monetize online content. Within this content economy, consumers gain free access to a large catalog of entertaining and informative content sponsored by time-shifted advertising. Publishers and content developers are provided a legitimate and scalable means to monetize their content, and advertisers increase their reach by delivering highly targeted messages to potential customers who were previously inaccessible. 180solutions is committed to creating a content economy built on a foundation of safe and ethical practices by protecting consumer privacy while offering a fulfilling and high-value content experience. For more information, visit http://www.180solutions.com. You can also visit our blog at blog.180solutions.com
Source: prnewswire
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