Online Game Publisher Funcom Selects asknet as Its Worldwide eCommerce Partner

Online Game Publisher Funcom Selects asknet as Its Worldwide eCommerce Partner

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- asknet Inc., one of the leading international global eCommerce providers, and an expert in Internet-based software sales, has been chosen to process Funcom's physical product online sales worldwide. Funcom is a world-leading independent developer and publisher of computer and console games with a focus on Adventure Action and Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG). Funcom has moved its eCommerce solution to asknet from a competitive service for online sales of physical goods. It cited, above all, asknet's extensive variety of payment methods and its efficient and flexible shop solution as the decisive factors in switching services.

Funcom produces Anarchy Online (AO), a science fiction-themed massive multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG), which is one of the most popular Online Games in Europe and North America.

Before playing the game, a customer needs to purchase software in either a box or by download, which enables access to the online game. In addition, merchandise such as t-shirts and posters may be ordered and shipped by logistic partners in Europe and North America. After purchasing the access software, a customer is able to play the online game for a predetermined period of time. Once the time period expires, the customer may subscribe online for an extension.

"To effectively sell online games, a reliable world-class eBusiness infrastructure is absolutely necessary that meets the needs of all participants in the eCommerce process (customer, publisher and external partners). In addition, our customers need the capability to pay using their favorite or most familiar payment method whether they are in Europe, Asia or North America," stated Jan Inge Thorgersen, CFO, Funcom. "Decisive factors in our selection of asknet were its wide range of payment processing methods, along with the flexibility of its technology in how it integrated with our external warehousing partners."

"asknet delivers highly reliable and scalable outsourced solutions to standardize and customize eCommerce workflows that meet the individual needs of both growing and established software vendors," said Dietmar Waudig, Chief Executive Officer, asknet Inc. "Based on our international experience in online sales and the flexibility of our technology and marketing programs, we are able to offer online game publishers, such as Funcom, solutions that help them maximize sales, minimize cost and investment, and increase their access to customer data."

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 sites that combine flexibility, integration and transparency. asknet does not offer a cookie cutter solution targeted at thousands of small software publishers. Instead, asknet focuses on fast growing and already established software publishers that demand individualized service -- companies that have outgrown one-size-fits-all offerings. From its own high-availability data center, asknet operates more than 100 end-to-end eCommerce sites that promote, sell, license, distribute and maintain/upgrade software and digital media worldwide. Customers include Absolute Software, ACD Systems, Anonymizer, Astaro, InterVideo, Konica/Minolta, Opera, Simple Star, Steganos, SUSE Linux and TechSmith. For more information, please visit http://www.asknet.com/?pr=funcom.

About Funcom:

Funcom is an independent developer and publisher of computer and console games with a focus on Adventure Action and Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG). Funcom has provided outstanding entertainment since 1993 and continues to expand its track-record of 23 released games to date. Recent successes include the multi-award winning The Longest Journey, the award-winning and critically acclaimed Anarchy Online - The Notum Wars and the heralded masterpiece Anarchy Online - Shadowlands. For corporate information, please visit http://www.funcom.com/. For information about Anarchy Online, visit http://www.anarchy-online.com/. For information about Dreamfall, visit http://www.dreamfall.com/. Images and information for press can be found at ftp://Press@ftp.funcom.com.

asknet is a registered trademark of asknet, Inc. Funcom is a registered trademark of Funcom. All other company and product names are trademarks, registrations or copyrights of their respective owners.

asknet Media Contacts:

North America
Inese Hoover
Director of Marketing
(630) 300-4787
Email: inese.hoover@asknet.com

Europe
Jurgen Weichert
Vice President eDelivery Services
+ 49 721 96458-37
Email: juergen.weichert@asknet.de

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com/.


Source: asknet Inc.

CONTACT: North America, Inese Hoover, Director of Marketing,
+1-630-300-4787, inese.hoover@asknet.com; or Jurgen Weichert, Vice President
eDelivery Services, + 49 721 96458-37, juergen.weichert@asknet.de, both of
asknet

Web site: http://www.funcom.com/

Web site: http://www.anarchy-online.com/

Web site: http://www.dreamfall.com/

Web site: http://www.asknet.com/?pr=funcom


-------
Profile: intent