ATLANTA, Apr 7, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- EarthLink (ELNK) , one of the nation's largest Internet service providers (ISPs), and eBay, The World's Online Marketplace, today announced an agreement that will extend EarthLink's award-winning products and services to eBay's community of users in the United States.

EarthLink has created a unique offering for eBay users that includes a customizable email address at the domain name PlaneteBay.net. Available now, members of the eBay community who subscribe to the co-branded offer, have access to a personal start page that is customized to fit each user's preferences. The personal start page allows users to include eBay features and tools to manage their eBay activities, including monitoring listings, tracking bids and searching for items. Additional features include access to "My eBay," which automatically updates and displays users' item listings, and alert functionality that enables them to check the status of an eBay listing just before it ends.

"Our customers tell us they want speed and security while online," said Mike Lunsford, EarthLink's executive vice president of products and marketing. "With features like the EarthLink Accelerator, Spyware Blocker and Virus Blocker, PlaneteBay.net customers have access to all of our award-winning tools and services, to enable them to enjoy their time spent online with greater piece of mind."

"eBay users have been asking us for an eBay affinity email address for a long time, and we're pleased to team up with EarthLink to introduce this offering now," said Gary Dillabough, vice president of Strategic Partnerships for eBay. "The PlaneteBay.net address gives sellers a distinct address by which they can further promote their eBay business, and it offers buyers another way to be connected to the eBay community."

PlaneteBay.net Email Domain Charity Auction

To raise awareness of this offering, initial subscribers will have the opportunity to participate in a charity auction on eBay from April 12th to 18th to bid on unique PlaneteBay.net email addresses, such as automobiles@planetebay.net. All proceeds will be donated to Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda. ( www.fbla-pbl.org ). FBLA-PBL is a nonprofit business education association with a quarter of a million students preparing for careers in business and business-related fields. The profits will go toward student and adviser services and recognition programs. To participate in the charity auction, go to www.ebay.com/earthlink .

"We are grateful to be the beneficiaries of this unique new program," says FBLA-PBL President and CEO Jean Buckley. "And we are excited to work with two dynamic organizations such as eBay and EarthLink."

eBay enthusiasts interested in becoming PlaneteBay.net subscribers can find more information on this at http://www.planetebay.net .

About EarthLink

"EarthLink revolves around you(SM)." As a leading national Internet service provider (ISP) headquartered in Atlanta, EarthLink has earned an award winning reputation for outstanding customer service and its suite of online products and services. According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Internet Service Provider Residential Customer Satisfaction Study(SM), EarthLink is ranked highest in customer satisfaction among high-speed Internet Service Providers. Serving over five million subscribers, EarthLink offers what every user should expect from their Internet experience: high-quality connectivity, minimal drop-offs and ISP-generated intrusions, and customizable features. Whether it's dial-up, high-speed, Web hosting, or wireless Internet service, EarthLink provides the tools that best let individuals use and enjoy the Internet on their own terms. Learn more about EarthLink by calling (800) EARTHLINK or visiting EarthLink's Web site at www.earthlink.net .

SOURCE EarthLink

Jerry Grasso of EarthLink, +1-404-748-7208, or
grassoj@corp.earthlink.net

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