Media Relations

PeoplePC Rolls Out Vivendi Universal Group Employee Connectivity Program; PeoplePC's Largest European Enterprise Program To Date Made Available to Over 260,000 Employees

3/1/2001 8:02:00 AM

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 1, 2001--PeoplePC (Nasdaq:PEOP), the company that makes it easy and affordable to get online, today announced the rollout of the largest employee connectivity program ever initiated in Europe. The pioneer in wiring workforces around the world, PeoplePC will be managing the NetGener@tion program for Vivendi Universal (NYSE:V), a leading global media and communications company, and Vivendi Environment, the world leader in environmental services. Today Vivendi Universal's CEO Jean-Marie Messier and PeoplePC's CEO Nick Grouf will be debuting the program at an employee event taking place at the Vivendi Universal Group headquarters in Paris, France.

The program offers the comprehensive PeoplePCTM home computing solution to its 260,000 employees around the globe. Vivendi employees will pay a nominal monthly fee of three Euro dollars (approximately $2.75 U.S. dollars) over a period of three years, with Vivendi subsidizing the remaining costs.

It is projected that the first phase of this rollout will increase Internet usage by 3% in France(1). The first phase of the Vivendi NetGener@tion rollout commences in France, with 110,000 employees in 31 regions receiving the opportunity to purchase a PeoplePC home computing package. The deployment of this program involves a weekly delivery of between 3,000 and 5,000 PCs to employees' homes, the mobilization of 2000 trucks, a team of 6,000 people, and the printing of over 100,000 PeoplePC 'Welcome Packs' which provide a step-by-step guide to connecting to the Internet.

In launching the NetGener@tion program, chairman and chief executive of Vivendi Universal, Jean-Marie Messier said: "The Internet is a simple tool which is easy to access and will soon be indispensable in our daily life. Nobody should feel excluded from this digital revolution and that is why I want all the employees of the group, whatever their professional field or qualifications, to have in their home a computer for their personal and family use. This operation, named 'Vivendi NetGener@tion', is the first of its kind in Europe and will be managed by PeoplePC."

"The Vivendi NetGener@tion program is an investment in the company's people, which is really an investment in its future," said Nick Grouf, chairman and chief executive officer, PeoplePC Inc. "In our experience, such programs garner a host of benefits for the companies that participate in them -- from cutting communications costs to greatly increasing employees' technology skills -- all things that help a company stay competitive in the digital economy."

The bundled package for the NetGener@tion program includes a brand-name new computer, fully loaded with software, a color printer, unlimited Internet access, online training, superior technical support, and membership in a unique global online community.

PeoplePC is rolling out similar global employee connectivity programs for Ford Motor Company, Delta Air Lines, The National Trade Union Corporation of Singapore, The New York Times Company, and Ogilvy & Mather Advertising and OgilvyOne.

(1) Source : Netvalue et GFk. Le nombre d'internautes francais est a l'heure actuelle de 6,8 millions.

About PeoplePC

PeoplePC (Nasdaq:PEOP) is a company that makes it easy and affordable to get online so that everyone can have access to and participate in the digital economy. PeoplePC offers its unique end-to-end solution both to consumers and to corporations interested in wiring their workforces and creating deeper relationships with customers.. A PeoplePC membership comes complete with a new, brand-name computer system, unlimited Internet access, and high-quality customer support and service. There's also a unique, customizable online community that fosters long-term connections with PeoplePC members and ongoing revenue possibilities. PeoplePC offers its services on a global basis, allowing people across the world to reap the rewards of the digital age. For more information, visit http://www.peoplepc.com.

Note to Editors: (c)2000 PeoplePC, Inc. All Rights Reserved. PeoplePC and its logos are among trademarks of PeoplePC, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks belong to their respective owners.

CONTACT:
Edelman Public Relations
Lori Robinson, 212/704-8241
lori_robinson@edelman.com
or
PeoplePC, Inc.
Kay Moffett, 415/901-6760 (Media)
kmoffett@peoplepchq.com
Kelly Close, 415/901-6731 (Investor Relations)
kclose@peoplepchq.com