"Our Company couldn't exist as it is without the Internet. It allows us to have information at our fingertips: it allows us to provide on-line gaming. It's a major piece of our business."

- Paul w. Sams
Director of Business Development
Blizzard Entertainment





"If the service isn't good, we won't use it. Blizzard has dropped ISPs before because they weren't provideing the level of quality we expected. We've stayed with Netcom."

- Paul w. Sams
Director of Business Development
Blizzard Entertainment


Accelerate Your Business over the Internet.

Blizzard Entertainment, a division of the Cendant Corporation (NYSE:CD), is a premier publisher of entertainment software. Since establishing the Blizzard label in 1994, the company has quickly become one of the most popular and well respected makers of computers games. The company's most recent release, Diablo, debuted as number one in the United States and was named 1997 Game of the Year by several gaming publications. Diablo is the first title to take advantage of Blizzard's new on-line game service Battle.net, which allows customers to play games over the Internet for free. since launching in January, Battle.net has become the world's largest on-line gaming service.

Internet Reliability and Performance are key to Blizzard's success.

Being in the highly competitive business of game publishing, Blizzard depends on Internet access to keep up on industry news and keep track of its competition. The Internet is also a valuable research tool and permits Blizzard's staff, which is spread the length of California, to share files and coordinate projects. while Blizzard's main revenues stem from retail sales of its gaming software, the company has aggressively entered the on-line, multi-player gaming business, raising its need for high performance Internet connectivity.

Netcom's Dedicated Internet Service provides T1 Internet access to this interactive game developer with 115 employees spread over three locations. A Netcom T1 connection comes directly to Blizzard's Irvine, California headquarters, providing the backbone of the company's inter-office communication and web access. Netcom also provides an integrated router/firewall combination to ensure security of corporate data.

Netcom connection helps Blizzard support its corporate Web site.

Netcom helps Blizzard by supporting its corporate web site (www.blizzard.com) to maintain close coordination and high-speed data transfer between the company's three development sites. This allows faster and more productive communications and project collaboration between staff members. Blizzard also utilizes its Netcom T1 connection to stay in touch with its customers and provide on-line product information which has reduced overhead costs and improved response time.

At Netcom, we have the performance, reliability and the support to put companies like Blizzard on the Internet, thanks to our expansive network. If you're looking to accelerate your business on the Internet, look to Netcom. We provide scalable, flexible Internet solutions to over 500,000 individuals and 12,000 businesses each and every day.



    Services Blizzard Entertainment Uses   Benefits
  DirectConnect T1 service.   High-speed continuous and reliable Internet connectivity.
  Business Web Site.   Establish corporate identity on Web and allows file sharing and project coordination among remote sites.
  Integrated router/firewall combination for the Internet/Intranet.   Customized needs assignment to ensure security of corporate data.
  24 hour, 7 days-a-week, person-to-person toll-free support.   Technical support on demand any time- day or night. Keeps the business up and running on the Internet.