EarthLink Business Solutions, a unit of EarthLink Inc., has introduced a new subscription service that guarantees the number of online clicks, or visitors to businesses' websites.

Called Traffic Builder, the new service is a 12-month term product that guarantees delivery of up to 4,800 clicks a year. EarthLink Business Solutions offers six plans with no setup fees.

EarthLink Business Solutions develops and optimizes search terms, creates ad copy, and then loads it across its network of search engine giants such as Google, Yahoo and MSN. When an Internet searcher types in a keyword, the businesses' ads show up adjacent to the search results on the page.

"Traffic Builder demystifies search engine marketing for most small-and-mid-sized businesses in virtually any industry," said Bill Warburton, director of product management for EarthLink Business Solutions. "Businesses simply select the number of guaranteed clicks they want with
their service package and we do the rest. We focus on building Web traffic while our business customers focus on converting leads into sales."

Business customers receive monthly performance email messages. If the website attracts more than the guaranteed number of clicks, there are no charges for additional clicks. On the other hand, if an account underperforms, EarthLink Business Solutions proactively modifies the
editorial content, keywords, generic and geographical search criteria, and automatically uploads changes to the search engines, guaranteeing results for each service package.

For more information on Traffic Builder, see the Earthlink press release.

EarthLink and Sana Security recently announced that they will offer a stand-alone, co-branded version of Sana's award-winning Primary Response SafeConnect anti-malware solution directly to EarthLink subscribers. The companies say this tool will provide another layer of protection consumers require to safeguard their computers and identities from the threats posed by Trojans, bots, rootkits and other malware without the need for scanning or signature updates.

Earlier this year the ISP launched the EarthLink Protection Control Center with Attack Shield, which includes Sana's anti-malware technology embedded in the application. This latest offering enables customers who don't subscribe to that service to utilize Sana's security solution along with their other security programs.

"EarthLink has always been a leader in online security, and one of the clear reasons is that we are an early adopter of innovative protection technologies such as Sana's SafeConnect solution," said Jonathan Young, EarthLink's vice president of software, subscriptions and services. "By expanding our toolset of Sana products, we are able to offer our customers a choice in how they want to use this anti-malware technology, whether through our EarthLink Protection Control Center or as a stand alone product to protect their computers and identities."

For more information on the service, check out Sana's press release.

Worried about protecting your computer while surfing the Internet? EarthLink recently launched a new Security Center that is available to all Internet users. The Web site was designed to be a source of news, information and recommendations for anyone with questions about Internet threats like spam, spyware and phisher sites.

"Statistics and reports have, for years, stated that security is one of the greatest online concerns for consumers," said Jonathan Young, EarthLink's vice president of security software. "The EarthLink Security Center is a comprehensive destination where consumers can go online to stay up-to-date on the latest virus and malware threats, better understand their computer's potential vulnerabilities, find useful tips and information from industry experts and make more informed product decisions."

EarthLink says the new Security Center is meant for the typical Internet user who has limited time to search through multiple sites and wants a trusted guide to help make the appropriate security choices for themselves and their families.

Tools and services include:
- A free security check that provides a real-time assessment of the your computer. It analyzes the machine's current security software, evaluates its strength and gives a PC security "rating" based on its findings. This application also provides guidance on obtaining the latest protection updates and recommendations on software to patch existing security holes.

- An Internet threats meter that provides a pulse on the level of Internet threat activity and delivers up-to-date information on the latest security threats, security software holes and Internet scams consumers should be aware of for security and safety purposes.

- An Internet security 101 section that provides definitions of commonly used PC security problem terms (i.e. key logger), solution terms (i.e. anti-spyware) and advice on what steps to take if a consumer suspects that they have a problem.

- A news and blogs section that provides the latest industry information on new security threats and fixes as well as updates on major happenings with the companies and technologies that make up the Internet and PC security industries.

- A free and premium software section that provides a comprehensive and searchable database of many well-known security products and related reviews available on the market today.

For more information, check out www.earthlinksecurity.com.

RSA, The Security Division of EMC, recently announced that it has broadened its strategic relationship with EarthLink.

The companies started working together in 2005 when EarthLink joined the RSA FraudAction^SM Blocking Network in order to enhance its phisher blocking tools and services further. With today's announcement, EarthLink has also joined the RSA FraudAction worldwide detection network, a move the companies say will augment RSA's ability to counter more attacks faster, and provide end-users with greater protection against online threats such as phishing.

"Consumers live in an 'always on' world; most have a constant broadband Internet connection and are 'always on' the lookout for threats that can compromise their computers," said Jonathan Young, EarthLink's vice president of security software, subscription and services. "Similarly, EarthLink is always on the offensive to make sure consumers have the tools they need for a safe online experience. Working with RSA and deploying products like EarthLink's ScamBlocker are only a few examples of our commitment to provide all Internet users with features that keep them safe from online threats."

"We are committed to helping organizations accelerate their online businesses and boost consumer confidence through enhanced security. Working with forward-thinking, customer-facing companies like EarthLink helps both parties achieve their aims in this regard," said Marc Gaffan, Director of Marketing, Consumer Solutions at RSA. "When dealing with online threats like phishing, speed is critical—the faster we can detect attacks, the faster we can block access to them and shut them down. By expanding our relationship with EarthLink to include both detection and blocking, our customers and consumers everywhere will benefit from added protection and peace of mind."

The RSA FraudAction service includes a detection network that is designed to allow RSA's 24x7 Anti-Fraud Command Center to be quickly aware of unfolding attacks. RSA's fraud analysts then proceed to block and shut down the attacks to mitigate any potential damage. EarthLink, which encourages its users to report phishing attacks, sends RSA a feed of phishing attacks and the copies of phishing e-mails that are provided by its users; this additional source enhances RSA's detection capabilities and assists in mitigating attacks as soon as possible.

Since mid-2005, the RSA 24x7 Anti-Fraud Command Center has provided data to enhance ScamBlocker—EarthLink's consumer application designed to help protect Internet users from insidious phishing site scams. RSA sends EarthLink and its other blocking partners a feed of confirmed fraudulent sites. EarthLink's ScamBlocker then warns users before they access known or suspected phishing sites, and redirects them to an EarthLink-generated Web page that provides additional information about phishing and similar online scams, and details on the actions subscribers can take to further protect themselves. ScamBlocker is available to all Internet users, not just EarthLink access subscribers.

For more information, check out the EarthLink press release.

EarthLink announced earlier this month the launch of the EarthLink Digital Future Program^SM, which is designed specifically to promote digital inclusion among citizens in municipalities across the country. In conjunction with the program's formal launching, the company also announced its first pilot at the Featherfist Homeless Shelter in Chicago, where a computer lab with Wi-Fi service has been established—the first of 17 to be established at homeless shelters throughout the city.

Digital inclusion is a key tenet in the booming growth of the municipal Wi-Fi marketplace. Cities, non-profits and companies are coming together to build wireless networks for citywide Internet service and to help people who have not had access to broadband—either due to availability or affordability—get access to the hardware, software, training, support
and service necessary to take advantage of high-speed Internet access.

"To EarthLink its clear and its simple—benefiting from what broadband offers shouldn't be based on the zip code you live in or your ability to pay for a myriad of overpriced services from one or two providers—that's why EarthLink has launched our Digital Future Program to help individuals and families cross the digital divide," said Donald Berryman, president of EarthLink's municipal networks unit. "We believe this program can make a difference because pervasive, citywide municipal wireless networks offer a tremendous opportunity for companies and non-profits to come together with cities to help reduce the gap between those who currently benefit from technology and those who do not."

The Digital Future Program's T.E.A.C.H. methodology enables partners to create and execute programs that are replicable and relevant for all metropolitan communities across the country, yet it is flexible enough to be customized to meet local needs and requirements.

For more information, check out the EarthLink press release.

TiVo and EarthLink recently announced an agreement to offer bundled Internet and television services, through the stand-alone TiVo® Series2™ Dual Tuner (DT) DVR and TiVo® service and EarthLink branded dial-up, DSL, or digital voice services.

The agreement brings together two companies with a passion for delivering high value services in a simple, safe package for consumers. EarthLink has a reputation for greatly simplifying the broadband experience while TiVo is known for providing television viewers the best way to watch television by making it both simple and easy. Together, EarthLink and TiVo can provide a unique bundle that further enhances EarthLink's DSL data services with TiVo's innovative broadband video offerings, including the recently announced Amazon Unbox on TiVo. Subscribers can also receive the traditional features for which TiVo has become known, including Season Pass™ recordings, WishList® searches, online scheduling, TiVo KidZone, TiVoToGo transfers, and TiVo's easy-to-use online services, all of which extend EarthLink's delivery of safe, easy-to-use services into the living room.

"TiVo delivers an unmatched DVR experience, bringing all sources of video—broadcast, cable, broadband—together into a seamless interface for the consumer," said Naveen Chopra, Vice President Corporate Development at TiVo. "We are excited to team up with EarthLink and believe that together we can deliver a powerful combination of the TiVo Service and broadband to consumer living rooms."

"EarthLink is pleased to offer our customers the opportunity to enhance their online and television experience through the TiVo service," said Gary Sonnier, Vice President of Consumer Access Products at EarthLink. "This combined offering not only provides customers the simplicity and value of a bundle, but also provides seamless access to the growing portfolio of content and services that are being delivered via the Internet, directly to the living room."

EarthLink says that it will begin marketing the bundle later this year. In the future, the companies could utilize TiVoCast to deliver additional content via broadband to EarthLink subscribers who use the TiVo service. Specific pricing and financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

LivePerson Inc. recently announced that EarthLink has launched what they are calling the industry's first proactive live chat capability developed exclusively for customer service on the company's Web site.

Powered by LivePerson's Timpani™ platform, EarthLink can now identify and engage site visitors most likely to abandon self-help or call for assistance and proactively offer an immediate, live, text-based chat with a customer support expert. By proactively offering live chat assistance to customers, EarthLink increased agent productivity by 14 percent during the initial implementation and realized customer satisfaction levels seven percent higher than similar service channels.

"EarthLink is always looking for ways to raise the bar in customer service," said David Flammia, EarthLink's director of call center strategy. "We're taking online customer service to the next level by identifying the customers most likely to need help and enabling them to resolve their issues before they pick up the phone or send an e-mail."

"More and more companies are realizing the benefits of leveraging real-time customer service as a strategic differentiator, particularly within the telecommunications industry," said LivePerson CEO Robert LoCascio. "Proactive chat will make EarthLink's already best-in-class customer service more accessible than ever before and position them well for increased customer loyalty and growth."

For more information, see the press release EarthLink Introduces Next Generation of Proactive Customer Service.