Virtual Internet Limited (VI), a UK-based hosting company, said yesterday that it has won a contract with CompuServe Interactive Services France SNC, the French arm of CompuServe, to be the exclusive provider of domain names, web site hosting and email services in France.
VI has grown its business in US, but this deal represents its first venture into Europe, co-founder and communications manager of VI, Nigel Drummond, told ComputerWire. VI will supply CompuServe France through its 34% owned associate Virtual Internet SARL, which the parent company said it intends to fully acquire by exercising its share option by the end of this month.
The parent company already has a similar supply deal with AOL in the UK and has plans to expand into Germany with a recently opened office there. CompuServe France is 55% owned by French telecom provider, Cegetel, and is 45% owned by AOL Inc and Bertelsmann AG. The agreement will be considered for renewal on February 1, 2000. Financial details of the deal were not released.
