Hostway Supports Troops: Offers Free Web Hosting for 2,500 U.S. Armed Forces Families

Chicago—December 11, 2003—One of the most difficult aspects of serving in the United States military—especially during the holidays—is being separated from loved ones at home. In response to this challenge, Hostway Corporation, one of the world’s largest Web hosting and managed Internet service providers, today announced an innovative program that uses the power of the Internet to keep military personnel and their families in touch, regardless of geographical barriers.

Effective today, Hostway will offer one year of free Web hosting services to up to 2,500 U.S. military personnel and their families. This will enable servicemen and women and their families to post photographs and family messages to a centrally hosted Web site so they can be viewed any time anywhere.

"We see this as a unique opportunity to serve our soldiers and demonstrate the potential of the Internet," says John Lee, Director of Marketing for Chicago based Hostway Corporation. "Someday we think every family will have their own Web site to share information. We think today’s soldiers’ families could really benefit from this technology and we want to make it widely available."

"All that’s required is the family have an Internet domain name such as www.thesmithfamily.com," says Lee. "Domains can be registered at Hostway.com for $7.95," adds Lee.

Once a domain name has been established, Hostway’s online procedures will simply and easily allow a family to build a Web site that includes photographs, personal messages and personalized family information that can be updated anytime and shared in real time across oceans.

"With thousands of U.S. servicemen and servicewomen stationed across the globe in Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea and so many other locations, Hostway wants to lead the way in offering the latest technology in Web communications to help bring families together," adds Lee.

The offer, worth over $200 based on Hostway’s current Web hosting prices, is available to servicemen and women in all branches of the United States military. Each site hosted under the special offer must include on-screen reference to Hostway as its hosting provider.

To take advantage of this offer, military personnel need only go to a special Hostway website www.hostway.com/armedforces and complete an online form that will ask a few qualifying questions to confirm their military status.

"Now when a soldier on duty becomes a parent for the first time, photographs of the baby and the thoughts of the entire family can come together on a personalized Web site that can be viewed anywhere, anytime. New photos can be added daily." said Lee. "The power of the Internet lends itself to an application of this sort and we are proud to be able to offer it in a manner that serves those who are serving our country."