Glam Media Announces Glam Apps Platform - Code Named 'Atako' Enabling a New Class...

Glam Media Announces Glam Apps Platform - Code Named 'Atako' Enabling a New
Class of Widgets and Applications Designed for Monetization for Vertical
Content Networks
Glam Announces "Glam Developer Network" Leveraging The Distributed Media Model
Pioneered By Glam To Help Create A New Class of Monetization and Distribution
of Applications to over 77 Million Monthly Users

SILICON VALLEY, Calif. and NEW YORK, July 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Glam Media,
Inc., the pioneer of vertical content networks and number one in reach for
women online, today announced the Glam Application Platform -- code-named
"Atako" -- a platform that will change the way content and applications are
distributed and monetized on the Internet. The Glam Platform removes obstacles
that have previously kept applications inside the walled gardens of a few
large social networks such as Facebook and MySpace, and enables them to reach
over 77 million monthly unique users through contexts such as blogs,
magazines, and content web sites coveted by brand advertisers online. The Glam
Platform is code-named "Atako," a new word created by Glam to signify the deep
passion that application developers and users feel when they are working with
technology that creates change.
To enable new opportunities for publishers, developers, and advertisers,
Glam is launching an open-source platform that allows applications to be
distributed across the network of premium publishers with a built-in system
for monetization. Applications built on the Glam Apps Platform will be
available on the Glam Apps Store for embedding or downloading and can be
monetized by Brand Ads provided by Glam or by the web developer, media company
or agency; or can be with No-Ads -- Apps can be free or priced by developers
for purchase for use. With the launch of the Glam Apps Platform, Glam
continues with its mission to provide its Publisher Network with more
opportunities to engage consumers while creating new revenue opportunities.
Web developers can control the distribution of Glam Apps -- for the Glam
Publisher Network, specific publishers, other approved networks of
high-quality publishers, or all users with no restrictions.
"Application developers innovating on the Glam Platform are creating
unprecedented opportunities for publishers and advertisers to engage consumers
in new and unique ways, creating a more interactive experience across the Glam
Network of web sites," said Samir Arora, chairman and CEO of Glam Media.
"Until now, web developers have been creating exciting applications with
limited means to monetization -- Glam is now bringing its knowledge and access
to advertisers and publishers to help create the next generation of web apps."
Glam Apps Platform is an open-source platform that provides all the
functionality to build, distribute and monetize web applications and content
for syndication. Recently launched GlamTV is an early example of the power of
the Glam Apps Platform; "Rights-Managed" video with brand ads can be added to
the GlamTV App enabling the protected distribution of video content through
the Glam Publisher Network, with monetization being managed and shared across
the publisher, video provider and/or content owner -- much like TV networks do
today. The Glam Apps Platform allows a full suite of applications to be built
-- such as content distribution (video, blogs, photos, news); web 2.0 services
(feeds, links, comments, reviews); web apps (search, local); vertical apps
(recipes, maps, size finder); entertainment (games, cards, social);
ad-widgets (custom, advertorials, video) and publisher utilities (analytics,
publishing, audience).
"We've thought long and hard about the opportunities and limitations for
developers on social networks," said Adam Souzis, executive director of Glam
Labs, and the chief architect of the Glam Apps Platform. "We want to offer the
same opportunities for massive distribution, while addressing the limitations
by enabling applications to live on a variety of quality sites that receive
higher CPMs."
For developers, the Glam Platform offers a share of the revenue on
monetized applications and access to the 77 million monthly worldwide unique
visitors in the Glam Network. "The Glam Platform is a groundbreaking
innovation in the digital media world. The Glam Platform brings application
developers together with a broad set of relevant publishers, and provides the
right recipe for the publisher, end user and advertiser to all benefit," says
Kevin Chou, CEO of WaterCooler, Inc., a leading provider of applications
connecting millions of TV and sports fans.
For publishers, Glam Apps offers a way to add new features, functionality,
and content; generate more page views; build a more loyal audience; and earn
more revenue. Glam Publishers have been involved in helping define the
product. "I'm excited about the value Glam Apps can bring to our SheFinds.com
site. We have great content and devoted readers but applications like these
will enable us to further engage them without massive development costs," says
Michelle Madhok, founder and CEO of White Cat Media, publisher of one of the
Glam Network's most popular shopping websites.
For advertisers, the Glam Platform makes it easy to partner with
third-party developers. In the same way that Glam set a precedent for bringing
brands online through its innovative vertical content network, Glam Apps
Platform is poised to do the equivalent for applications, enabling brand
advertisers to integrate into or sponsor engaging applications and for
agencies to sponsor and distribute innovative, highly trackable widget
campaigns. "The Glam Platform is a new and exciting development for
advertisers. With Glam Apps advertisers can tap into the talent of diverse
group of developers and engage a broad audience beyond a single publisher or
social network," says Matt Straznitskas, Senior Partner at Mediaedge:cia.
By building upon standards such as OpenSocial and OpenID, and open
sourcing its core application distribution, the Glam Apps Platform Atako makes
application distribution ubiquitous across all kinds of websites across the
Internet. The Glam Application Platform's technology provides functionality
that addresses the challenges posed by application distribution on a
distributed network by:
-- Providing a way for applications to integrate deeply into sites using
APIs
-- Addressing security, manageability and page load time
-- Offering publishers a way to match the look and feel and UI of
applications to their sites
-- Enabling applications to tap into already existing visitor identities
on websites, and where user identity doesn't already exist, providing a
user-friendly, Open ID-based solution
-- Creating a reliable process for publishers and application developers
to profit from Glam Ads
Meet the Glam Platform team at the SF Beta's Summer Mixer - 111 Minna
Gallery, tonight from 5:00- 9:00 PM at 111 Minna Street at 2nd, San Francisco.
To RSVP for the Glam list, email glamevents@glam.com by 1 pm PDT. For more
information, please visit www.sfbeta.com
Availability
Glam Apps Platform is currently available in private beta to approved
developers and select publishers in the Glam Network of more than 600
Glam-owned and operated and independent Web sites, magazine properties, video
providers and blogs; the platform will be launched to general availability for
developers and web publishers in fall 2008.
To join the private beta program or for additional information, please
visit http://developer.glam.com or email developer@glam.com.
About Glam Media
Glam Media pioneered the vertical content network model and is the fastest
growing Top 20 Media Company in the US. With a total reach of 41 million
unique monthly visitors in the US and 77 million global uniques (comScore
Media Metrix), Glam Media provides a compelling mix of fresh, original content
created in-house on its owned & operated web sites and the carefully curated
Glam Publishing Network of more than 640 popular and influential lifestyle Web
sites, blogs and magazines. For premium national brand advertisers, Glam Media
offers an unprecedented array of reach and targeting that are singularly
attractive to both upscale and aspirational consumers. Glam Media is backed by
Hubert Burda Media, GLG Partners, Accel Partners, DAG Ventures, Draper Fisher
Jurvetson, Walden Venture Capital and Information Capital. Glam Media is based
in New York City and Brisbane, California.
Glam Marketplace and Glam Media are registered trademarks of Glam Media,
Inc. All others are trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Glam Media

Abbe Patterson, Glam Media, Inc., +1-650-270-2184, AbbeP@GlamMedia.com; Lane
Buschel, The Morris + King Company, +1-212-561-7454,
lane.buschel@morris-king.com, for Glam Media