Junction 96

It is a connecting link between websites, vendors, surfers and consumers. The company has a synergistic partnership with e-ventures, a leading Internet operating company focusing on emerging businesses in the new media and India-centric and India-leveraged businesses. The various brands which are working with Junction 96 are Wipro Infotech, hungama.com, Microsoft, baazee.com, oyeindia.com, Britannia, fabmart, go4i.com, Apnaloaan.com, Indiatimes.com, Investmart, Schoolcircle.com, hometrade.com and Tring-Tring.

The mission statement of Junction 96 as the name suggests, "Is a meeting point for all those who are woven into the fabric of the Internet in some form or the other." Be it a 16-year-old chatting with his Net friends, a 25-year-old executive downloading information for a presentation, a businessman checking share prices or a housewife picking up tips to surf the Net or checking her emails, nowadays Internet has become a part of everybody's life. So we find Internet joints mushrooming in every locality. However, most of the browsers have their own favourite joints. Junction 96 also has its own regular clientele. Mamatha, one of the regulars there says, "Convenience, a conducive environment and affordable access are some of the key factors which brings me here every day."

Mr.Sridhar, an employee of Junction 96 feels,"The brand is young, warm and energetic. People identify with its functional and utilitarian design and appreciate the open and welcoming looks."

In fact, many of the browsers who come here have Internet connections at their home."There are two compelling reasons for a consumer to go to a Junction 96Internet parlour instead of browsing at home-one is the speed i.e. dial up vs ISDN connection and secondly the price. It works out to roughly Rs 40 per hour when surfing at home as against Rs 20 per hour at Junction 96", says Mr. Sridhar.

What adds to the excitement of browsing at a Junction 96 parlour are the promotional activities of the parlour and its clients. There are regular value additions in the form of free surfing hours, attractive prizes and a chance to be a part of a vibrant and active community of surfers. Junction 96 has been and is being used by various brands to reach out and communicate to their target audience in a cost effective and focussed manner.

"Our revenues are not totally dependent on access and as a result we are able to provide the consumer a rich browsing experience at affordable rates," adds Sridhar.

Did you know that currently about 60% of the Internet access in the country is through the cybercafes? This figure is bound to go up as not everyone who needs to access the Internet can afford a Personal Computer or an Internet connection at home.

It is estimated that there are roughly 12000 cybercafes across the country as of date of which about 7000 are in the top 10 cities with the the branded cybercafes accounting for about 700 of these.

Junction 96 has over three lakh visitors a month across their 125 Internet parlours, spread over eight cities of Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune and Indore. They have plans to permeate the mini-metros and towns and reach the 300-figure mark by December 2001.

So if you want a conducive atmosphere, a rich browsing experience, effective speed, affordable price then just drop in to a Junction 96 parlour.

Deepa

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