13-12-2007

AOL launches in Poland

By

    AOL Europe has launched in Poland (www.aol.pl) offering free email, instant messaging, video, pictures and other services in addition to tailored content, such as film and celebrity news.

    "As an ad-supported web company, we see tremendous potential for growth in Poland," Dana Dunne, chief executive officer of AOL Europe said in a statement about the Dec. 12 launch. "The market is growing faster than the US with online advertising spending forecast to grow by 23% per year until 2011 when it will reach the €160 million mark, making it the second highest growth rate and the 10th largest in Europe."

    Launching in Poland is part of AOL's expansion strategy in Europe which calls for serving 17 European markets by 2009. Poland is the first Central European country for AOL's expansion program, chosen because of the mass growth potential within the Polish online ad market.

    The aol.pl content will be delivered in cooperation with Polish partners. The news section is provided by PAP - Polish Press Agency. The media group Agora covers celebrity news, while Filmweb supplies content to the film channel.