AOL and Redskins.com Offer Fans New Ways to Interact and Show Team Spirit Through Redskins Connect

DULLES, Va..- Washington Redskins fans have a host of new and interactive ways to easily keep up with their favorite team through Redskins Connect, a series of free products and services offered by the Redskins and powered by AOL. Redskins Connect includes Redskins-related email addresses, video and pictures upload, and a co-branded toolbar. All of these new products are free and can be accessed online at http://www.redskins.com.

“Washington Redskins’ fans are some of the most loyal and devoted in the sport, and are highly engaged on the team’s Website,” said Kevin Conroy, Executive Vice President, AOL Products. “Through this partnership, the Redskins’ fan base benefits from AOL’s expertise in offering products related to community and networking, as well as our leading video search services. Now fans have all new ways to connect with one another and to show their Redskins pride.”

“We are thrilled to offer Redskins Connect to team fans,” said Janice Schmidt, Senior Vice President of Marketing, the Washington Redskins. “By selecting AOL to power this set of products and services, I know that fans will receive a terrific experience.”

Redskins Connect, located at http://www.redskins.com, contains a variety of online Redskins-themed products powered by AOL, including:

Fan Email: Redskins fans can show off their enthusiasm by registering for a free email address from one of five new Redskins-themed domains. Choices include: ultimateredskinsfan.com; hail2theskins.com; skins4life.com; redskinsfancentral.com; and redskinsultimatefan.com. With these, fans can have free personalized email addresses (e.g. yourname@hail2theskins.com) as well as the benefit of having their email powered by AOL, including the ability to log in to their accounts from any Web-based computer and simultaneously check email and use AIM® from one application that features industry-leading spam and anti-virus protection, and unlimited email storage.

Video Upload: Redskins fans can upload their own videos via the Redskins Fan Video powered by AOL® Video Uploader and share their videos and watch videos submitted by other fans.

Picture Gallery: Redskins fans can upload, view, search, store and share their favorite Redskins photos from the Redskins Fan Photo Gallery powered by AOL® Pictures.

Toolbar: Fans can download a Redskins-themed Toolbar powered by AOL, featuring links to the Redskins home page and Redskins fan email as well as offering easy access to search and RSS feeds. Fans are only a click away from Redskins content no matter where they go on the Web.

Profiles: Fans can show their team spirit and connect with other like-minded fans by creating their own fan profile sites to upload photos, leave comments, and share other information with their buddies.

Available today, all of these features are easily accessible via a menu bar below the main navigation on the Redskins site. In addition, the following features are coming soon:

Video Search: Redskins fans will be able to search for Redskins video powered by the Truveo™ video search technology in an easy-to-use interface at http://www.redskins.com.

Chat: Redskins fans will be able to chat live with other fans utilizing the Userplane™ web chat components within the news articles on http://www.redskins.com and on http://www.ExtremeSkins.com, the official message board of the Washington Redskins.