MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (December 2, 1996) -- Netscape Communications
Corporation (NASDAQ: NSCP) today announced that KinderCare Learning
Centers Inc. (NASDAQ: KCLC), the largest preschool and child care
company in the United States, is standardizing on Netscape client and
server software for its corporate Intranet and Internet sites. Using
Netscape SuiteSpot server software and Netscape Navigator as its
internal client software, KinderCare plans to reduce dramatically the
administrative paper load required to update and communicate with 1,149
centers located throughout the United States. KinderCare, headquartered
in Montgomery, Alabama, has an enrollment of approximately 126,000
children in full-time and part-time programs and employs over 23,000
people.
Prior to adopting Netscape Internet technology several months ago,
tracking enrollment and attendance, updating curriculum and providing
information to its centers was far from child's play for KinderCare.
Every month, headquarters manually sorted, assembled and mailed bulky
packets of paperwork consisting of documentation, manual updates, policy
releases and child care information to each of its centers. Occasional
interim mailings from human resources, legal, marketing, accounting and
finance were distributed the same way. The company's Intranet - called
KinderNet - is designed to eliminate that process.
"With our Intranet, our information flow will be tremendously improved,"
said Bob Willey, vice president for information systems at KinderCare.
"Using Netscape Navigator software, every center director will have
point-and-click access to all corporate information. Routine
administrative tasks such as payroll management and ordering supplies
will take a fraction of the time. Instead of monthly updates, we will
be able to distribute reports and questionnaires, update our databases,
and revise our center listings on a daily basis. Not only is it more
efficient, it will also give our directors better information. It's
made our life and their lives a lot easier."
With Netscape mail and collaboration features, KinderNet will also allow
the quick and easy exchange of information between centers. Centers
will be able to share program information and new developments in the
field as it becomes available. KinderCare also plans to continue
development of its external site as a resource for parents, providing
brochures, features on child care, directories and maps for the nearest
centers, as well as site-specific information including staff profiles,
education, experience and accreditation. Eventually, KinderCare expects
that each center will have a link which allows parents to review
schedules, check daily activities and menus, and even review their
child's progress and development through password-protected access. As
part of its commitment to preparing children for a technology connected
world, KinderCare also plans to network its classroom computers, helping
children take advantage of the educational tools available on the
Internet. Because its research shows that parents place a high priority
on these kinds of educational programs, KinderCare views its expanding
information system infrastructure as a crucial means for keeping a
competitive edge.
"KinderCare's Intranet is a terrific example of how Netscape
Internet-based solutions can help every kind of company realize profound
cost and productivity efficiencies," said Mike Homer, senior vice
president of marketing for Netscape. "Because most Netscape products
provide transparent access through a common interface, users don't need
technical training or background to readily take advantage of the wealth
of options available to them. The creative possibilities for businesses
are boundless."
KinderCare center directors previously reported time attendance,
enrollment and finance through a non-programmable asynchronous terminal
interface tied to a corporate database. If they had queries, such as
questions on benefits, they had to call for information and talk to a
customer support manager. KinderCare now plans to migrate its systems
during the next six months away from desktop applications to Netscape's
universal client architecture. This will allow directors to make and
receive reports and queries directly.
"Directors will be able to pull up Netscape Navigator, go to KinderNet,
pull up the payroll screens, enter the information, hit submit, and that
will enter the information into our corporate database without having to
connect to mainframe. Netscape software makes KinderNet platform and
application independent," said David Burke, director of communications
and client support at KinderCare. "Initial feedback from our first
installations is extremely enthusiastic. Currently, center directors
spend an average of ten hours per week on the computer. We think our
Intranet system will reduce that by half, leaving our directors more
time for their first priority, providing the best possible child care
programs."
KinderCare Learning Centers, Inc. (NASDAQ: KCLC), is the largest
preschool and
child care company in the United States. At the end of the first
quarter of fiscal 1997, under the banners of KinderCare Learning
Centers, Inc., KinderCare at Work and Kid's Choice, the company
operated 1,151 child care centers in 38 states and the United Kingdom
with an enrollment of approximately 126,000 children and employed over
23,000 people. Children's education programs include: toddler programs
"Look at Me" and "Let Me Do It;" preschool programs "My Window on the
World" and "Once Upon a Time...;" and the school age program "KC
Imagination Highway." KinderCare was founded in 1969 and is
headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama.
Additional information on KinderCare Learning Centers, Inc. is available
on the Internet at http://www.kindercare.com, by sending email to
info@kindercare.com, or by calling
800/633-1488. Direct contact to KinderCare's Web Master (Danny
Jeter) is also available through email to djeter@kindercare.com.
Netscape Communications Corporation is a leading provider of open
software for linking people and information over enterprise networks and
the Internet. The company offers a full line of clients, servers,
development tools and commercial applications to create a complete
platform for next-generation, live online applications. Traded on
NASDAQ under the symbol "NSCP," Netscape Communications Corporation is
based in Mountain View, California.
Additional information on Netscape Communications Corporation is
available on the Internet at http://home.netscape.com, by sending email
to info@netscape.com, or by calling 415/937-2555 (corporations) or
415/937-3777 (individuals).
Netscape, the Netscape Communication Corporation logo, Netscape
SuiteSpot and Netscape Navigator are trademarks of Netscape
Communication Corporation. All other product names are trademarks of
their respective companies.
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