MSN Sidewalk Teams With Content Publishers

Posted on October 21, 1998

Microsoft Corp. announced it is working with publishers to build the new version of its MSN Sidewalk online guide. The expanded guide is now available nationwide and features Yellow Pages and a series of buying guides to help consumers make a broad range of daily decisions, from picking a restaurant or movie to choosing a stereo or hiring a contractor.

To create the new guides, the editorial staff of MSN Sidewalk worked closely with a broad range of leading publishers, including ZDNet, Consumers Digest magazine, Consumer Guide, Times-Mirror Magazines' Ski, Skiing, Golf and Snowboarding and Zagat Survey LLC.

According to MSN Sidewalk Business Unit Manager Matt Kursh, today's consumers face a myriad of complex decisions each day. "We wanted to build the ultimate resource for time-starved, information-hungry consumers to easily find the information they need to plan a night on the town or make a major purchase decision," Kursh said. "The first order of business was to identify the best content publishers in each area so we could make MSN Sidewalk a trusted resource."

The service features integration of editorial created by the staff of MSN Sidewalk with information provided by expert sources such as the following: Consumer Electronics Manufacturers' Association (CEMA), CinemaSource, Consumers Digest, Consumer Guide, Dennis Barker, InfoUSA, Pollstar, StoreSearch, Times Mirror Magazines, Zagat's, ZDNet, MSN CarPoint, MSN Expedia, MSN HomeAdvisor and MSN MoneyCentral.