posted January 17, 2000 01:53 PM            

Co. Aims To Equip Gyms with Internet

Co. Aims To Equip Gyms with Internet
By ANICK JESDANUN=
AP Internet Writer=
NEW YORK (AP) _ Stay longer on the exercise bike or that
Stairmaster. An Internet company wants to let you surf the Web and
check your e-mail as you burn off calories.
Netpulse Communications Inc. is to announce Tuesday that it will
spend $100 million equipping thousands of fitness centers with free
Internet terminals at workout stations.
That strikes one excuse for not working out: Tom Proulx,
Netpulse president and chief executive, said exercisers can no
longer complain of boredom.
Advertisers, meanwhile, get a captive audience for hawking
nutritional bars, sports equipment and health products.
``It's an upscale audience that has the disposable income to pay
monthly dues to health clubs,'' Proulx said. ``And you have them
when they are totally captive, bored out of their minds, actively
seeking distractions.''
Netpulse has already sold the $2,495 machines to about 500
health clubs. The company will now give them away free and make up
costs through advertising revenues.
The expansion of Internet access at health clubs marks yet
another step in the Net's break from personal computers.
Many hand-held personal organizers and cell phones can now
receive e-mail, and a few car models come with Internet access.
Some airports and highway rest stops have terminals for Web
surfing, and America Online recently said it would set up kiosks at
the Islands of Adventure theme park in Orlando, Fla.
Proulx said his company will decide which fitness centers get
machines, based on their membership and usage records. He refused
to elaborate on how many clubs Netpulse ultimately will equip.
The Internet machines, compatible with most cardiovascular
workout stations, will let users surf the World Wide Web and access
Web-based e-mail accounts such as Hotmail. The devices can also
play music on compact discs, receive TV programs and track workout
results.

------------------

Yours in sport,

George

George Spellwin
Research Director