Newly launched .CO domain signs Transitions Optical as first .CO Founder

Miami, FL : March 22, 2010

 .CO collaborates with global photochromatic eyeglass lens manufacturer to provide a new domain for “GetSighted” campaign via www.getsighted.CO

MIAMI, March 22, 2010 – .CO Internet S.A.S. (www.COinternet.co), the new registry operator for the .CO top level domain, today announced Transitions Optical, Inc. has launched its eye care education campaign “GetSighted” on the new .CO domain extension.

As an early adopter participating in the .CO Founders Program, Transitions is the first company to secure a unique, recognizable and memorable domain name in this new, wide-open name space. Associated with the words “COmpany,” “COrporation” and “COmmerce” – the .CO domain opens up new opportunities in the currently saturated online environment.   

 “Your domain name is your online brand – your digital identity. If you want people to not only visit your site, but to book mark it, send it to their friends and visit you over and over again – your domain name needs to be meaningful, memorable and credible,” said Juan Diego Calle, chief executive officer of .CO Internet.  “As our very first .CO Founder, Transitions will have a unique global platform from which to spread the message of healthy sight to consumers and .CO will have the fun and engaging GetSighted.CO campaign to showcase to the world and inspire other early adopters to create new opportunities on .CO domains.”

GetSighted.CO features Erik Estrada, famous for his 1970s television show “CHiPs,” as an eye care advocate with Transitions Optical issuing “Sightations” for people who are not properly protecting and caring for their eyesight.  The campaign kicked off with this year’s Transitions Championship, Tampa Bay’s PGA TOUR® event, and will continue in additional venues throughout the country.

“The .CO extension offers Transitions a strong platform to help drive awareness of the Transitions’ GetSighted campaign to a new generation of socially-networked individuals and businesses that communicate and collaborate online,” said Dan McLean, consumer communications specialist, Transitions Optical.

Launched at the beginning of March, the .CO Founders Program is an initiative designed to help qualified “first movers” to proactively develop and maintain domains with the .CO extension prior to the public launch in July.  In addition to securing a short, catchy .CO domain name, .CO Founders will also be featured in a variety of .CO marketing and promotional activities.

The .CO Founders Program is open to all interested applicants from individuals to small businesses and big brands.  Applicants can submit their applications for a limited time via www.COinternet.co/cofounders, identifying the .CO domain(s) they’d like to develop and pitching their plans for development. All applications are due by June 15, 2010.

About .CO Internet S.A.S.

.CO Internet S.A.S. is the Registry Operator for the .CO top-level domain.  .CO Internet was formed by a strategic venture between Arcelandia S.A., a wholly-owned Colombian company, and the U.S. public company, Neustar, Inc. The .CO domain offers individuals and businesses a truly global, recognizable and credible option in branding their online presence. Thanks to newly liberalized policies, leading-edge technology, enhanced security and unprecedented rights protections for trademark owners, the .CO domain is poised to become the world’s next premier web address. For additional information, please visit www.COinternet.co.

About Transitions Optical, Inc.

Transitions Optical is a joint venture of PPG Industries, Inc. and Essilor International.  The first to successfully commercialize a plastic photochromic lens in 1990, today the company is a leading provider of photochromics to optical manufacturers worldwide. Transitions Optical offers the most advanced photochromic technology in the widest selection of lens designs, materials and brand names. Transitions^® lenses are the ideal everyday choice for healthy sight.  They are clear indoors and at night.  Outdoors, they automatically darken as light conditions change.  Transitions lenses provide visual comfort, and enhance visual quality by reducing glare and enhancing contrast, helping you to see better today.  Transitions lenses block 100 percent of harmful UVA and UVB rays – helping to protect the health and wellness of your eyes – so you can see better tomorrow as well. 

For more information about the company and Transitions lenses, the first to earn the American Optometric Association’s Seal of Acceptance for Ultraviolet Absorbers/Blockers, visit www.Transitions.com or contact Transitions Optical Customer Service at (800) 848-1506 (United States) or (877) 254-2590 (Canada).

Media Contacts:

Lori Anne Wardi, Director of Marketing for .CO Internet S.A.S, +1.917.838.6743, lori@COinternet.co

Amy Federman, Burson-Marsteller for .CO Internet S.A.S., +1.305.347.4343, amy.federman@bm.com