INTERNET PROVIDER GOBBLING UP OTHERS
By Adnews Staff
A company that says it is now Canada's largest Internet provider, after buying out three other companies in the past three months, has started a national marketing push. This week iSTAR Internet Inc. began running a commercial on the CBC television network which will run for three months. It also ran full-page ads in The Globe and Mail for three days and has an ad printed on a polybag used for Globe home deliveries in Toronto. In addition, the company is running joint promotions with software retailers such as A-Plus Software, it is putting a coupon in a special publication dealing with the Internet and it is taking part in trade shows. It also has Hill & Knowlton doing public relations. The commercial was created by Chuck Mora in Halifax, who enlisted the local firm WHW Consultants to do the computer graphics. Mora also did the print advertising. ISTAR was originally founded in June 1994 as i*Internet, a spin-off from Montreal-based Fonorola. The company is based in Ottawa "with roots in Halifax". It recently bought InfoRamp in Toronto, ARnet in Alberta and MIND LINK in Vancouver. "We want to be the undisputed leader in the Canadian Internet access and service industry," says iSTAR president Rainer Paduch in a release. He says his company has plans for more acquisitions.