Sharman Networks launches premium 'Kazaa Plus' software

August 29, 2003

Sharman has launched an Ad-free version of Kazaa called 'Kazaa Plus'. Kazaa Media Desktop is currently the most popular Peer-to-peer client applicaiton available and is the top most downloaded application off Download.com. Kazaa Plus is Kazaa without advertisments, banners or those annoying pop-up ad windows. Kazaa plus also has some exclusive features such as a search engine that runs periodicly over a 24-hour period, customer E-mail support, up to 40 sources per download (8 in free ad based version), user-settable default homepage and enhanced builtin virus protection using BullGuard.

Avalon Online Distribution (AOD) SA, a subsidiary of global software publishing house Titus Interactive Group, today announced the launch of Kazaa Plus, a premium, paid for version of Kazaa Media Desktop, the world's most popular peer-to-peer file sharing application.

Kazaa Plus, developed by Sharman Networks
and published by Avalon Online Distribution, is available globally for
US.95. It is advertising-free, with no banners or pop-ups. Kazaa Plus,
like all versions of Kazaa Media Desktop, respects users' privacy and
helps protect their security.

In addition, Kazaa Plus introduces exclusive new features including:

Smarter searching through Search Agent. This enables users
to start searches that run every 30 minutes for a 24-hour period, offering potentially up to 9,000 results;

Customer email Support by Avalon Online
Distribution;

Faster and more effective search and
download capabilities, allowing

users access to up to 3,000 results per
search;

Download files from up to 40 sources at one time, up from
only eight in the advertising supported version;

Set the default homepage of your
choice; and Enhanced inbuilt
virus protection from BullGuard.

Kazaa Plus includes all of the latest Kazaa Media Desktop features such
as Altnet Peer Points Manager, a rewards program for sharing digitally
rights managed files, and access to Channels, specialized licensed content
areas within the application.

Sharman have really taken their time on releasing the long waited ad-free version. Until the launch of an Ad-free version, users had to rely on unofficial 'hacked' versions to make use of Kazaa without cluttering up the computer with unwanted adware software. Kazaa-lite is an unofficial version of Kazaa which is stripped of its adware and advertisments and contains many features of the plus version. It will be interesting to see if many will be willing to pay out for the official Kazaa Plus version. 😉

Kazaa Plus is
available globally for US $ 29.95. The Certified version is available for purchase from AOD's www.kazaaplus.com or CNET's www.download.com.

Source: Yahoo! Finance