Carrier Corporate News

CONTACT:  
Sharon Stensaas, (315) 432-3637  
Carrier Corporation  
North American Operations  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

CARRIER EXPLOITS FRAMES AND DATABASE
TECHNOLOGIES TO SHOWCASE LEADERSHIP

SYRACUSE, N.Y., Sept. 4 -- Fully exploiting the latest in frames and relational database technologies, Carrier Corporation, the world's largest manufacturer of air conditioning and heating systems and equipment, is now on-line at www.carrier.com.

Carrier conceived its site as a one-on-one marketing tool and organized its content for easy navigation regardless of a user's knowledge of heating and air conditioning. From answers to often-asked consumer questions to detailed specifications by model number, the website addresses needs ranging from those of a homeowner to those of a design/build contractor working on a new skyscraper.

To accomplish this the website offers three paths for visitors. One path is for HVAC industry novices and includes basic information about the industry and the most common heating and air conditioning systems. Another path assumes user knowledge of the industry but not specific familiarity with Carrier products and model numbers. The final and most detailed path is for seasoned HVAC experts who are seeking specific technical data by product families and model numbers. With proper registration, downloadable tools such as expanded technical product literature and engineering software are available on-line.

Site designers also eased navigation by incorporating a frames format. Hyperlinks across the top and left frame of the screen channel the user from general categories to detailed information on specific products and services.

The five main perspectives are a corporate home page, Comfort at Home, Comfort at Work, Carrier Search and Resource Center.

The frames format is supported by the latest Netscape and MS Explorer browsers. If the Carrier server detects a browser that does not support frames, a non-frames version will automatically be provided.

The product selection portion of the Carrier site is based on a relational Oracle database operating under a UNIX system, which dynamically links to copy, graphics and tables based upon a user's specific sourcing requirements. For example, under the Comfort at Home perspective, a consumer interested in a room air conditioner selects the dimensions of the room in which the equipment will operate. The database responds with a photo, explanatory text and specifications of the Carrier products best suited to those requirements.

A database also quickly leads users to local sources of products and services . Site visitors need only to select their geographical location on a map or to enter their zip code to bring up this information.

"We've developed a productivity center that provides Carrier's customers with more current, single-source information than ever before," said Sharon Stensaas, director of communications for Carrier's North American Operations. "The Web's seemingly limitless capacity provides industry-leading companies like Carrier with a unique opportunity to showcase the depth and breadth of their capabilities.

"From a user's standpoint, our site takes full advantage of some of the best available Web technology, not for the bells and whistles impact, but to effectively inform consumers and disseminate Carrier's messages," she added.

The Carrier website was developed by a team of internal communications experts representing four Carrier business units and external suppliers including Sage Marketing Communications of Syracuse; One World Interactive of Spencertown, NY and Syracuse University's Northeastern Parallel Architecture Center (NPAC).

Carrier Corporation is the world's largest manufacturer of heating and air conditioning systems and equipment. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, provider of a broad range of high-technology products and support services to the aerospace, building systems and automotive industries.

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