Global Network Navigator
Encyclopedia
The Global Network Navigator (GNN) was the first commercial web publication
and the first web site to offer clickable advertisements, now commonly referred to as "banner ads
." The first such internet ad was sold by GNN to Heller Ehrman LLP.
GNN was founded in May of 1993 by Tim O'Reilly
and Dale Dougherty
of O'Reilly Media
(formerly O'Reilly & Associates) of Sebastopol, California
. It was launched in August 1993 at InterOp in San Francisco. It was inspired by Viola, a WWW browser that introduced enhanced HTML features like formatting, graphics, scripting and embedded applets.
The free service was divided into five parts:
The Online Whole Internet Catalog - a forerunner of internet directory services like Yahoo!
- was organized into ten sections:
In the original press release that introduced GNN, the Online Whole Internet Catalog was described this way: "... subscribers can not only read about these subjects, they can actually connect to them with the click of a button." GNN described itself as "a new experiment in online publishing."
Potential readers were advised that they would need "an Internet connection, a World Wide Web (WWW) browser and a universal resource locator for GNN or a local copy of the GNN 'home page' (which is available via electronic mail)."
Among other projects, GNN sponsored the "Best of the Web Awards" an event held annually in San Francisco. Public relations for GNN and its various initiatives was handled by Niehaus Ryan Haller (See: Ed Niehaus
)
O'Reilly sold GNN to America Online in 1995 and GNN was turned into an Internet service provider
as a counter-point to AOL's primary online service which at the time offered limited Internet access. When AOL introduced its flat rate in 1996 along with full Internet access, GNN was discontinued. GNN's accounts were rolled-over into AOL.
Lisa Gansky served as GNN's CEO from the time GNN was sold to AOL until GNN was discontinued. Jennifer Niederst
was GNN's original designer.
The original GNN.com URL http://www.gnn.com now points to the Huffington Post.
and the first web site to offer clickable advertisements, now commonly referred to as "banner ads
Web banner
A web banner or banner ad is a form of advertising on the World Wide Web delivered by an ad server. This form of online advertising entails embedding an advertisement into a web page. It is intended to attract traffic to a website by linking to the website of the advertiser...
." The first such internet ad was sold by GNN to Heller Ehrman LLP.
GNN was founded in May of 1993 by Tim O'Reilly
Tim O'Reilly
Tim O'Reilly is the founder of O'Reilly Media and a supporter of the free software and open source movements.-Life and career:...
and Dale Dougherty
Dale Dougherty
Dale Dougherty is one of the co-founders of O'Reilly Media. While not at the company in its earliest stages as a technical documentation consulting company, Dale was instrumental in the development of O'Reilly's publishing business, was the founder of GNN, the Global Network Navigator, the first...
of O'Reilly Media
O'Reilly Media
O'Reilly Media is an American media company established by Tim O'Reilly that publishes books and Web sites and produces conferences on computer technology topics...
(formerly O'Reilly & Associates) of Sebastopol, California
Sebastopol, California
Sebastopol is a city in Sonoma County, California, United States, approximately north of San Francisco. The population was 7,379 at the 2010 census, but its businesses also serve surrounding rural portions of Sonoma County, totaling about 50,000 people...
. It was launched in August 1993 at InterOp in San Francisco. It was inspired by Viola, a WWW browser that introduced enhanced HTML features like formatting, graphics, scripting and embedded applets.
The free service was divided into five parts:
- GNN News
- GNN Magazine
- The Online Whole Internet Catalog
- The GNN Marketplace
- Navigator's Forum
The Online Whole Internet Catalog - a forerunner of internet directory services like Yahoo!
Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
- was organized into ten sections:
- The Internet
- Current Affairs
- Science
- Technology
- Humanities
- Arts
- Libraries, Reference & Education
- Government and politics
- Business
- Work and Play
In the original press release that introduced GNN, the Online Whole Internet Catalog was described this way: "... subscribers can not only read about these subjects, they can actually connect to them with the click of a button." GNN described itself as "a new experiment in online publishing."
Potential readers were advised that they would need "an Internet connection, a World Wide Web (WWW) browser and a universal resource locator for GNN or a local copy of the GNN 'home page' (which is available via electronic mail)."
Among other projects, GNN sponsored the "Best of the Web Awards" an event held annually in San Francisco. Public relations for GNN and its various initiatives was handled by Niehaus Ryan Haller (See: Ed Niehaus
Ed Niehaus
Ed Niehaus is an American CEO and publicist.Along with partners Bill Ryan and Melody Haller, Niehaus founded Niehaus Ryan Haller which served the Internet industry during the rapid growth period of the 1990s...
)
O'Reilly sold GNN to America Online in 1995 and GNN was turned into an Internet service provider
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
as a counter-point to AOL's primary online service which at the time offered limited Internet access. When AOL introduced its flat rate in 1996 along with full Internet access, GNN was discontinued. GNN's accounts were rolled-over into AOL.
Lisa Gansky served as GNN's CEO from the time GNN was sold to AOL until GNN was discontinued. Jennifer Niederst
Jennifer Niederst Robbins
Jennifer Niederst Robbins has been a Web designer since 1993. She designed the web's first commercial site, O'Reilly's Global Network Navigator ....
was GNN's original designer.
The original GNN.com URL http://www.gnn.com now points to the Huffington Post.
External links
- GNN home page circa 1993 on O'Reilly server
- Archives of the GNN home page after its acquisition by AOL
- littlechair project archive: GNN - Examples and comments on the original GNN website by one of its designers