The Guardian website's users are well informed and hungry for news, so we offer a range of free desktop alerts that enable them to stay abreast of the news in every field, from world and home news, to football, politics, business and media, even if they are not in their internet browser.

Skinkers technology allows guardian.co.uk to send alerts direct to a user’s desktop. The alerts appear on users' screens as soon as news breaks, and disappear when the information is no longer current.

The service runs from a small and discreet download that is promoted extensively across the guardian.co.uk network, offering alerts for the following news:

As well as keeping users in touch with the news, the alerts boxes also provide a unique opportunity for advertisers to reach the Guardian website's attractive ABC1 audience.

The alert appears as a small icon, which opens up into a larger text box including a 234x60 (IAB half banner) pixel branding site. This site is available for sponsorship across all alerts, or by channel. Further integration opportunities can be discussed on a case-by-case basis.

The branding site provides:
 
• a sponsor with the most effective
  means of communicating with our
  audience while they are at their
  computer.

• a means of targeting valuable
   and engaged audiences with  
   permission based, timely and
   regular messages.

• Football, Media and Travel
   alerts are all available to sponsor.