posted 04-09-2001 12:21 PM         

The leaders of the Internet world are rushing into the abyss, coming up with new ways to charge users for their once-free services every day. The latest entrant in the pay-to-play derby is Yahoo, which will offer "premium" financial information for a monthly fee. It's a tempting strategy to follow. Who can pass up multiple revenue streams, however much of a trickle they may be at first? But this columnist argues that most Internet companies need to have the guts to stand alone. They should choose a different direction. They should adopt New Hamsphire's state motto: Live Free or Die. (source: E-Commerce Times) http://www.ecommercetimes.com/perl/story/8765.html

A new report suggests that the online advertising sector is not all that bad -- and actually could be getting better. According to the report from analyst Allen Weiner, who tallied Web campaigns launched in mid-first quarter, the optimism stems from what could be the long-awaited shift from dot-com cash to traditional ad money. (source: InternetNews) http://www.internetnews.com/IAR/article/0,,12_734201,00.html

posted 04-03-2001 05:52 PM         

eBay has revised its privacy policy, clearing the way for user information to be transferred to a third party if the auction leader is sold or merged. (source: E-Commerce Times) http://ecommercetimes.com/perl/story/8654.html

In a move that raises the ante in the great digital music gamble, BMG, Warner and EMI have agreed to license their music on a nonexclusive basis to a new company called MusicNet. The deal pits the trio against the other two Big Five music companies – Universal and Sony.(source: The Standard) http://thestandard.com/article/display/0,1151,23296,00.html

posted 04-02-2001 07:07 PM         

For the Internet segment, March came in like a lion, and is apparently leaving the same way -- mean and ornery. The month was a miserable one for the faltering dot-com segment, and the end is not yet in sight. The problem is compounded, according to analysts, by the fact that April and much of the rest of the year could be a continuation of hard times. And as dot-coms continue to close and established Web companies tighten their belts, two of the largest firms in the segment are not offering much help. (source: NewsFactor) http://www.ecommercetimes.com/perl/story/8583.html

posted 04-02-2001 06:44 PM         

Internet powerhouse eBay is gearing up to move beyond its auction listings base with an e-commerce hosting service, according to a report published Monday in an industry journal. (source: E-Commerce Times) http://www.ecommercetimes.com/perl/story/8547.html

posted 03-20-2001 06:20 PM         

The price on any product or service should reflect its value. Small wonder, then, that Internet companies are in a major quandary. After years of giving away e-mail, news, digital address books, and calendaring services, they're stuck trying to convince consumers that--oops!--they meant to charge for that stuff. It's bound to be a painful, if not impossible, transition, and it could come at the cost turning off loyal users. (source: Forbes) http://www.forbes.com/2001/03/20/0320free.html