posted 03-13-2001 09:51 AM         

Even as Napster fights for its life, AOL Time Warner is quietly preparing to rule digital music. (source: The Standard) http://www.thestandard.com/article/display/0,1151,22754,00.html

posted 03-12-2001 02:50 PM         

On the way to Nasdaq 5000 and beyond, a lot of people made a lot of errors as they tried to figure out what stocks were worth. Sell-side analysts, investors and, yes, even reporters goofed up with optimistic assumptions, dubious yardsticks and shaky comparisons. In 20/20 hindsight, the methods people employed to price tech stocks were rationalizations at best and ridiculous at worst. But kicking the nasty habit will be hard. (source: The Street) http://www.thestreet.com/tech/internet/1330822.html

Once upon a time it all seemed so simple for investors: Buy a tech stock, kick back, watch its value double. Then things changed. And investors learned to expect a completely different scenario: Buy a tech stock, fret, and watch its value fall by half--if you're lucky. The result: After a year of seeing one Nasdaq highflier after another crumble, most investors now think technology has all the appeal of a smelly sock puppet. But here's the news: Tech lives. But the Internet boom is going through a painful period of transition. Fortune's experts lay out niches to mine, as well as 16 stock picks (and four pans) that could pay off. (source: Fortune) http://www.fortune.com/indexw.jhtml?channel=artcol.jhtml&doc_id=200846

The tightknit, us-against-the-world management style that fueled Yahoo's astronomical rise may also have exacerbated its decline. Here's how it looked behind the scenes during Yahoo's darkest week, and what the future might hold in store. (source: ZDNet) http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2694480,00.html

For most investors, there's no mincing words: Internet incubators have been a short-term disaster, and it would be better to stay away. But for those who don't mind holding on until the market for Internet IPOs comes back, some investors may find encouragement knowing that these incubators aren't going quietly into the night. They'll be around for a while, for those with a taste for high risk and venture capital. (source: BusinessWeek) http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2001/tc2001037_222.htm

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation issued an advisory warning that several organized hacker groups, operating out of Eastern European hubs, have stolen proprietary information from hundreds of e-commerce and online banking sites, including customer databases and more than one million credit card numbers. (source: E-commerce Times) http://www.ecommercetimes.com/perl/story/8063.html

posted 03-07-2001 06:23 PM         

In brief:
- Heavy debt and a disappointing holiday season have forced eToys into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company is expected to begin its liquidation on Thursday by shutting down its website.
- Internet incubator Idealab is preparing to close its Silicon Valley office. The company plans to continue to support three companies currently operating out of the office, but will not launch any new businesses from the site.

posted 03-05-2001 06:41 PM         

The rumor that Wal-Mart and Amazon.com may enter into an alliance marks the first time Amazon investors had anything to celebrate in the last six months -- but it may be a little premature to pop open the champagne. (source: Forbes) http://www.forbes.com/2001/03/05/0305amazon.html

In Brief:
- Online brokerage Ameritrade appointed Joe Moglia its new CEO, ending a seven-month search. Moglia, the senior vice-president of Merrill Lynch and head of the investment performance and product group for private clients, succeeds Joe Ricketts, the company's founder.

posted 03-05-2001 04:15 PM         

In the midst of the Net stock mania, naysayers often noted that first-mover companies in previous technology booms weren't the long-term winners. For example, PC pioneers Osborne and Kaypro eventually lost out to latecomers Dell, Compaq and Gateway. So is it possible that the Amazons and eBays of today will soon be replaced by a new generation of Internet stocks? (source: Forbes) http://www.forbes.com/columnists/2001/03/01/0301simons.html

In a move underscoring its desire to remain independent, Yahoo has announced that its board of directors has adopted a shareholder-rights plan designed to prevent a hostile takeover. Walt Disney, Viacom and various European and Japanese telcos have been mentioned as possible suitors of the Internet portal, now that its stock price is trading more than 85% lower than its all time high. (source: The Standard) http://www.thestandard.com/article/display/0,1151,22587,00.html

posted 03-01-2001 06:04 PM         

Like all things internet, B2B was all the rage, and now it's in the gutter. But General Mills has instituted a program that shows it isn't entirely a bust: using B2B logistics software, the company has saved millions in shipping costs. (source: Business 2.0) http://www.business2.com/content/magazine/ebusiness/2001/02/26/26902