Compaq's AltaVista to Offer Free Internet Service, WSJ Says
Houston, July 15 (Bloomberg) -- Compaq Computer Corp.'s AltaVista Co. will offer free Internet access to subscribers willing to provide information about themselves and view advertisements, as it continues its shift from a search site to a portal providing a host of online services, the Wall Street Journal said. Compaq said it will test the offering this month in conjunction with the introduction of its microportal software, which can deliver a regular stream of entertainment, services and shopping through its window on customers' computer screen. ''If millions of users take to our microportal and free Internet access, it would put us in a very strong, AOL-like position,'' AltaVista President Rod Schrock told the Journal, referring to America Online Inc.
Last month, Internet venture fund company CMGI Inc. said it would buy a majority stake in AltaVista for $2.3 billion, mostly in stock, to create a network of World Wide Web sites to better compete against rivals like America Online and Yahoo! Inc.
(WSJ 7/15 C6 wsj.com)
Jul/15/1999 7:12 |
