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Technology Stocks : AltaVista Company (ALTA)
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To: Glenn Petersen who wrote (98)1/14/2001 7:34:45 AM
From: fut_trade  Read Replies (1) of 110
 
The original search engines YHOO, XCIT, LCOS & SEEK I think IPO'd back in '96 and expanded in '97. Then investor money poured into these companies in '98, while the search engines expanded further. Back in '98 they all sought to be more than search engines, as the field became crowded and more competitive.

In '96, AltaVista was set to be launched, with the other four. But DEC management decided not to IPO (I can't even guess what the DEC board of directors was thinking) and immediately key people voluntarily left AltaVista. Time went on and nothing happened at AltaVista until DEC was bought by Compac, who dumped AltaVista to CMGI. AltaVista decided to expanded into more than a search engine through CMGI financing. Several blunders later they suddenly realize that they are losing money in a big way and decided to trim down back to a search engine. But nobody needs a search engine anymore. So they decide a another round of massive layoffs.

IMO, AltaVista could not outgrow it's DEC legacy - DEC being the blunder king of the late 80's and 90's. I wonder if ex-DEC people are still calling the shots at AltaVista.

I think if AltaVista had executed properly in '96, they would have merged with another company in '98 or '99 and have a much better future.
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