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Technology Stocks : InfoSpace (INSP): Where GNET went!
INSP 127.35-2.3%Nov 26 3:59 PM EST

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To: Gary105 who wrote (176)7/2/1998 8:41:00 PM
From: Obewon  Read Replies (1) of 28311
 
One of the issues which has been missed by most is that go2net is not JUST a "portal-to-be".

1. Like many of its much bigger competitors, the company has an internet product to sell to others. Please note the recent agreements with Earthlink and Lycos to license its JAVA games technology. Only Yahoo! among the major portals has proprietary tech to do this so there is the possibility of more licensing fees (ie recurring revenue from each user that uses the games sites at Earthlink and Lycos Web domains) down the road.

2. SI is a very focused and well travelled site for which Brad and Jeff have long term demographics of its users. This in turn allows go2net to more easily compete for advertising dollars than its cousins with little to no history. The two tier membership structure also keeps members (who actually make the site so good) from getting irritated at having to wait for banners to load.

3. Another advantage of the two tier structure is the revenue stream from new SI members. I was discussing the economics with one of the company's employees and he stated one of the primary differences go2net would have versus its competition is that (I quote), "Go2net will be profitable this year." (This came from one of the guys envolved with the revenue side of go2net rather than the tech side so I tend to believe it.)

Beyond those somewhat concrete reasons, you also have the possibility that the entire company could be swallowed by a rival. I have looked at the assets that go2net has Internet wise and determined that several potential partners exist for go2nets properties. My short list include Earhtlink, Lycos, Excite, and Alta Vista (Compaq). IMHO Alta Vista is going to have to make an acquisition if it wants to keep up with the bigger boys of the Net. Its got a great search engine technology but little else to its portal. (By the way, I own Compaq stock so I have a bias here.) The Digital - Compaq merger has kind of left Alta Vista flapping in the breeze while Internet stocks have climbed 200% in the past seven months.

OB
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