Subj: Dan Lunt
Date: 99-01-12 16:07:06 EST
I posted this on RB few weeks ago, wasn't signed up here yet.
Today January 12th at 2:25 p.m. (CST)
I called Wordcruncher (801)756-8833, and Dan Lunt answered the phone. We spoke for about 20 minutes. He said that their site will be out in mid-February, not late January, which was on one of the recent SI threads. He also said that they do have a patent, however because of his previous years in this industry, they are not relying on this patent. (as he adds FUNCIONALITY i.e. version # 2, # 3 etc...it will be very difficult for copycats to duplicate, as each version will scatter the copycats in a different direction). The patent has more to do with the presentation than the actual search itself. As he was already quoted as saying in the Security Traders Handbook, if there's one thing he's learned in this business, its that you have to come out with both wheels spinning fast and don't slow down. You have to stay in front of your competition.
Someone in their office was out to see the other new search engine,
WelcomeTo, and they are sure this isn't anything like what Wordcruncher is up to. They will come out in mid February, without a heavy duty p.r. campaign, at Dan's request. He already expects to have some pretty heavy traffic, and wants to be able to work the glitches out. He expects to have a VERY HEAVY p.r. and an advertising campaign rolling by early April. That's when he plans on coming out with the 2nd version of the site which will as he says, ADD FUNCTIONALITY to the 1st version. He also said that he would rather have a steady stream of p.r. leading up to that point.
Microsoft
I asked him if Microsoft's biggest weakness on the Internet were
their lacking a good portal, he agreed. However he was quick to point out that he hasn't had any conversation with Microsoft. I then asked him if he would consider selling out to Microsoft before he had a chance to really impress people with his site. He said that if they came in with an offer that would make the shareholders some good money, he would honestly have to consider it. He was also quick to point out that their original intention (which is still their main plan)was never to sell out, but to build the best search engine out. |
