IDT's Net2Phone and Disney- and Infoseek-run Go Network may be exploring an alliance
cbs.marketwatch.com
IDT puts Go.com link on beta site
Short-lived Web site may signal upcoming alliance
By Steve Gelsi, CBS MarketWatch
Last Update: 12:03 PM ET Mar 19, 1999
Also see: NewsWatch
HACKENSACK, N.J. (CBS.MW) -- IDT's Net2Phone and Disney- and Infoseek-run Go Network may be exploring an alliance.
Shareholders of Hackensack, N.J., telephony
specialist IDT (IDTC) used the company's message
board on Yahoo to post a link to a Web site that
offered a new version of the Net2Phone software
featuring the Disney (DIS) and Infoseek (SEEK)
Go.com logo.
Shares of IDT were up 1/16 at 16 7/8 near midday
Friday.
The logo, in the shape of a traffic light, is
prominently featured on the Net2Phone graphic
interface, which resembles a cellular phone.
Members said they have used this version of the software and that, when they clicked onto the Go button, they were driven directly to the Go.com portal.
The Web site was later taken down, but the graphic
interface was e-mailed to
CBS.MarketWatch.com. It's shown at right.
A spokeswoman for IDT declined to comment; a
spokeswoman for the Go Network said she wasn't
aware of any alliance.
"I downloaded the new 9.4.4 version of the
Net2Phone a couple of days ago when someone on
this board posted the link," read a message posted
at 8:50 a.m. Eastern time Friday on Yahoo's IDT
message board. "I did not pay any attention until
after I read the post that this new version has a
yellow Go.com button on it. IDT seems to be
monitoring this message board. Only a couple of
hours after the post, they no longer provide access
to that file."
IDT has already set up alliances with Netscape (NSCP) and Yahoo (YHOO). See related story.
IDT Corp. is apparently mulling an IPO for its Net2Phone unit. On Jan. 26, shares rose 20 percent amid talk that the provider of telephone and Internet access may spin off its Net telephony operations in a public offering. |
