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Technology Stocks : INFOSEEK (GO) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: cm who wrote (6198)	5/25/1998 8:18:00 PM
From: webinfopro.com	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9343

cm As regards secret software -- you're idea makes sense -- If I were working on new stuff -- it would be in the area of making personalization both more rigorous and less personal -- coagulating targets while guaranteeing anonynimity -- THAT would be a big sell to the companies and customers. As regards TA, as I once posted on Yahoo TA is wonderful, it works until it doesn't. Sorta like marriage Weby

To: cm who wrote (6198)	5/26/1998 9:19:00 PM
From: Robert Pope	Respond to of 9343

cm, I thought possibly the 'secret software' was the ESP enhanced search announcement. I didn't think Motro could mention it because the announcement was coming so soon after the article...hmmm. George, I still have my SEEK and I agree with just about all your posts. Weby, I love that article you posted. If the word 'barter' sold for X amount of $$$, imagine what the words 'car', 'insurance', or 'software' would bring in... I pictured Motro sitting up at night with a dictionary and pencil pricing every word for exclusive banner ad rights....hee, hee, (all mostly short-term deals to renegotiate at a higher price......right Weby?). I think I predicted 30 by June and that may not happen now, but SEEK will have its day.

To: cm who wrote (6198)	5/30/1998 11:26:00 AM
From: cm	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 9343

"Search As Commodity": Another Look... It's been bandied about by various press analysts and securities folks, this mantra: "Search is a commodity." And, precisely because it's been so popular, I've gone at the "argument" hammer and tongs. But, there is at least a grain or two of truth here in this bromide. * Search WILL be a ubiquitous component of "portal" sites and other premium Web properties going forward. It's just something one has to have as a complementary offering to other content, etc. Plus, it helps produce revenues through CPM-based banners that can be targeted to pop up with certain search word requests. * Even if there were such a thing as METAPHYSICAL SEARCH, the one search engine that could find what's worthy and what's dross in the human soul, or something just as cool, it and it ALONE could NOT carry the freight for a supersite. It's NOT enough to be a good site for search... and that alone. So, search has some commodity-like characteristics. But, the "search as commodity" argument has some pretty large flaws. I'll start with the general flaws. Then, I'll drill down into specific stuff about SEEK. * First, it "underimagines" the technological innovations that can still be delivered. We have yet to see the technological ceiling on how FAST, EASY, AND ACCURATE search can become. Period. No questions. And if these INNOVATIONS were all just inside baseball... resulting in no utterly obvious advantages to the site visitor... it would all be pointless. But, I don't think this will be the case. * Second, as its been widely reported, each search engine offers comparatively little COVERAGE of the overall Web. (Surprisingly, little in some cases.) Again, this MAY be read as a pure and simple negative. However, I think it opens up opportunity for improvement. * Third (and this may be seen as an extension of item # 1), with specific reference to SEEK: Kirsch and company are working on Distributed Search capabilities and other innovations. Kirsch, rightly or wrongly, is viewed as the one of the best minds in search engine technology. Period. I have yet to fully get my arms around the possibilities of Distributed Search and some protocol called, I think, Z3950... but it is very, very intriguing. (In fact, Distributed Search may only have relevance as part of SEEK's software products... rather than its big index.) * The "search as commodity" argument is usually used to slam search engine-centric sites like SEEK... implying that SEEK is very good at something that doesn't really matter or will soon be available everywhere. And even I believed that search was exhausted as a point of differentiation, I'd still not be worried about SEEK. Because it has gotten very good with DIRECTORY capabilities. Has bought "eyeballs" from WBS. (BTW, T will offer chat visitors to SEEK and other sites the ability to place a call--so folks can actually hear the obscenities being screamed at them.) Has made a significant move into Women's programming with iVillage. Just added games. International presence. Growing brand appeal, etc. * And SEEK has moved the playing field down to the level of corporate intra, extra, and internet sites with its award-winning UltraSeek server product... now responsible for generating 12% of revenues. To my knowledge, no other search engine/portal-to-be has such a strong SERVER SEARCH PRODUCT offering. (I don't count Alta Vista 'cause its been gobbled up by Compaq.) That said, maybe, some day in the not-too-distant future search WILL BE a commodity... and not a potential and real source of competitive differentiation. But, I don't think that day is TODAY. Best Regards, c m

To: cm who wrote (6198)	5/31/1998 5:57:00 PM
From: cm	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 9343

Internet Company Shakeout? Now, There's A Novel Idea... Let's see, so it takes a great analyst to tell us that there is going to be a shakeout among the current players on the Web... ? (I assume this great analyst would NOT have issued a buy signal for KTEL and a price target of $100, right? But, memories are short, aren't they?) Look, it is beyond obvious to say that some of the current players will be bought or merged into larger entities. But, comparing the Web craze to the biotech craze is SO WRONG ON SO MANY COUNTS it borders on the absurd. The Web run-up has certainly been frothy and and unfathomable and maybe even fraudulent in a few cases. But, the biotech industry had lots of overlooked structural, financial, regulatory, and research obstacles that have made and will continue to make progress agonizing and "burn rates" staggering. All of these factors brought biotech to its knees... a condition that it is only now starting to recover from. But, the Web, especially in the light of recent comments by Gore and Magaziner, ain't gonna face some of those VERY DAUNTING impediments. For sure, there are infrastructure limitations (i.e. bandwidth), financial concerns (i.e. making a profit or even finding a working business model to position your site for profitability) and competitive issues. All of these are important. Competition being I think the biggest imponderable... But, let's focus on SEEK, shall we? We are heading toward profitability in Q4... if not sooner. THIS Web company has figured out a workable business model... with revenue streams from CPM-based advertising, transaction participation, and revenue-sharing arrangements PLUS sales of it award-winning UltraSeek server product. And in the coming days and weeks, we will see new announcements focusing on e-commerce arrangements, service enhancements, etc. So, let's tar all WEB companies with the same brush. Let's trot out silly--and I do mean--SILLY analogies comparing the Web craze and the biotech craze. Or, better yet, let's offer up some chestnut about Commodore and the PC industry. All in all, it sounds like sour grapes from an analyst who missed the boat earlier this year and now REALLY hopes that the boat will now run aground. Or, best of all, let's talk specifics about THIS company and its opportunities, revenue growth, global presence, new deals, new content, growing eyeballs... etc. I would really welcome that kind of discussion. Best Regards, c m