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September 22, 2004

Bits & Bytes for September 22, 2004

By Pamela Parker

FindWhat Rolls out Local Search Implementation
Search marketing firm FindWhat.com is rolling out a local search solution to its publisher distribution partners.

The software lets Web site publishers implement a two-box search system on their sites. One box is designed to receive a relevant keyword or keyword phrase, while users are meant to put geographic information into the second box. When search queries come in this format, FindWhat will only send advertisers' ads that have a local identifier.

The implementation, designed to attract local advertisers to the FindWhat marketplace, follows the launch of the company's other local initiative -- pay-per-call pricing.

"FindWhat.com recognizes the market need for more local search options," said Rick Szatkowski, SVP/GM of the network/private label division of FindWhat.com. "By equipping our distribution partners with the technical implementation to deliver local search capabilities for its users, and the inventory of ads to fill the local search queries, distribution partners are better able to satisfy their users' growing thirst for local search results."

DoubleClick Divests Interest in German Ad Network
In keeping with its technology-only strategy, DoubleClick has sold its 15 percent interest in German online ad network AdLINK Internet Media. United Internet, the majority shareholder of AdLINK, paid DoubleClick approximately $9.5 million, the company said.

"While we believe that AdLINK will continue to be successful, DoubleClick is focused on providing technology and data solutions to leading marketers and Web publishers," said Kevin Ryan, CEO of DoubleClick. "As a result, it is no longer a strategic fit to own shares in an online advertising network."

AdLINK will continue to use DoubleClick's technology.

Jupitermedia, Sun in Media Partnership
Sun promoted its Network Computing Quarterly Systems release Webcast through an exclusive media partnership that had "thin ribbon" ads appearing on every page of the internet.com and EarthWeb.com networks.

Together, the networks comprise 105 different Web sites, all catering to a technologically savvy audience. The "thin ribbon" creative, located at the top of the Web pages, was previously used exclusively for house ads.

Internet.com and EarthWeb.com are sister networks to ClickZ, and share a parent company in Jupitermedia.

Port25 Releases New Version of E-Mail Gateway
E-mail technology firm Port25 Solutions has released the newest version of its software product, PowerMTA. The 3.0 version addresses issues like the prevention of e-mail fraud, adoption of e-mail authentication specifications, accreditation and reputation management, and monitoring of message delivery.

SageMetrics, NetRatings in European Partnership
Web analytics firm SageMetrics Corporation has partnered with Internet audience measurement company NetRatings. The companies have agreed to offer a SageMetrics Web analytics tool in Europe that will be branded as Nielsen//NetRatings Professional.

SageMetrics is an ASP that delivers information about site visitors, site navigation, online processes, purchasing patterns and campaign effectiveness. Clients include Philips, Virgin, Cox Communications, Tesco, Discovery.com and L'Oreal.