Browser channels losing lustre?
After hyping the benefits to consumers and marketers of on-line ‘channels’ that push news and information content to Web browsers via the Internet, Netscape and Microsoft may be rethinking the whole idea – possibly even dropping the active channel toolbars from their browser products. A recent article in Internet World magazine says demand for the channels, which were first incorporated into Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer in 1997, has evaporated due to the deluge of information users receive when they subscribe to the channels via prominent link buttons built into each browser’s home page. Check out www.iw.com for more information.
Virtual egg hunt proves popular
NetSteps’ The Great Internet Easter Egg Hunt Web site seems to be generating a lot of interest – and traffic. Designed as a sponsoring vehicle for children’s charities, the site generated 125,680 hits during its March 16 to 24 launch week and tagged an average session length of 17 minutes. Sponsors of the hunt pay to hide Cyber Eggs on their Web sites, which game participants can find and transfer into virtual baskets. Netsteps tracks each participating site’s hunt-generated traffic and provides sponsors with measurement data. Check it out at www.easteregghunt.com.
Eaton’s joins Life online
Eaton’s and Life Network have joined forces for a ‘first of its kind’ Web site sponsorship deal that integrates content from the Life Network Web site with services and content from the Eaton’s Web site. Midwived by Web-ad network ClickThrough Interactive, the deal adds content from Eaton’s on-line Fashion Report and Kid’s Scoop Magazine to the Life Network site, while linking Life site surfers to the Eaton’s Gift Reminder Service and on-line Gift Registry. Life Network content will eventually be added to the Eaton’s site.
Check out the Life Network site at www.lifenetwork.ca.
Microsoft reworks KLM travel site
Microsoft is helping KLM Royal Dutch Airlines redesign its Web site to increase functionality and enable its customers around the world to book klm and Northwest Airlines flights, research travel options and book hotel rooms and rental cars. The expanded site, which uses Microsoft Travel Technologies (mtt) software platform, will be available this summer at (www.klm.nl). Existing mtt users include Continental Airlines and American Express Travel Services. The klm site marks the first international point-of-sale project for the mtt platform.
CitySites galore
CitySearch and Zip2 Corporation have announced merger plans, creating a network of 175 on-line city guides worldwide under the CitySearch banner. Both companies partner with local media outlets to develop information sites with original content. The merger creates economies of scale and potential for greater co-ordination of national advertising buys, best practices sharing and third-party content and software deals, the company says. In Canada, CitySearch partners with The Toronto Star to provide Toronto Star CitySearch. Check out (www.citysearch.com) for more information.
