Lycos ditches portal to focus on social networks
by Martin Belam, 13 February 2004
So now Lycos ditching its free community tools begins to make sense...
In two dramatic announcements this week, Lycos U.S. said it will shed its portal strategy to become a vast social network
http://www.internetnews.com/IAR/article.php/3311971
Executive Vice President Mark Stoever is quoted as saying:
"This is totally an untapped space. We'll enter the market already in the leadership position because of where we've been. Lycos will be the first to bring together the entire spectrum of ways people connect online."
See also: Lycos withdrawing from community sites
"the revenue potential for its new model lies in subscriptions"
Subscriptions to what? Communities? Pay to be an audience for advertisers? Because that's what this article seems to be saying. What's in it for the user?
I wonder if they need staff...? connect.. hub.. Why do those words sound so familiar?
Why am I asking so many questions?
So they've finally realised that the only money to be made in communities is in dating.
I love the bit where they say it's "untapped" space. It's a gold rush, with no hint of gold. Everyone is rushing in and no one has any sense about what they're going to do once they get there...
There's a Subway opening up across the road, I think I'll go and get a job there, get out of the lunacy.