In contrast Yahoo builds all of its traffic around a single core site. Lycos is presently moving to close its controversial deal to merge with the media properties of USA Networks. Electronic Commerce Business Web site operator VerticalNet has a new angle for online auctions. Under the auction service, firms that use VerticalNet Web sites will now be able to auction off excess inventory or other merchandise. Buyers can browse the auction and fixed-price categories free of charge and place bids on items of interest.
Sellers pay commission when the items are sold.
VerticalNet offers 35 electronic commerce and information sites covering businesses ranging from pulp and paper to wireless design. Journalism Television carried information about yesterday's shooting at a suburban Denver high school around the globe within moments. Just as quickly the Internet carried news and gossip around the world. As in past disasters, the Internet yesterday became a strange cross between an instant information conduit and a sounding board. In a weird mixing of old and new technologies, most of the news that was traded in the chat rooms came from television.