InternetNews Staff

IDT’s Net2Phone Monday began offering its Internet telephony services to Brazil and Russia. The company is teaming up with international telemarketing firm TVB International to provide telephony to users in the two countries. Net2Phone’s products and services enable direct, low-cost phone-to-phone and fax-to-fax communications over the Internet. Its agreement with TVB calls for Net2Phone gateways […]

E*TRADE Group Inc. Monday officially launched the E*TRADE S&P 500 Index Fund, the first mutual fund to be offered through E*TRADE Funds. The fund is advised by E*TRADE Asset Management Inc. and distributed by E*TRADE Securities Inc. The company said it is the first mutual fund specifically targeting the online investor. Investors who want to […]

CNET Inc. Monday acquired computer products auction site AuctionGate Interactive, Inc. in a stock swap valued at $5.8 million. CNET will issue about 50,000 common shares for all of AuctionGate’s stock. CNET’s new auction services division will be based in company’s Orange County, Calif., offices. The acquisition is expected to create a new revenue stream […]

Two of the largest software e-tailers joined forces Monday with Internet superstore Beyond.com acquiring BUYDIRECT.COM in a stock deal worth approximately $133.65 million. Beyond.com will issue 5.4 million common shares to finance the deal. Both companies’ board of directors have approved the transaction which is expected to close by the end of March. The companies […]

The 75 million-strong Tamil speaking population worldwide has received a boost in cyberspace, thanks to a $1.25 million local language initiative launched by the Tamil Nadu government to promote online content. The initiative, announced by Tamil Nadu chief minister M. Karunanidhi, includes seed support for a state-level Tamil Internet Research Center and a World Tamil […]

Sometimes we get press releases that simply speak for themselves. So for all you closet Victoria’s Secret streaming media Web show fans, here’s something from the competition, raw and unexpurgated, verbatim from the press release: “SAN CARLOS, CA– Next month, ImaginOn Inc. will help show the world how to really sell women’s lingerie in the […]

Interactive Buyers Network International Ltd. (IBNL) launched www.ourschoolsite.com, a new service designed to provide free commerce-ready Web sites to colleges, high schools, middle schools and elementary schools. The “free site” program is designed to be used by schools, and the company expects that sales representatives of scholastic product companies will be working with IBNL to […]

WorldSpy, an online comparison and shopping service, signed a one-year agreement with America Online to become a tenant on AOL’s Shopping Channel. WorldSpy will be prominently featured in the Shopping Channel’s Office Products and Services area from which consumers can link directly to WorldSpy’s new Computer and Office Pavilion site. WorldSpy will also be featured […]

Netscape Communications Corp. Friday debuted an enhanced version of instant messaging on its Netcenter portal. Netscape AOL Instant Messenger 2.0 enables users to conduct private, real-time chats. Users signing up for Netscape AOL Instant Messenger 2.0 will automatically become a Netcenter member and will have access to such services as faxing, conference calling, calendaring and […]

In a move that may signal it is finally ready to take the plunge into the online trading arena, Merrill Lynch & Co. Friday acquired the online brokerage technology subsidiary of D.E. Shaw. Merrill declined to disclose financial terms of the transaction, but The Wall Street Journal, citing a company source, valued it at between […]

Search engine GoTo.com Thursday filed a complaint in a California federal court against Walt Disney Co. and Infoseek Corp. over the logo the two companies are using to market their recently launched GO Network. GoTo.com is alleging Disney and Infoseek have violated federal trademark law and are asking a federal court to force the companies […]

San Francisco-based AllApartments has changed its name to SpringStreet, redesigned its Web site, and launched a multi-million dollar national advertising campaign that will feature a “Live Rent Free” online giveaway contest. The motivation behind the identity change is to establish SpringStreet as the personalized service for consumers looking for a hassle-free moving experience, the company […]