John Lewell

[London, ENGLAND] Online auctions of corned beef, tiger shrimps and plastic coat hangers have helped make The WorldWide Retail Exchange (WWRE) operational, the e-marketplace announced Thursday. Newly appointed Chief Executive Colin Dyer gave the news and said the service had successfully completed its series of online pilot auctions. “What started out as an idea only […]

[London, ENGLAND] Shares were suspended in Tiscali S.p.A. and World Online International N.V. on Thursday, pending announcement of a merger of the two European ISPs. Tiscali, “The European Portal,” with operations in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, will absorb cash-rich, equity-poor World Online to create a European Internet access company second only in size […]

[London, ENGLAND] According to Andersen Consulting in its third annual study of the global e-commerce market, the U.S. is maintaining its huge lead despite “a growing wave of confidence in Europe.” For European e-commerce entrepreneurs, the figures make stark reading. In 1999, the U.S. generated 67 percent of global B2B e-commerce revenues and 76 percent […]

[London, ENGLAND] The London-based wireless Internet laboratory of AnywhereYouGo.com said Wednesday that as many as a third of today’s wireless Internet applications have been found to contain serious errors. However, despite their negative findings, the researchers tell people they should not believe the “anti-hype.” Wireless Internet is here to stay. It justs needs more development. […]

[London, ENGLAND] Swedish mobile software and services developer room33 has acquired what it says is the world’s first mobile Internet drink and cocktail recipe guide, WAP2Bar.com. WAP developers have long believed that mobile phone users have an insatiable thirst for trivia. Now the theory will be put to the test with the integration of WAP2Bar.com […]

[London, ENGLAND] European shopping portal Zoomit.com announced Tuesday that it has acquired the Dutch operations of Koopwijzer BV, including a product database and a comparison shopping service. Founded in September last year, Koopwijzer.nl has become one of the most popular interactive buyers’ guides in the Netherlands. It not only compares prices but also lets customers […]

[London, ENGLAND] U.K. financial services incubator Birchin Ventures announced Friday an investment of nearly US $3 million in Mymoneyadviser.com, a company that plans to offer Web services to independent financial advisers (IFAs). In return for its investment, Birchin is taking a 30 percent stake in the business. It will make the finance available in four […]

[London, ENGLAND] U.K. software developer Autonomy Corporation plc announced Friday that its technology will be used to power a pan-European “consumer opinion portal” named Dooyoo. Dooyoo is designed to carry reviews written by ordinary consumers about the products they have purchased. Autonomy’s technology will link the reviews to the products and deliver a personalized version […]

[London, ENGLAND] AOL France has signed a deal, estimated to be worth over US$200 million, with French retail giant Auchan to develop an online shopping service. As part of the deal, AOL France will become the exclusive service offered on computers sold in Auchan’s hypermarkets — and AOL will have a golden opportunity to publicize […]

[London, ENGLAND] A study conducted in the U.K., Germany, France and Sweden, and published this week by AdLINK Internet Media AG, shows that the Internet is gaining ground on traditional media such as television. 51 percent of U.K. interviewees said they had less time to watch television once they got online. Other countries showed even […]

[London, ENGLAND] Internet postage pioneer E-Stamp Corporation announced Wednesday the introduction of its service to Europe with a trial in the Netherlands. California-based E-Stamp has linked up with Dutch postal service PTT Post for a joint trial to bring its Internet postage system to around 100 businesses and 25 private users. “By working with E-Stamp, […]

[London, ENGLAND] In response to American and Asian online solutions, European steel producers announced their own e-commerce platform Wednesday by introducing SteelDex (Steel Direct Exchange). Privately funded, but soon to be backed by what it calls “a leading European financial institution,” SteelDex will enable European producers, traders, and selected customers to buy and sell the […]