John Lewell

[London, ENGLAND] Massachusetts-based Breakaway Solutions, which calls itself a “Full Service Provider” (FSP) of strategy, implementation and hosting services, announced Wednesday its acquisition of Irish Internet development firm Zartis Limited. With 40 employees, Zartis significantly increases Breakaway’s European presence and its acquisition is the first step in a major drive by Breakaway to increase its […]

[London, ENGLAND] Pan-European Internet company World Online announced Wednesday a 37 percent increase in revenues for the latest quarter, heavier than expected losses, a new business strategy and many new appointments. For the three months ending June 30, 2000, World Online increased its revenues to 55.4 million euros (approximately US $52 million) and reported continued […]

[London, ENGLAND] Interactive 3D Web animation software pioneer Pulse Entertainment announced Tuesday a deal with French digital post-production company Exmachina for distribution of Pulse technology to designers and agencies in Europe. Privately funded, Pulse has created an innovative add-on to Web browsers that not only downloads very quickly but enables the user to interact extensively […]

[London, ENGLAND] European online auctioneer QXL.com announced Tuesday its expansion into Belgium with a new site, www.qxl.be, available in both French and Dutch languages. QXL.com now has twelve sites in Europe, some of them — like www.qxl.be — created by the parent company, others acquired from local operators. All the sites are interlinked so that […]

[London, ENGLAND] European ISP Tiscali S.p.A. announced Monday a strategy agreement with software solutions supplier Belle Systems to deploy advanced IP billing services throughout Europe. Headquartered in Italy, Tiscali operates via subsidiaries in Germany, Switzerland, Spain, France, Belgium and the Czech Republic. Its network, named TiscaliNet, will now be integrated with Belle Systems’ Internet Management […]

[London, ENGLAND] Vertical trade community operator VerticalNet announced Monday it has now completed the formation of VerticalNet Europe, B.V., a joint venture with global telco BT and Internet Capital Group. VerticalNet’s trade communities cover such industry sectors as Communications, Energy, Financial Services, Food and Packaging, etc., each community providing users with comprehensive sources of information, […]

[London, ENGLAND] Aerospace company Rolls-Royce announced Friday that it will launch a trial of its new e-business portal — aeromanager — at the Farnborough Air Show, which begins July 24. Designed by Data Systems & Solutions, a joint venture between Rolls-Royce and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), aeromanager will give airlines instant access to engine […]

[London, ENGLAND] Networking community for Internet entrepreneurs First Tuesday is to become the wholly owned subsidiary of seed-stage investor Yazam, the two companies announced Friday. Originating in London, First Tuesday quickly became synonymous with the Internet revolution in the U.K., enabling entrepreneurs to meet with venture capitalists in a social setting on the first Tuesday […]

[London, ENGLAND] Discount travel site Europebyair.com announced Thursday that several major European airlines have agreed to offer their discount airfares via its service. Members of the so-called “Qualiflyer Group” — an inter-European airline alliance — are now offering discounted tickets through the site. Among them are Swissair, Sabena, Crossair, Tap Air Portugal and Lot Polish […]

[London, ENGLAND] European media giant Bertelsmann announced Thursday an agreement to acquire online music destination CDNOW for $117 million in cash. A pioneer in selling CDs and videos online, CDNOW was one of the major Internet sites constantly reported to be running short of finance in recent weeks. Under the ownership of Bertelsmann that problem […]

[London, ENGLAND] Pan-European car buying service OneSwoop.com announced on Wednesday the availability of another 46 models with up to 33 percent off their U.K. list prices. Formed in March 2000, OneSwoop.com has since run up against stiff competition from other new entrants who also aim to capture the huge market for low-cost cars sourced in […]

[London, ENGLAND] The U.K’s largest retailer Tesco has teamed with iVillage, the operator of The Women’s Network, to create iVillage UK. The new U.K. site, which despite its name will also serve the Republic of Ireland, is iVillage’s first international equity relationship. It is scheduled to launch in the fourth quarter of 2000 with eight […]