Looking to increase its already successful online
shopping business, America Online Inc.
Wednesday acquired PersonaLogic,
maker of personalized, interactive consumer buying guides.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
PersonaLogic’s technology is designed to allow AOL members to create personalized
profiles. The service will then use a customized list of best
matches and links to let buyers make comparisons and get more
information on a product.
The guides cover a variety of topics including automobiles, bicycles,
cruises, mutual funds, computers, colleges, cities, camcorders and pets,
among others.
AOL will make PersonaLogic’s decision-guide technology available on all its
properties, including its own Web sites Digital City, CompuServe and AOL’s international
services.
AOL said it will continue to develop PersonaLogic technology and work
toward making it compatible with search engines and other electronic
commerce tools. It will also work to develop new e-commerce applications to
enhance revenue.
“PersonaLogic’s decision-guide technology will be a great addition to our
electronic commerce efforts and will make AOL even more convenient and
easier to use across a broad range of topics,” said Bob Pittman, AOL’s president and chief
operating officer.
“Members will be able to quickly and easily get personalized
recommendations, make head-to-head comparisons and access additional
information about a wide variety of products and services. Not only are
PersonaLogic decision guides useful in making major purchasing decisions,
but they are also fun to use.”
PersonaLogic’s guides have been used by rival community site, Lycos, since this past June.
Related Links
Lycos Deploys Seven of PersonaLogic’s Interactive Decision Guides