Lycos Targets Wireless Market

Lycos Inc. continues to build its offerings via interests
in wireless applications.

The company announced Wednesday that LycosLabs, its early stage business
accelerator and incubator, has invested in Boston-based thinkingBytes
Technology Inc., a wireless provider of applications for the Personal
Digital Assistant (PDA) market. PDA products include Palm Pilots and
Handspring Visors.

“This is part of a series of attacks we will be making on the wireless
stage,” Jason Pavona, Lycos director of wireless strategies, told
internetnews.com. “Our philosophy is to provide a universal user experience
for any device.

“In the future, device limitations will have to be addressed through
personalization,” Pavona noted. “We are tying in our mylycos personalized
platform to a range of devices and helping the user to have access to the
information they want in a personalized manner.”

Both Lycos and thinkingbytes.com are presently working on developing
business strategy, rapid software
development, marketing, corporate development and accelerated hiring.

As part of its wireless focus, Lycos Wednesday announced a partnership
with InPhonic.com, a provider of
customized wireless telecommunications services.

As part of the agreement, InPhonic.com will serve as the exclusive
marketer of Lycos-branded wireless and wireless application protocol (WAP)
phones. Lycos, in turn, will promote the products through banner ads placed
throughout its network of Web sites. Through the ads, users will be able to
link to a Lycos-branded site built by InPhonic.

“This agreement allows us to continue to expand the depth of services we
provide to our customers,” said Richard Gotham, vice president of
e-commerce, Lycos. “InPhonics approach to creating new solutions for
additional revenue streams could be beneficial to many online companies.”

In related news, Lycos has launched Model Search 2000, an online
search for the most beautiful, everyday people in the world. Contestants can
submit photos for a chance to win, while other users vote on their
favorites.

The grand prize winner will receive a choice of a professional modeling
portfolio, valued at $50,000, or the cash equivalent.

The contest runs through October 12.