In a move to get more websites audited, ABC Electronic (www.abce.org.uk) is cutting the cost of registration to its service. The move comes as advertisers and even staff on websites want to see real information on how well sites are doing and to become more accountable like their paper-based publishing peers. Over the past couple of years, a lack of industry auditing standards has resulted in some sites making great claims as to how popular they are when they are not. While the move is welcomed, another issue needs to be equally addressed: when a site is audited it should reveal its results.
Online syndicator eSubstance (www.esubstance.com) is to become one of the suppliers of content to the pan-European travel portal Opodo. Under the arrangement, eSubstance will supply a range of features, including travel guides and country information.
A number of websites from 365 Corporation (www.365corp.com) may be culled this month as the company looks at ways of reducing its operating costs and focusing on areas where it sees growth. Over the past few months, the company has ceased updating several of its sites, including gardening365, while Future365, its prediction and paranormal site, has been closed down. The company has also seen marketing director and co-founder Simon Morris leave.
Nick Denton, the former Financial Times technology reporter who founded online news aggregator Moreover.com, is to relinquish his chief executive position and become chairman. Denton is handing over control to Silicon Valley executive Susan Atherton, formerly of online advertising network Doubleclick.
The online division of Capital Radio is to become the sole radio content to Microsoft’s MSN portal. Capital Interactive will provide three specialist online stations: ATK13 for gamers, Glisn for R&B music fans and Chyra for women.
Handy tip for anyone with a laptop computer needing to access the internet from a hotel room. With hotels charging a fortune for local telephone calls, it can get quite expensive to go online, so one of the best options around is to set up an account with Onetel (www.onetel.co.uk). The company, recently bought by AA owner Centrica, offers access via a freephone number for one pence a minute. With hotel chains either not charging or just charging a flat fee for a freephone number it can work out much cheaper than paying a hotel for dialling in to your usual internet provider’s access number.
Leslie Bunder
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