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WATERTOWN'S TVISIONS MAY BE one of the local tech scene's best-kept secrets. But, says CEO and founder, Ralph Folz, that's about to change. | READ MORE |
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What's in a domain name? Plenty, if you're running for president
By Julia Lipman

Political candidates are waking up to the need for a strong presence on the Internet, particularly for the presidential contenders.
     But they're finding it's not so easy to cover all the domain-name bases.
     And that leaves plenty of room for confusion among voters looking for legitimate information... not to mention room for mischief-making by cybersquatters.
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE | MORE |

  Learn your true political identity.
  How not to react to a parody.
  No pretensions at Duke 2000.


top headlines

Agency that doles out domain names accused of hoarding best picks.  As unique Internet addresses become scarcer, the company that long held a monopoly on registering them is under attack for keeping thousands of valuable names -- some that can command thousands, even millions of dollars in the resale market. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Earnings report spurs Lycos gains on Wall Street.  Shares of Waltham-based Lycos rallied more than 4 percent after the online media network's fiscal fourth-quarter earnings topped Wall Street estimates and revenues soared on strong worldwide traffic growth. REUTERS

Ramada is latest hotel chain to offer high-speed Net access.  Ramada Franchise Systems announced today it will provide high speed Internet access at its over 1,000 hotels and nearly 135,000 guest rooms nationwide. DIGITALMASS.COM

Now they're boasting they 'gave it' to Big Blue.  Juno Online Services, the third-largest dial-up U.S. Internet service provider, on Wednesday said IBM would bundle Juno's basic free Web access service with its home computers. REUTERS

If only there was money to be made in gullibility. Wait, there is.  Internet users are being bombarded with sympathy e-mails full of tearful tales of youngsters in need, asking for help. But while they appear to rally Internet users for a good cause, most, if not all, of these e-mails are fakes. REUTERS

'Can you prescribe something for this creepy feeling of being watched?'  Privacy advocates are raising alarm over a Boston firm that is quietly tracking the information consumers are getting from pharmaceutical companies' Web sites. Pharmatrak knows if people have been accessing information on impotence, AIDS, and other conditions treatable with medication. It then shares that data with drug companies -- and the Web surfer may never know. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Now you'll be sure not to miss the rare playing of a Dave Matthews tune.  Here's more fuel for the raging debate over free music. Gotuit Media Inc., an Andover start-up with high-profile backers, is raising money to launch its SongCatcher software, which lets users record songs from their favorite radio stations directly to their computers. BOSTON GLOBE

'Body-snatching' lawsuit is settled.  Cambridge Technology Partners Inc. says it has settled a lawsuit over a former executive's launch of a rival start-up in Florida, which promises not to hire away any more Cambridge Tech employees. BOSTON GLOBE

Because if there's one thing Net users want, it's more ads.  Despite the widespread talk of softening in the online ad market, some analysts expect Internet ad revenue to more than quadruple -- to $16.5 billion -- by 2005 according to a report released today. REUTERS

Natick Net consultant announces new funding.  Natick-based Granitar Inc., an Internet consulting and systems solutions firm, has obtained $16 million in venture capital to fund market development and new hiring. PRESS RELEASE

Westford telecomm provider plans 3-for-1 stock split.  Sonus Networks Inc. of Westford, a maker of advanced telecommunications switches whose shares have increased in value by over 800 percent since its initial public offering in late May, said it will issue a 3-for-1 stock split late next month. BOSTON GLOBE

EARNINGS ROUNDUP: Lycos, Analog Devices, Staples.com.  Waltham-based Lycos beat Q4 earnings expectations, while announcing it has won regulatory approval for its pending purchase Spain's Telefonica. Analog Devices of Norwood reports Q3 profit that almost tripled from a year ago. BOSTON GLOBE

'We don't take kindly to all these newfangled watchamacallits.'  The Internet is considered a more important source for information than TV or radio by those who use online technology, according to a new UCLA report. But non-users remain skeptical. REUTERS

 



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