Microsoft ready to re-pave Sidewalk
mar...@openspace.com
-----------> This message was posted to the ONLINE-NEWS list. <-----------
>Microsoft ready to re-pave Sidewalk
>By Michael Fitzgerald and Patrick Houston
>January 9, 1998 12:56 PM PST
>ZDNN
>
>Microsoft Corp., apparently tired of heavier-than-expected losses, is
readying a new version of its Sidewalk Web-based local entertainment guides
that could be announced as early as next week, according to sources close
to the company.
..The main differences:
>
>* Local content will be scaled back in favor of content from outside
sources, including Microsoft's own Expedia travel site;
>
>* Sites will gain a more centralized, directory-oriented content format;
>
>* New features will include a search engine good enough to find, say, a
24-hour plumber who accepts credit cards.
>
>"It's going to be a cross between the Yellow Pages, Consumer Reports and a
local entertainment guide," said one Microsoft source who asked not to be
named.
.. a Microsoft spokesperson said that "you can expect an expansion and
major growth and even new cities" announced by Sidewalk in 1998. The
spokesperson declined to comment on a time frame, which sources indicated
would be within a month.
..
>Driving the changes: a lack of hits, market research showing that
advertisers and users want more, and Sidewalk's losses, which reportedly
are worse than even Microsoft expected.
..
>One source said that planned reductions in local content are not expected
to affect Sidewalk sites "in cities already up and running, but may affect
those that are planned and not [yet live]."
>
>The source added that management had asked for department heads to cut
budgets and that content that wasn't getting hits might be cut.
>
>Another source said that local editorial staffs are "obviously nervous.
Content is going to be cut back. It's really expensive to create a story."
>
>"Local content is going to be there, it's just not going to be the main
platform," the source said.
>
>Martha L. Stone contributed to this story.
--
Martin T. O'Donnell <mar...@openspace.com>
VP Marketing & Business Development
OpenSpace Corp., Seattle
+1.206.667.0025, 0026 fax
Online Editors & Publishers: check out
_Industry News_ at http://www.openspace.com
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