E-Commerce

One of the long-feared results of Internet security problems -- its potential effect on consumer behavior and eventually, spending -- might be starting to materialize, according to a new report. The Pew Internet & American Life project says that a survey that it conducted found that 91 percent o...

Comcast, the nation's largest cable television company with 21.5 million subscribers, announced it would follow in the footsteps of No. 2 Time Warner Cable and offer a "family friendly" package of TV channels. Comcast's G-rated offering bundles 16 stations, including Disney Channel, Discovery Kids, ...

Nielsen Media Research yesterday announced that it would provide national TV audience estimates that include viewing from Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) beginning with the week of Dec. 26, 2005. "Nielsen is keeping pace with the evolving ways that people watch television, thereby ensuring that our r...

In a bold move to strengthen its grip on the money-making side of the Web search business, Google has finalized a deal to pay US$1 billion for a 5 percent stake in America Online and to deliver advertising to AOL sites. The deal, which came about after months of back-and-forth negotiations among AOL...

While credit card companies research and develop new anti-fraud measurements, alternative payment solutions providers are cashing in on the demand for online security and customer choice. Alternative payment solutions are often less expensive for the merchant and can be easier to use than setting up...

Congress is leaving a special gift under the tree for Hollywood's film industry. Just before closing for the holidays, legislators introduced a new proposal designed to curb redistribution of movies. The Digital Transition Content Security Act would embed anticopying technology into the next generat...

Worried that American companies -- notably Google and Yahoo -- are dominating a key part of the technology landscape, the Japanese government is considering starting up a rival search engine. Reports out of Tokyo say the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will convene a study group con...

For the last several days, Google has set the online and financial worlds buzzing with an expected deal with America Online that could be cut as early as today. Although opinion varies on the wisdom and impact of the move, there's one point on which everyone agrees: The maneuver will add fuel to the...

Traditional retailers plan to offer steep discounts, longer store hours and other incentives this week, hoping to lure shoppers into malls and stores to salvage a shopping season during which the lion's share of gains has been seen in online sales. The International Council of Shopping Centers said ...

Search leader Google has launched a mobile-friendly version of its popular Web-based e-mail service, Gmail, offering a streamlined interface meant to be more compatible with small screens. Anyone with a Gmail account and a Web-enabled phone can access Gmail remotely. Google said the service detects ...

Cingular Wireless yesterday became the latest provider to announce an on-demand streaming video service. Dubbed Cingular Video, the service debuts with a partnership with HBO and promises viewers personalized access to high-quality clips on high-speed-capable phones. Cingular Video plans to begin of...

Targeting yet another vertical in the search landscape, Google has introduced a music search feature that will return relevant information about artists, including links to sites where their music can be purchased. The feature does not represent a move by Google toward becoming a music retailer, but...

As the holiday shopping season starts its last leg today, online merchants are smiling and offline retailers are preparing for the annual Saturday surge. Shopping on the Net has been brisk since Thanksgiving. Shopping.com reported yesterday that every day since Black Friday traffic at its site has e...

Eyeing the sweet spot of the digital music market now all but cornered by Apple's iTunes Music Store, Microsoft said it would partner with Viacom's MTV Networks to release a new online music service known as Urge. Urge is slated to launch early in 2006 and will be integrated into upcoming versions o...

The search war continues to heat up as Amazon.com subsidiary Alexa Inc. has begun to offer third parties the ability to use its data to create specialized, or vertical search engines and results. Alexa said it would offer tools to enable developers to seek specific information when doing Web crawls,...