Surf these sites: ''Free'' iMacs, Too -- Hopping on the recent bandwagon of computer giveaways, a company says it will give away 25,000 free iMacs. All the consumer has to do is ... pay. [Wired News] ''Must Click TV'' Ready to Roll -- Interactive TV isn''t exactly a new concept, but backers say services that will energize couch potatoes are now there. Two-way TV is no longer an if, but a when. Vince Beiser reports from Las Vegas. [Wired News] ''Net No Threat to Broadcasting'' -- The FCC''s top man says outfits like Yahoo and Broadcast.com have a long way to go to snag the audience and the reach of traditional broadcasters. Joanna Glasner reports from the broadcasters convention in Las Vegas. [Wired News] ''Privatize NASA Now'' -- A space administrator says that the government should hand over part of its operation to the private sector so it can concentrate on the outer limits. Andy Patrizio reports from Los Angeles. [Wired News] ''Smart'' Homes for Smart People -- IBM and Bell Atlantic plan to wire homes so that computing devices will be connected to peripherals like VCRs -- making for houses with higher IQs. [Wired News] ''Somebody Freakin'' Talk to Me!'' -- Net shops are losing a lot of sales because their automated customer service stinks. The CEO of LivePerson thinks he has the solution. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] ''To The Moon, Alice'' -- With NASA''s blessing, a group of commercial-minded space buffs are dead set on turning the moon into the top tourist destination and biggest money-maker the solar system has ever seen. By Lindsey Arent. [Wired News] ''Where''s My Freakin'' Package?'' -- Pretty soon, nearly everybody will be buying merchandise online. But a new report suggests there could be delivery chaos. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] ''Y2K Iceberg Dead Ahead!'' -- Will an archaic insurance clause allow clients to recover the cost of preparing their companies for Y2K? Aye, matey, say lawyers. You''re daft, say insurers. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] 10,000? Not Quite Yet -- Wall Street takes its best shot at hitting a blue-chip milestone, but weak earnings in the tech sector hold the market in check. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] 3Com Costs Down, Profits Up -- 3Com''s quarterly profits top analysts'' forecasts even while its sales fell. [Wired News] 3Com Spinning Off Palm -- The Palm Computing division of 3Com will be going its separate, public way as the parent tries to revive its core business. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] 3Com Warns of Earnings Shortfall -- The third quarter''s not looking good, the computer-hardware maker says. Slowdowns in several key markets will push earnings far below Wall Street''s expectations. [Wired News] 7-Eleven at Your Convenience -- The world''s largest chain of convenience stores computerizes its inventory, using digital technology to manage everything from cigarettes to doughnut sales. [Wired News] A Bad Day for Amazon -- Investors dump shares of the Net bookseller after a key analyst lowers his rating on the company. Amazon doesn''t help its cause by yakking about its plans to keep losing money. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] A Banner Year for Net Ads -- Online ad revenue climbed 112 percent to US$1.92 billion, the Internet Advertising Bureau reports.... Also: SAP''s new Net strategy.... Free-PC raises US$33 million.... Saudis interrupt phone sex.... And more. [Wired News] A Be-Hive of Activity -- Even as the cash-starved company prepared for its IPO, Be Inc. and its partners issue a flurry of press releases at PCExpo. But will they make Be-lievers out of investors? John Gartner reports from New York. [Wired News] A Bloody Day for Tech Stocks -- Fears of a looming hike in interest rates send Wall Street reeling. Tech and Internet shares bear the brunt of the beating. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] A Breath of Fresh Air -- It''s easy to do audience research on the Web. But Oxygen Media CEO Geraldine Laybourne says counting clickthroughs is just the start. James Glave reports from Scottsdale, Arizona. [Wired News] A Confederacy of Gurus -- A new Web site geared toward professionals who work from home would provide an online community and procure gigs for someone called a Guru. By Lindsey Arent. [Wired News] A Cranky E-Commerce Christmas -- Online retailers had a great Christmas and record sales, but things weren''t so rosy for buyers. Consumers air their many complaints in a new survey. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] A Facelift for High-Speed Cable -- As At Home seeks to break down the high-speed door to consumers, Excite brings a consumer-friendly face to the broadband market. By Chris Oakes. [Wired News] A Free PC? Gimme! -- When Free-PC.com said it would give away computers to everyone willing to pony up personal data for advertisers, it expected 10,000 takers. It got 500,000. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] A Free PC? Gimme! -- When Free-PC.com said it would give away computers to everyone willing to pony up personal data for advertisers, it expected 10,000 takers. It got 500,000. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] A Healthy Debut for Medscape -- Medscape shares soar by more than 70 percent in its IPO. Analysts are at a loss to explain why. [Wired News] A Home-Networking Mega-Alliance -- 3Com and Microsoft, eyeing a potential US$2 billion market, will sell a co-branded line of products intended to easily tie together a household. [Wired News] A Kickstart for Startups -- Planning a business? Win MIT''s Entrepreneurship Contest, and the VCs are sure to follow. By Louise Knapp. [Wired News] A Kinder, Gentler Multimedia -- The Markle Foundation plans to pump big money into multimedia companies that aren''t looking to just make a buck. Oxygen Media is first in line for cash. [Wired News] A Method to E-tailing Madness -- Selling CDs, books, and cars at cost may seem like insanity, but some online retailers are thriving doing just that. Don''t expect the insanity to last for long. [Wired News] A Million Free iMacs -- A start-up says it will give away a million of Apple''s cute little boxes. With several catches, of course. [Wired News] A Net for Business, Not Laws -- Hands Off the Internet, a new anti-regulation group, joins the list of Washington think tanks and nonprofits lobbying against government regulation of e-commerce. Arik Hesseldahl reports from Chicago. [Wired News] A New Powerhouse in Telecom -- Global Crossing, a two-year-old telecom upstart, will try to merge with US West, creating a rival to AT T and MCI WorldCom. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] A New Spin on Going Public -- A Net portal company, partly controlled by the largest US laundromat chain, is gearing up to go public on Nasdaq. It doesn''t have any revenue, but plans to drum up traffic by giving away stock. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] A Note to our Readers -- Wired News was offline from approximately 11:40 p.m Thursday to 8:45 a.m. PDT Friday morning due to network problems. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused readers. [Wired News] A Prescription for Riches? -- A Minneapolis woman who had the foresight to register drugs.com in 1994 put the domain name on the auction block for more than US$1 million. But will anyone pay? By Chris Gaither. [Wired News] A Profile in Ferocity -- One colleague on iVillage chief Candice Carpenter: "She''ll do whatever it takes to move the company forward." She plays hard, too. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] A Slew of IPOs Due Next Week -- Another week, another big ol'' batch of Net IPOs. Topping the list next go-round: Barnesandnoble.com, DLJDirect. By Craig Bicknell [Wired News] A Startup for Startups -- ECompanies, a 2-month-old firm, raises a whopping US$130 million to build a combination venture capital fund and startup incubator. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] A Trekkie''s Dream -- Actors, Klingons, and the occasional Orion slave girl mingle amid the merchandise and memorabilia at the annual Star Trek convention. Lindsey Arent reports from San Francisco. [Wired News] A Urinal? No, an Opportunity! -- New dot coms are desperate for attention, and they''ll slap an ad just about anywhere they can find an audience. [Wired News] ABC Inks Video Search Deal -- Missed your daily soap? Virage''s video searching technology will allow you to check out the good bits, and other network fodder, on the Web. Michael Stroud reports from Carlsbad, California. [Wired News] AMD Could Post Loss -- The chipmaker ''fesses up that the rumors are true: It could face an operating loss this quarter because of a serious whupping from Intel. [Wired News] AMD Investors Want CEO''s Head -- The annual AMD shareholders meeting turns ugly as investors openly call for the resignation of CEO Jerry Sanders. Sanders asks for patience. After all, he says, his company''s up against Intel. [Wired News] AMD to Report Loss, Cut Jobs -- Intel''s chief rival in the chip market says production problems contributed to a "significant loss" in its first quarter. Separately, it says it will cut 300 jobs. [Wired News] AMD''s Do-or-Die Chip -- Advanced Micro Devices rolls out its high-end Athlon chip. After a bruising price war with Intel, a crushing quarterly loss, and the surprise resignation of its CEO, the chipmaker could use some good news. [Wired News] AOL Demotes Andreessen -- The Netscape co-founder is ousted as Chief Technology Officer. His new title: "Part-time Strategic Advisor." A Sun exec is taking his place. [Wired News] AOL Dials MovieFone -- The world''s biggest online service buys the world''s biggest dial-up movie ticketer. Strange bedfellows? Perhaps, but AOL says the match will spruce up its city guides. [Wired News] AOL Does $1 Billion in Retail -- America Online''s members shelled out US$1 billion for goodies over the holiday season. Also: Judge orders Avant! and Cadence Design to talk.... Earthlink issues rosy forecast.... Spyglass plunges on earnings shortfall.... ETrade to split stock.... Audio Book Club acquires Columbia rival.... US West beefs up. [Wired News] AOL Europe Goes Free -- AOL Europe, overtaken by cheapie ISPs in the UK, will offer a new, Netscape-branded ISP later this year. Also: US counties are pushing for a local tax on all online sales.... and more. [Wired News] AOL Europe Mulls Free Service -- AOL''s continental arm is considering free service to keep up with rivals. Also: VirtualVineyard raises more cash.... Free-PC starts sending out its first batch of "free" PCs. [Wired News] AOL Finds Gold in Plastic -- America Online says it could earn up to US$500 million over five years as the exclusive online marketer for the First USA credit card. [Wired News] AOL Gets Speedy -- The world''s largest online service will buffer its position for the broadband future by offering high-speed DSL service. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] AOL Going MP3-Crazy -- America Online is hooking up with pioneering MP3 record label Emusic.com to sell downloadable tunes on three sites. By Jennifer Sullivan. [Wired News] AOL Makes Music Noise -- America Online takes over two kingpins in the digital music business, Nullsoft and Spinner.com. Following recent MP3 moves by RealNetworks, the upstart Internet music format takes another big step forward. By Chris Oakes. [Wired News] AOL Names Andreessen CTO -- Netscape''s co-founder joins America Online''s top management team. It will be his job to articulate the Internet provider''s long-range technology goals. [Wired News] AOL Plots European Blitzkrieg -- America Online wants to own Europe, too. The Internet giant is launching a major campaign in Britain, then Germany. More countries are expected to follow. [Wired News] AOL Plunges on AT&T Victory -- Shares of AOL drop after cable firm Comcast drops its bid for rival MediaOne. AT T will buy MediaOne, and that could shut AOL out of the burgeoning cable Internet market. [Wired News] AOL Plunges on AT&T Victory -- Shares of AOL drop after cable firm Comcast drops its bid for rival MediaOne. AT T will buy MediaOne, and that could shut AOL out of the burgeoning cable Internet market. [Wired News] AOL Profits Quadruple -- Hot on the heels of smokin'' earnings from Amazon and eBay, AOL reports some big numbers all its own. To celebrate, it will split its stock. [Wired News] AOL Profits Rise -- America Online beats analysts'' earnings expectations with a 170 percent profit increase in its latest quarter. Also: Amazon.com reports another loss ... SGI releases earnings. [Wired News] AOL Profits Set Another Record -- The world''s biggest online service reports record earnings, revenue, and subscriber numbers. But the stock slips in after-hour trading because some investors were expecting even better. Go figure. [Wired News] AOL Recruits Messaging Allies -- America Online makes deals with two rival Internet service providers to offer a version of its instant messaging application. Also: Deutsche Telekom buys mobile provider One2One.... IBM confirms British audit. [Wired News] AOL Unites Web, Channel Surfers -- A dream alliance for the "You''ve got mail" crowd. America Online announces a partnership with three technology companies to deliver interactive television. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] AOL Unveils TV Venture -- America Online announces a partnershp with three major electronics companies to offer interactive television. [Wired News] AOL Update Doesn''t ''AIM'' at MS -- America Online updates its instant messaging client by adding news, tickers, and links, but doesn''t build blocking into the product. By John Gartner. [Wired News] AOL to CBS: Welcome Home -- The largest online service dumps ABC News in favor of CBS as its "exclusive broadcast news provider." By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] AOL to Fire Up to 1,000 -- America Online says it may fire up to 500 people at Netscape and another 500 from its own campus. AOL also will split its operations into four units. [Wired News] AOL, Andreessen Part Ways -- The wunderkind who helped develop the world''s first popular Web browser has left his executive post at the company that bought his. Why, and what''s next? By Jennifer Sullivan and Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] AOL, Live Via Satellite -- America Online pays Hughes US$1.5 billion in a new agreement that will give AOL access to DirecTV programming and Hughes'' satellite Internet service. By Polly Sprenger. [Wired News] AOL, eBay: Getting Cozy? -- The two companies are said to be chatting about a range of possibilities, from developing content together to America Online taking a minority stake in the online auctioneer. [Wired News] AOL: ''We Want Your Credit Card'' -- Not content to be a simple tolltaker as the world''s biggest online service, America Online hopes to turn information about its customers'' online habits into the ultimate marketing database. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] AT&T Cracks China Telecom Wall -- The telecom giant signs a landmark deal to offer Internet-based phone service in China. Also: McCain bill seeks to guarantee an unfettered Net.... Qantas sees trouble on 1-1-2000. [Wired News] AT&T Boosted by Wireless, Data -- Revenues from consumer long-distance fell, but the company managed to match the Wall Street forecast by picking up the pace in other areas. [Wired News] AT&T Completes TCI Buy -- The monumental acquisition is over. Next on the agenda: package deals for phone service, Net access, and cable television. [Wired News] AT&T Music Effort Takes Hit -- Co-founders of the a2b initiative lead staff migration to Microsoft-backed Reciprocal. Also: Lycos to do auctions in deal with FairMarket.... Amazon.com buys into HomeGrocer.com.... And more. [Wired News] AT&T Nixes TCI Tracking Stock -- The largest US telecom says it will go ahead with a three-for-two stock split, but it''s abandoning plans for a tracking stock with merger partner TCI. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] AT&T Sweats New Cable Rules -- The FCC delays a vote on regulations that could throw a wrench into AT&T''s big acquisition of MediaOne. Also: For the first time, PC-maker Dell goes out and buys a company.... Alta Vista sees strong demand for free, ad-supported Internet services. [Wired News] AT&T Wins War for MediaOne -- The road is clear for AT T to acquire MediaOne, after it convinces Comcast to drop out of the bidding. If the deal closes, AT T could become the biggest power on the Net. [Wired News] AT&T to Build At Home''s Backbone -- The company that offers Internet access over cable says AT T''s super-fast fiber will extend its reach nationwide. Wall Street approves. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] AT&T''s Roll Continues -- The company announces higher than expected earnings, and a deal with Japan''s NTT.... Also: Free online service planned for Europe.... Amazon goes on a buying spree.... And more. [Wired News] AT&T, AOL to Hook Up? -- AT&T''s chairman reportedly thinks Excite and AtHome aren''t a great fit, and would rather do a content-access deal with America Online. Also: Cisco plans huge KPMG investment.... Net stamp pair gain approval.... Real puts a price on Jukebox.... EMC agrees to buy Data General.... And more. [Wired News] AT&T, BT Eye Japan Telecom -- British Telecom and AT&T may be buying a slice of Japan''s number three phone carrier... Also: Audiohighway.com inks some agreements... Viacom, Circuit City mum on deal rumors. [Wired News] AT&T, BT in Mobile Alliance -- The two giants say the venture will give customers seamless mobile-phone service around the world. Also: Gates will give US$1 billion for minority scholarships.... Inktomi is acquiring distribution and tracking company WebSpective Software... And more. [Wired News] AT&T, Wall Street Darling Again -- Shares of the largest US phone company rise after an analyst sings its praises. What''s more, Ma Bell is about to detail its plans for TCI. Finally. [Wired News] AT&T-TCI Merger Approved -- The merger of the phone giant and the cable company wins shareholder and FCC approval, the two biggest barriers to the telecoms'' megadeal. [Wired News] AT&T: Going Local via Cable -- The long-distance leader strikes a joint venture with Time Warner to offer telephone service over cable TV wires. How big a deal is it? The partners see US$4 billion in annual revenues after three years. [Wired News] AT&T Eyes MSN -- USA Today says AT T talked to Microsoft about buying its long-suffering Microsoft Network. So far, the companies are mum about whether it''s true. [Wired News] AT&T Gets Excited, Too -- The telco giant wants to be the nation''s all-in-one communications service. The At Home and Excite link-up is in step with its plans to combine Internet, phone, and cable. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] AT&T Gets Into Fixed Wireless -- Liberty Media, an AT T cable-TV unit, snaps up The Associated Group and its valuable stake in Teligent, a fast-growing Internet and phone service provider. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] AT&T Not Interested in AOL -- The telco''s chief says all the speculation about Ma Bell buying AOL is hogwash. There''s no marketing pact in the works, either. [Wired News] AT&T Wants MediaOne -- The biggest US phone company wants to be the biggest cable-TV and broadband company, too. AT T makes a stunning US$62-billion offer for the nation''s No. 3 cable company, surpassing a rival bid by Comcast. [Wired News] AT&T''s ''One Bill'' Plan -- Ma Bell will offer a single bill that combines tolls for long-distance and cellular calls. It''s a big step in the evolution of customer service for the telecom industry. [Wired News] AT&T: No More Deals for Now -- Two top AT T executives spend a half-hour shooting down merger rumors. The biggest downer: No deals in the works with America Online. [Wired News] About Those Free iMacs ... -- Before you sign up for the iMac giveaway that One Stop Communications is hawking, you might want to check out the company founder''s checkered history. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] About Those Free iMacs ... -- Before you sign up for the iMac giveaway that One Stop Communications is hawking, you might want to check out the company founder''s checkered history. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] About Those Free iMacs ... -- Before you sign up for the iMac giveaway that One Stop Communications is hawking, you might want to check out the company founder''s checkered history. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] Accountants Tighten Merger Noose -- The group that sets US accounting standards tightens a popular corporate loophole for making gigantic acquisitions. Acquisitive high-tech companies could get caught in the knot. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] Adelphia Buys Century -- In a move to bulk up its cable television assets, Adelphia Communications is buying Century Communications for about US$5.2 billion. [Wired News] Adobe Cuts Jobs, Still Bullish -- The publishing software vendor axes 250 jobs and will concentrate on Internet-related products. Also: AdForce loses GeoCities as customer.... Webvan debuts online grocery delivery service. [Wired News] Adobe''s Profits Top Forecasts -- The maker of graphics-publishing software sets stock split after reporting third quarter profits that beat analysts'' expectations. [Wired News] Advertisers Want Their ITV -- Advertisers have a new medium on which to mark their territory -- interactive television. A report predicts ITV will be a US$20 billion industry by 2004. By Katie Dean. [Wired News] After the Fall, a Rebound -- Tech and Internet stocks are warily returning to life following Wall Street''s bloodbath a day before. Will it last? Don''t hold your breath. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] After-Hours Trading Takes Shape -- Wall Street will offer some kind of after-hours trading to individual investors this summer. But a lot of work remains to be done. [Wired News] AirTouch''s Magic Touch -- The once-unassuming firm is now one of the most successful wireless phone companies anywhere. That''s why there''s an international bidding war brewing. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] Airtouch Bidding War Escalates -- MCI has steered clear of wireless in the past, but reportedly it''s set to join Vodaphone and Bell Atlantic in pursuit of the industry leader. And others may join the fray. [Wired News] Al Says Nothing, Shares Rise -- Fed Chair Alan Greenspan appeared before the Senate Wednesday and said -- nothing. Nothing new, anyway, and that''s exactly what the Net stock market wanted to hear. [Wired News] Al Speaks, Tech Stocks Plunge -- The Fed chief did have some cheerful things to say about the economy. But investors can''t get past two words regarding inflation: "upside risk." The Nasdaq leads the market lower. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] Alaska ISPs Claim Telco Snow Job -- The Last Frontier''s Net service providers are battling a telco that is offering free access and owns the link to the Lower 48. By Polly Sprenger. [Wired News] Alcatel Cuts Jobs, Shares Rise -- The French telecom equipment maker says it will cut 12,000 jobs in the next two years. Investors like the news. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] Allaire Flies Sky High -- Shares of the Web-software company shoot up over 100 percent on the first day of trading. True to Net-stock form, it has yet to see a profit. By Jennifer Sullivan. [Wired News] Allen Boosts Cable Holdings -- Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen adds a US$3.6 billion cable purchase to his tech portfolio. The purchase of Falcon Communications will make Allen''s Charter Communications -- already the No. 4 US cable company -- even bigger. [Wired News] Allen Buys Another Cable Shop -- Paul Allen takes another step towards becoming master of his own "wired world" with the US$3.1 billion acquisition of Bresnan Communications, a Midwest cable operator. [Wired News] AltaVista Hazy on Sold Searches -- Some AltaVista search results will be soon be generated by money, and some by machine. The ad agency says we''ll be able to spot the difference. Critics aren''t so sure. By Polly Sprenger. [Wired News] AltaVista Joins Free ISP Brigade -- Search engine becomes first in US to offer no-fee Internet access, but for a price: if you close the banner ad on your desktop, goodbye connection. By Andy Patrizio. [Wired News] AltaVista Nixes Paid Search -- The search engine revokes its controversial practice of selling top-placed results to the highest bidder. By Polly Sprenger. [Wired News] AltaVista Offers Free Net Access -- The search engine takes the leap into the free ISP business and adopts the ad-supported model. The move could send shivers up the spines of America Online and Yahoo. [Wired News] Amazon Admits Paid Placements -- The online bookseller says it will disclose which books pay for prime real estate on its site. The decision comes after reports it accepted money to feature certain titles. [Wired News] Amazon Aims at Toddler Set -- The online bookseller expands further, adding stores for toys and consumer electronic products. Also: DoubleClick agrees to buy NetGravity for US$530 million.... And more. [Wired News] Amazon Buys LiveBid.com -- Moving to beef up its auction unit, Amazon.com said it will acquire LiveBid.com, the site that hosted live bidding on O.J. Simpson memorabilia, among other things. [Wired News] Amazon Buys into Drugstore.com -- People have hailed the start-up as the nascent Amazon of online pharmacies. The bookseller will help make it happen. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] Amazon Caves In on ''Circles'' -- The world can still see what products your company or ISP has bought from the Web-tailer, but you can hide the purchases if you try. [Wired News] Amazon Countersues Wal-Mart -- The online bookseller strikes back at Wal-Mart, alleging in a counter lawsuit that the retailer is trying to peek at its trade secrets. By Jennifer Sullivan. [Wired News] Amazon Drops Controversial Book -- Amazon.com removes a book from its site that criticizes the Church of Scientology and founder L. Ron Hubbard. Newsgroups cry foul. By Polly Sprenger. [Wired News] Amazon Fourth-Quarter Blitz -- The online bookseller says sales for the period topped US$250 million. Also: SAP''s Y2K business flattens.... Sales droop, stock plunges. [Wired News] Amazon Leads Market Higher -- Some strong sales numbers from Amazon.com contribute to a record-setting rally on Wall Street. But don''t expect to celebrate with a Big Mac. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] Amazon Logistics Chief Quits -- The executive charged with putting together Amazon''s massive warehouse system steps down after barely a year on the job. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] Amazon Losses Chill Net Stocks -- Profits? Forget it. The biggest online retailer says it intends to blow a lot more cash before the year is through. Investors reply by fleeing anything with a dot com. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] Amazon Reports Huge Growth -- The Web''s No. 1 retailer says its revenue quadrupled during the fourth quarter. But its CEO cautions small investors about the company''s volatile stock. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] Amazon Riles N. Ireland Leader -- David Trimble, Northern Ireland''s first minister, threatens to sue the online bookseller for defamation because it''s carrying a book that accuses him of supporting murder. By Polly Sprenger. [Wired News] Amazon Sees Growth, Not Profits -- The online retailer predicts many more customers in ''99 but still no profits. Also: Theglobe.com acquires an online department store.... Audible brings the spoken word to Windows CE handhelds.... And more. [Wired News] Amazon Sets Market''s Pace -- Some strong sales numbers from Amazon.com contribute to a chipper mood on Wall Street. Stocks post healthy afternoon gains. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] Amazon Snags New CFO -- The Net retailer hires a former Delta Airlines executive to head its finance operations. [Wired News] Amazon Steps Into Digital Music -- Amazon begins offering free music in formats such as Liquid Audio and MP3. Never mind that it''s just a marketing move. It will get consumers even more comfortable with the concept of downloadable music. By Lindsey Arent. [Wired News] Amazon Warning Spooks Market -- The biggest online retailer says it''s going to lose a lot more money before the year is through, and this is sufficient for investors to keep dumping Net and tech stocks. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] Amazon Wins One from NYT -- The Times didn''t like it when the online bookseller used its bestseller list to offer 50 percent discounts. But the newspaper caved in on Monday. By Kristen Philipkoski. [Wired News] Amazon an EBay Killer? Not! -- Amazon''s making lots of noise in the auction market, but it may be all sound and fury signifying nothing. EBay''s too far in front, analysts say. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] Amazon on the Move -- Two months ago, Amazon said it would diversify into a multibillion-dollar business. Monday it dove into two new markets: auctions and pets. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] Amazon to Do Auctions -- The book and music seller plans to take on eBay, OnSale.... Also: A green energy company goes online, announces IPO.... Disney''s Blast rejoins the family.... China likes CDMA.... Covad extends DSL nationwide for small businesses.... And ZiaSun says it will take Web-based email everywhere and anywhere. [Wired News] Amazon''s Auction a Bust So Far -- Amazon.com shows book shoppers related items for sale in the site''s new auction section. But "related" is clearly a subjective term. By Chris Oakes. [Wired News] Amazon''s Holiday Bonanza -- The online retailer says it sold US$250 million worth of goodies during the holidays, but will still lose a bundle on the quarter. [Wired News] Amazon, Sotheby''s Plan Site -- Amazon.com buys a US$45 million stake in the old auction house. Also: FCC chief tells locals to stay away from cable Internet.... Oracle surprises with a strong quarter.... And more. [Wired News] Amazon, Wal-Mart Settle -- The two retailing giants agree to stop throwing punches over defecting employees. No damages were paid to Wal-Mart, but some Amazon employees will find themselves with brand new job titles. By Jennifer Sullivan. [Wired News] Amazon.com Wows Analysts -- Amazon beats Wall Street''s first-quarter projections with a whopping 236 percent increase in revenues. Losses triple, however. [Wired News] Amazon: Everything to Everyone? -- First it was books. Then music and toys. Now, Amazon wants to dominate the lucrative consumer electronics market. But is that a good idea? By Noah Schachtman. [Wired News] America Online to Buy MovieFone -- AOL says it will make MovieFone -- that movie schedule phone service with the whiny voice guy -- a big part of its Digital Cities local entertainment service. [Wired News] America the Bountiful -- It''s the land of the free and the home of getting rich quick. The combined wealth of the wealthiest Americans surpasses that of several nations. [Wired News] Amex Gets Smart at E-Shopping -- The credit card company comes up with a smartcard that promises secure online shopping and an end to tedious form-filling. You never need to leave home again. [Wired News] Amway Goes Wrong Way -- Quixtar, the famed company''s much-hullaballooed, long-awaited e-commerce Web site, was one big bust on its launch day. Ever seen a pyramid implode? By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] An Abortion for ''Dawson'' Fans -- A Net speculator first fails to sell a domain name to the makers of the movie Varsity Blues. Then he''s threatened with a lawsuit. His response? He''s redirected varsityblues.com to an anti-abortion site. By Malcolm Maclachlan. [Wired News] An Amazonian Debt -- The largest Internet retailer raises a whopping US$1.25 billion in convertible debt, and investors are eager to put up the cash. But the bookseller isn''t saying what the money is for. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] Analysts Rip Network Solutions -- When Network Solutions shut down Aberdeen Group''s Web site, it stepped on the wrong toes. The market-research firm publishes a nasty report slamming Network Solutions'' "sloppy" service. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] And Down the Market Goes ... -- Wall Street plunges back to Earth after soaring a day earlier. Tech stocks, which had led the way up, are once again out front for the trip south. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] Andy Grove: ''Go Net or Die'' -- Intel''s chairman tells a business audience in Ireland that in the near future, the only successful companies will be Internet companies. Karlin Lillington reports from Dublin. [Wired News] Anguilla Creates Indelible Inc. -- The Caribbean island has become a cozy little tax haven, thanks to an absence of rules. But good luck getting the money into the United States. Declan McCullagh reports from Australia. [Wired News] Another Big Cable Acquisition -- Comcast agrees to buy MediaOne, paying a 32 percent premium to get a leading broadband player. Also: Snap launches a preview of its high-speed site. [Wired News] Another Big Day for Net IPOs -- Modem Media.Poppe Tyson and Pacific Internet both more than triple in their Wall Street debuts, reaffirming investors'' seemingly limitless faith in all things Internet. [Wired News] Another Down Day for Tech Stocks -- With an interest rate hike looking more likely, most US stocks get hammered -- none more so than Internet-related issues. The biggest loser of the day: Amazon.com. [Wired News] Another Down Day for Techs -- Blue-chip stocks remain Wall Street''s darlings as investors favor heavy industry over high technology. AOL turns a tidy profit but still feels the sting of rejection. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] Another Huge Day for Tech -- Wall Street roars higher as tech and Internet stocks set a blistering pace. Strong earnings in the chip sector and a bunch of "buy" recommendations fuel the rally. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] Another IPO Rush Expected -- A whopping list of 23 technology-related companies are lining up to go public before the 4 July lull. Some look to be winners, but many of them will be duds, analysts say. By Louise Knapp. [Wired News] Anti-Spammers Nuke E-Commerce -- The Realtime Blackhole List aims to make the world miserable for spammers. But last week, it made life hell for thousands of legitimate Web sites. By Heidi Kriz. [Wired News] Apple Defends its Blueberry Bush -- Rapidfire lawsuits from Cupertino attempt to protect the iMac''s "trade dress." Legal experts say the case is subtler than it looks. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] Apple Girds for Rough Day -- Chip-supply problems for the wildly popular new G4 force Apple to issue a profit warning, and the company''s stock tumbles in pre-opening trading. Also: China reports 9-9-99 problem.... Star IBM exec gets new post.... And more. [Wired News] Apple Lawsuit Moves Forward -- A judge in New York orders the computer manufacturer to stop trying to stall a US$1.1 billion patent-infringement lawsuit. [Wired News] Apple Names Gap CEO as Director -- Apple Computer expands it board of directors and adds Millard Drexler, Gap CEO, to the new seat. Also: Charter Communications, Paul Allen''s cable-TV company, buys Falcon for US$3.6 billion.... and more. [Wired News] Apple Profit Triples -- Thanks to the iMac, Apple reports earnings far ahead of forecasts. Also: GeoCities prepares e-commerce infrastructure.... Nortel plans huge restructuring. [Wired News] Apple to Clone: Think Different -- Apple files suit against eMachines, claiming the company''s eOne PC is a blatant iMac knockoff. [Wired News] Apple''s Good News, Bad News -- Contrary to published reports, the next-generation G4 processor will ship on time. But Apple''s "crash-proof" Mac OS X Server has a problem handling common Web scripts. By Leander Kahney. [Wired News] Apple''s Portable Still On Track -- Will Apple come through with its much-anticipated consumer portable in time to tap the fall back-to-school market? Analysts want to know. [Wired News] Arrest Made in PairGain Rumor -- Authorities arrest a 25-year-old man in connection with a fake news story posted on the Web last week that sent PairGain''s stock soaring. [Wired News] As Nokia Goes, So Goes Finland -- The telecommunications company''s soaring fortunes get credit for a nation''s robust economy. No wonder the ruling party held on in Sunday''s general elections. [Wired News] Ascend Shareholders Sue -- Just after Lucent makes a US$20 billion bid, Ascend shareholders file suit, claiming the former''s offer isn''t enough. [Wired News] Astounding MarketWatch IPO -- Shares of MarketWatch.com soar an astonishing 500 percent on the first day of trading. The business news provider is no Wall Street Journal yet, but investors like the fact that it publishes on the Web. [Wired News] At Home in Japan -- The cable Internet company continues its overseas expansion, joining with Japanese corporations to provide high-speed access to the island nation. [Wired News] At Home to Buy Excite -- The Net-via-cable company -- and by extension, AT T -- snares itself a portal. The price tag: US$6.7 billion, almost twice Excite''s stock market value. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] At Home to Buy WorldNet? -- AT T is reportedly trying to sell its Net access service to At Home for US$1 billion. But after AT T buys TCI, it''ll own At Home, too. Can you say Net titan? [Wired News] At Home to Redo Earnings -- After discussions with the Securities and Exchange Commission, broadband Internet provider At Home will restate its earnings to better reflect a 1997 cable deal. [Wired News] At Home, Excite Goose Net Stock -- With Excite going for nearly twice its market value, the speculation turns to who''s next. Here, doggie, doggie, doggie. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] AtHome''s Medin: ''It''s Our Cable'' -- The founder of the biggest cable-modem Internet service tells AOL and its buddies to stop treating broadband access like some kind of moral crusade. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] Auction Paging for eBay Users -- The online auction house will send bid updates to customers with pagers, cell phones, or PDAs. Later this year, the service will let users up the ante with the press of a button. [Wired News] Auctioneers Chip In for Kosovo -- EBay, Yahoo, and other online companies help out the Kosovo relief effort by holding special auctions. [Wired News] Auctioning Off Class Struggles -- Business schools around the country may have found a new solution to overcrowded classrooms: They let students bid on courses. By Kendra Mayfield. [Wired News] Aussies Mine Net Gold -- Things couldn''t be worse for the mining industry. To survive, Australian mineral companies are looking for a new mother lode: e-commerce. Stewart Taggart reports from Sydney, Australia. [Wired News] Autobytel Shares Race Upward -- Shares of the money-losing auto site hit overdrive in first-day trading. Autobytel has plenty of competition, but investors still paid more than double the sticker price for shares of the online dealership site. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] Autoweb''s Revving Shares -- Even used-car salesmen feel welcomed by Internet investors. Shares of online car hub Autoweb.com hit the market and double instantly. By Jennifer Sullivan. [Wired News] Avez Vous AOL? -- America Online says it has 3 million subscribers outside the United States. Also: Apple learns a four-letter word.... Broadcast.com lines up content from three ABC affiliates.... and more. [Wired News] B&N Opens Music Store -- The online bookseller joins Amazon.com in selling sounds -- and hopes to lure customers with an exclusive Jewel download. Also: Bigstep.com to launch a free site-building service.... Lycos in high-speed pact with East Coast network.... IBM bows out of Toshiba chip venture.... And more. [Wired News] B&N Closes Book on Merger -- Barnes Noble calls off its acquisition of Ingram Book Group in the face of government and industry opposition. Now it''s on to Plan B, while small booksellers sigh with relief. [Wired News] BMC Buying New Dimension -- BMC will pay US$650 million to expand its business software lineup. Also: Microsoft invests in Reciprocal, an MP3 shop.... The software company also targets Chinese set-top boxes.... Wireless Dimension raises more money. [Wired News] BT Quashes AirTouch Rumors -- British Telecommunications company says it''s not among the many suitors for AirTouch Communications. BT has its hands full with AT T. [Wired News] BT, Microsoft in Wireless Deal -- The two companies reach an agreement to develop Internet and corporate data services for mobile users. [Wired News] Back-to-School Bargains -- Cheap, busy, and Internet-savvy, college students make the ideal target for start-up companies selling textbooks at cut-rate prices. [Wired News] Bad Juju for AMD -- Would-be Intel rival AMD posts a massive loss and says its president is quitting. Not good news for a company trying desperately to reverse its fortunes. [Wired News] Bad News Drags Down the Market -- A record US trade deficit, a rising yen, and a semiconductor shortage caused by the Taiwan quake cause the third-biggest decline of the year on Wall Street. [Wired News] Ballmer Meant What He Said -- This isn''t the first time Microsoft''s president has complained about the overvaluation of tech stocks. And even though the market got the vapors over it, he''s not retreating from his premise. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] Ballmer: ''MS Valuation Absurd'' -- Microsoft''s president tells a group of journalists that tech stocks -- including his own company''s -- are way, way overvalued. [Wired News] Ballmer: ''Share Your Data'' -- Microsoft''s president says the future of e-biz depends on companies making their information available to be reused. By John Gartner. [Wired News] Bamboo.com Cuts IPO Offering -- The leading real estate site plans to sell a million fewer shares than expected, at US$8 per share. [Wired News] Bank Stocks Plunge on Y2K Worry -- An influential banking analyst puts a rare "sell" recommendation on US banking stocks, citing Y2K concerns. The move drags down most of the market. [Wired News] Bankers Don''t Get the Net -- Yet -- There''s not a major bank in the world that gets the Internet and its promise to shake the financial establishment to its rafters. A new report says consumers are way out in front. [Wired News] Bankruptcy Lawyers Smell Blood -- Law firms specializing in Chapter 11 are beefing up their Silicon Valley operations, betting that many of today''s hot tech firms will be tomorrow''s road kill. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] Baratz Resigns from Sun -- A month after his promotion to division president, Alan Baratz throws in the towel and moves on. [Wired News] Bargain Hunters Bid up Stocks -- Monday the market tanked. Tuesday it rebounded as investors bid on bargains. Tomorrow, who knows? But Big Al is speaking before the Senate, and that oughta mean something. [Wired News] Barnesandnoble.com Files for IPO -- The online bookseller spawned from the gigantic brick-and-mortar chain will try to trounce Amazon.com with an offering of up to $200 million. Also: Wit Capital files for IPO. [Wired News] Barnesandnoble.com IPO Set to Go -- In its latest, and presumably final, filing, Barnesandnoble.com says it plans to raise US$300 million. Also: Dell to build plant near Nashville.... China cracks down on illegal satellite dishes. [Wired News] BayCorp''s Net Power Exchange -- BayCorp Holdings spawns a Web site to mine the market for wholesale power. But will utilities and power marketers forsake the phone? [Wired News] Behold, the Übertool -- It''s a phone, it''s a Web browser, it''s a video camera, it''s a personal digital assistant. Orange, one of the UK''s leading cellular carriers, plans to roll out a wireless videophone next year. By Leander Kahney. [Wired News] Bell Atlantic Calls on AirTouch -- Bell Atlantic courts wireless giant AirTouch Communications. A deal could put the squeeze on AT&T, the nation''s wireless leader. [Wired News] Bell Atlantic, Vodafone Do Deal -- The two telecom powers finally announce an agreement to form a US wireless telephone company. With more than 20 million customers, it''ll be the nation''s biggest -- larger than AT&T and Sprint PCS. [Wired News] Bell Atlantic, Vodafone Do Deal -- The two telecom powers finally announce an agreement to form a US wireless telephone company. But is it really the nation''s biggest? By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] BellSouth Buys Chunk of Qwest -- BellSouth, looking to beef up its business-oriented, high-speed telecom services, buys about 10 percent of Qwest for US$3.5 billion. [Wired News] BellSouth Could Buy Qwest -- The Atlanta-based Baby Bell says it''s considering acquiring Qwest, the fourth largest US long-distance company. [Wired News] Bells Lose High Court Ruling -- The Baby Bells lose big as a Supreme Court ruling upholds federal rules to force competition in their markets. But the court also slams the 1996 Telecom Act, calling it "a model of ambiguity." By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] Bertelsmann''s Big AOL Pay Day -- The German publishing giant says it netted US$130 million selling a small chunk of its America Online investment last year. The company''s chief executive also says half its sales next year will be Net-driven. [Wired News] Better Business Bureau Offline? -- The newcomer in the privacy "seal of approval" game is experiencing technical difficulties accepting online seal applications. That''s not a good sign, critics caution. By Chris Oakes. [Wired News] Better Times for MS Temps? -- Microsoft increases the number of temp agencies that supply its temporary labor force. The competition may mean better benefits, the company says. Or not, say labor organizers. Chris Stamper reports from Seattle. [Wired News] Beyond.com Grabs BuyDirect -- Consolidation comes to the online software retailing business as Beyond.com acquires a "complementary" rival for US$133.7 million. [Wired News] Bianca Finds New Sugar Daddy -- The online publisher of "literate smut" site Nerve agrees to buy the parent company of Bianca''s Smut Shack, an online pioneer and still-popular community site. By Louise Knapp. [Wired News] Bidders High on Drugs.com? -- It''s one of the last easily identifiable domains left on the Web. But is Drugs.com worth a US$1 million haul, or is the seller just tripping? By Lindsey Arent. [Wired News] Bidding in Beijing -- One of China''s leading Web sites is about to enter the online auction world after discovering its users are wild about e-commerce. [Wired News] Big Al Speaks, Stocks Tumble -- The Fed chief repeats his worry that the US economy looks "stretched," and this time investors pay close heed. Share prices are hammered in a late sell-off. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] Big Apple Bites into eBay -- The online auction house is the target of an investigation by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs. By Polly Sprenger. [Wired News] Big Bid for Auction Space -- EBay and Amazon love revamped Auctionwatch.com because buyers and sellers can track the action from one place. By Debbi Gardiner. [Wired News] Big Blue Boosts Big Rally -- IBM whips estimates -- whips ''em good -- with a spectacular quarter. Tech and blue-chip stocks both find reasons to rejoice in the company''s stellar performance. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] Big Blue Boosts Blue Chips -- IBM has nothing but good news for Wall Street, and the Dow rockets to a record high. But other tech stocks suffer as investors opt to cash in on recent gains. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] Big Blue Enters Small-Biz Fray -- IBM is hoping a new series of computers, starting at US$850, can give it a piece of the fastest-growing PC sector. [Wired News] Big Blue Fuels Big Gains -- Wall Street enjoys another record-breaking day in the sun as IBM trounces expectations with a spectacular quarter. Tech and blue-chip stocks go through the roof. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] Big Blue''s Big Surprise -- Whoever said IBM is a dinosaur is right: It''s a badass T. rex. The world''s biggest computer company reports first-quarter earnings far above Wall Street expectations. Stock surges in after-hour trading. [Wired News] Big Blue''s New DB Tool -- IBM releases a new version of its database software that targets e-commerce businesses. Similar versions for mobile users are on the way. [Wired News] Big Boys Challenge MP3 -- IBM and five major record labels will test a new way to sell music online. It''s loaded with security, and MP3 advocates say consumers won''t buy it. By Jennifer Sullivan. [Wired News] Big Brother, Big ''Fun'' at Amazon -- Amazon.com says it''s just a fun feature, but the organizations whose employees'' buying habits are being profiled online aren''t so sure. By Declan McCullagh. [Wired News] Big Bucks From Online Ads -- The number crunchers are still crunching, but a preliminary report says online publishers will bag US$2 billion in advertising revenue for 1998. [Wired News] Big Business Boost for E-Biz -- In order for e-commerce to succeed at the international level, conflicting national laws must be made compatible with one another. Some very powerful people are working to make that happen. By Christian Buck. [Wired News] Big Dumb Corps Get Net Savvy -- Scrappy Net start-ups should stop teasing the big dumb corporate behemoths for not jumping on the dot-com bandwagon. Soon, the old-timers may be taking away their business. [Wired News] Big Guns Unite To Unify Unix -- Compaq joins the Monterey alliance, an effort by a dozen companies, including IBM, to solidify the scattered Unix software market. [Wired News] Big IPO Delivery for Webvan? -- Webvan has been delivering groceries for four months, and it''s going IPO next week, hoping to raise US$300 million. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] Big Insider Sales at Yahoo -- Executives sold close to a million shares in February. Analysts say this could be a red flag. By Jennifer Sullivan. [Wired News] Big Money Backs MP3.com -- The Big Boys of venture capital dump money on MP3.com, the company that could annihilate the "nonline" music industry. By Jennifer Sullivan. [Wired News] Big Ol'' Quarter for Big Blue -- In the age of money-losing Net phenoms, staid IBM popped off a hefty US$2.3 billion fourth-quarter profit, topping the Street''s estimates. Also: Sun and Excite earnings are right in line with Wall Street''s best guess. [Wired News] Big Pink Buys Purple Moon -- Barbie and Rockett will be in the same company now. Toymaker Mattel buys the defunct gaming company, vowing to make smart games for girls. [Wired News] Big Week Ahead for IPOs -- Investors hungry for tech IPOs will have a virtual smorgasbord of offerings next week. Close to 20 companies are set to go public -- and analysts expect most will do just fine. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] Billions for Broadband -- With its US$60 billion purchase of MediaOne Group, Comcast will have a piece of the two biggest players in the broadband Internet business. What''s next? A union of the At Home and Road Runner cable modem consortiums? By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] Biotech Firms Preen for Bucks -- For years, investors have poured money into Net companies. This week, biotech companies at the BioPartnering conference try to divert venture capital into their forsaken industry. Lindsey Arent reports from Napa Valley, California. [Wired News] Biz-to-Biz eBiz Buzz: Big Bucks -- Consumer commerce sites like Amazon get all the ink, but the big money is in business-to-business e-commerce, says Goldman Sachs. Like about US$1.5 trillion by 2004. [Wired News] Black Box Crooks Finger Buyers -- Thousands of people who bought illegal cable descramblers on the Web may soon be getting unexpected -- and unwanted -- visits from the cops. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] Bloomberg Sues Over Bogus Site -- The business news and information company sues the unidentified creators of a site that cloned its site to hype a stock. But first it needs to find them. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] Blowout Quarter for Yahoo -- The online directory reports first-quarter results far above Wall Street expectations. Traffic, revenue, and earnings all surge in the quarter. [Wired News] Blue Chips Back in Form -- Tech and Net stocks are elbowed aside as investors renew their affection for Wall Street''s old guard. Like clockwork, traders are once again leery of sky-high prices. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] Blue Chips Defy Compaq''s Woes -- The Dow rockets to yet another record high, shrugging off a profit warning from the computer sector. Tech stocks eventually limp into positive territory. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] Blue Chips Go Bananas -- Earnings worries? What earnings worries? Wall Street reopens the record books as the Dow scores another home run. Once again, tech stocks bring up the rear. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] Blue Chips Hit Record High -- The Dow roars back to life following several days of listless performance. High-priced tech and Internet stocks are elbowed aside by wary investors. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] Blue Chips Rally to Record High -- The rest of the market, however, lags behind as traders seek motivation to keep buying tech stocks in the face of slower earnings. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] Blue Chips Soar, Techs Sag -- Blue-chip shares surge into record territory as oil stocks continue to rally. But the tech side runs out of steam amid profit warnings and earnings disappointments. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] Blue Chips Surge, Techs Tank -- While the Dow climbs amid fresh merger activity and upbeat earnings, a boardroom coup at Compaq sends tech stocks plunging. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] Boeing Eyes Phone Biz -- While other parts of the satellite phone industry are falling out of the sky, Boeing wants a bigger slice of the business. The company is in talks to buy a controlling stake in the Ellipso satellite network. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] Boeing Passes Y2K Test -- The world''s biggest airplane maker says that its jets won''t fall out of the sky on New Year''s Eve 1999. [Wired News] Bond Sell-Off Whips Stocks -- Wall Street is pretty sure Greenspan is mulling an interest-rate hike. There''s no clear evidence, of course, but with the G-man you have to read between the lines. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] Book Giveaway Floods Server -- A British online bookseller with its eye on Amazon staged a happy-hour literature giveaway, pleasing thousands and frustrating thousands more. By Chris Gaither. [Wired News] Bookseller Rakes in Bucks -- Barnesandnoble.com, the perennial runner-up in online bookselling, raises a tidy US$450 million in a giant IPO. No matter that analysts have been dissing the company''s e-commerce strategy for the past two years. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] Booksellers Slash Prices -- When Amazon slashed prices of its bestsellers, rival barnesandnoble.com immediately followed suit. Investors fear a nasty price war. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] Borders to Print Books On Demand -- Storing books digitally and only printing them as requested saves time and money. Borders'' acquisition of Sprout provides access to manuscripts and technology. By Leander Kahney. [Wired News] Brandwise.com a Tough Sell? -- Brandwise.com promises to ease the pain of shopping for ranges and refrigerators. But shoppers might well question a Whirlpool-sponsored site that''s trying to hawk appliances. By Louise Knapp. [Wired News] Brazil Chill: Stocks Spill -- Wall Street posts more losses as investors fret about the situation south of the border. Day traders, meanwhile, welcome new members to the .com club. By David Lazarus. [Wired News] Breaking Up Is Hard to Do -- China Telecom is ripe for an overhaul, but the government''s been taking its time in making it happen. Now a new plan, floated in an official newspaper, is underwhelming foreign analysts. [Wired News] Britain Adds Up Net Tax Losses -- More and more Britons are turning to online shopping, which is good news for e-commerce companies but bad news for the British government, which may lose billions in tax revenue. [Wired News] Brits Keep Crypto Keys -- The Blair government decides the key-crypto encryption plan would do little for security and would harm e-commerce. Also: China disclosures may not hurt US launch industry too badly.... Major players join AT&T digital music effort.... And a small online brokerage will add after-hours trading. [Wired News] Brits Rip Online Spy List -- Britain''s foreign secretary describes the rundown of alleged secret agents as riddled with inaccuracies. Also: Phantom customers menace MovieFone.... AOL''s Ted Leonsis becomes a sports mogul.... And more. [Wired News] Broadband Gladiators v. MediaOne -- MediaOne has reportedly spurned Comcast''s buyout offer in favor of a bigger bid by AT T. But don''t count the cable operator out. Microsoft and America Online are waiting to join the fight. [Wired News] Broadband Satellite Gets a Boost -- GM''s Hughes says it will pump US$1.4 billion into Spaceway, its satellite-based high-speed communications network. [Wired News] Broadband on a Dish -- A new satellite venture headed by a former DirecTV executive aims to do for surfing the Net what satellite television did for sitting on the couch. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] Broadbase Shares Soar in IPO -- The consumer tracking software company raises US$56 million in its market debut as its stock price climbs 92 percent. [Wired News] Broadcast.com Mum on Stock Jump -- The company''s stock goes through the roof Friday, surging 73 percent and startling Nasdaq, which asks for an explanation. Broadcast.com demurs. [Wired News] Broadcasters at Play -- This year''s broadcasters'' convention had the usual back-slapping for the unrivaled power of television, plus a little slapstick. Joanna Glasner reports from Las Vegas. [Wired News] Broadcom Goes Extreme -- The maker of high-speed networking equipment partners with Gotcha to develop sports programs that will spur the demand for broadband. [Wired News] Broadcom Plummets in Quake''s Wake -- The semiconductor industry scrambles to recover after Taiwan''s 7.6 earthquake. Most factories are still standing, but production won''t resume for days. [Wired News] Bulk Buying Comes to the Web -- The more people who want something, the higher the price, right? Maybe not. A new Web shop called Accompany flips the supply-demand equation on its head. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] Bull in a China.com Shop -- China.com has two buzzwords going for it: Internet and China. What more could an IPO investor ask for? Its shares more than triple in the first day of trading. [Wired News] Business Wire Sues Pranksters -- Business Wire, a press release distributor, sues three people for sending out a sham press release. Also: Amazon offers online greeting cards.... Sprint buys wireless cable-TV system.... and more. [Wired News] Buy! Cell! Trade! -- DLJdirect customers can dial up stock trades on the cell. Also: Meet the biggest baby: Regulators approve the merger of baby bells Ameritech and SBC Communications, making for the largest local telco in the United States. [Wired News] Buy, Buy, Buy Net Stocks -- Internet stocks don''t make sense, but pro money managers say they''re still the greatest buying opportunity in history. Eileen Buckley reports from the Hambrecht Quist Technology Conference. [Wired News] Buy.com Dumps Appeasement Policy -- A typo on the computer-equipment commerce site brought customers running. But the company says it won''t honor the posted price. By Polly Sprenger. [Wired News] Buy.com Faces Class-Action Suit -- Customers are irked that the online superstore keeps charging them, then canceling the orders. One lawsuit has been filed, and others may be in the works. By Polly Sprenger. [Wired News] Buy.com Rolls with the Punches -- Even as the discount online retailer plans to go public, a spate of bad publicity is threatening to undermine the company''s best-laid plans. By Polly Sprenger. [Wired News] Buy.com''s Price-Slashing Plan -- Buy.com is willing to sell at a loss to be the Net''s biggest superstore. It snagged an exec from the world''s biggest wholesaler to make it happen. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] Buying Countries Online -- Seattle entrepreneur Gregory Paley kicked up his heels when Wall Street blessed China.com. And he''s got 16 similar sites waiting in the wings. By Debbi Gardiner. [Wired News] Bye-bye Buyouts? -- Silicon Valley is enraged over an esoteric accounting rule. At stake is how companies record the financial effects of billion-dollar acquisitions. By Eileen Buckley. [Wired News] C&W, IBM Team Up for Speed -- Cable Wireless aims for smaller businesses with fast, always-on Net service. Also: Qwest becomes an applications service provider, with help from HP and SAP.... Is USA giving up on its Lycos bid? ... Zagat restaurant surveys hit the Web.... And more. [Wired News] CA Buys Platinum Tech -- Computer Associates'' aquisition of Platinum Technology is one of the biggest in the software industry. It will put more pressure on rivals like Oracle and Microsoft. [Wired News] CBS Invests in Medscape -- CBS will buy 35 percent of Medscape and help launch a new consumer health information site. Medscape says it''s more than just another CBS.com deal. By Kristen Philipkoski. [Wired News] CBS: Another IPO? -- Marketwatch.com''s amazing initial public offering whetted the monetary appetite of CBS. Hoping to make the most of Net stock frenzy, the company may spin off the rest of its Net assets for an IPO. [Wired News] CDNow to Enter Amazon''s Jungle? -- Amazon.com may soon have another competitor in the online book business -- CDNow. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] CDNow, Columbia House to Merge -- The online retailer and the granddaddy of direct music marketing will combine and create a new e-commerce site. Sony and Time Warner will also have a big piece of the venture. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] CDNow: Now Is the Time -- The online music seller brings N2K into the fold. But investors still want answers to several questions. Like, how can it compete with Amazon? [Wired News] CE Fair: Germany Going Gaga -- Berlin''s international consumer electronics expo started in the first days of radio, but now it''s introducing the Continent to new media. Steve Kettmann reports from Germany. [Wired News] CEO Schmoozefest on E-Commerce -- At Microsoft''s CEO Summit execs talk power and speed. Martha Stewart and Ford are just two companies eager to jump on the bandwidth bandwagon. Chris Stamper reports from Redmond, Washington. [Wired News] CEO of Troubled Iridium Quits -- The struggling satellite phone company''s chief executive is stepping down, effective immediately. [Wired News] CIH Virus Culprit Pegged? -- An engineering college in Taiwan says a former student named Chen Ing-hau wrote the hard-drive-eating bug.... UK''s United News & Media buys tech publisher CMP.... AOL, hungry for audio content, may be pursuing Chancellor Media. [Wired News] CMGI to Buy AltaVista -- It''s official: CMGI will buy most of AltaVista from Compaq Computer for US$2.3 billion in stock. The goal is to beef up CMGI''s clout on the Web. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] CMGI: Suitors Coming for Lycos -- Since announcing it would not support the USA Networks bid for Lycos, CMGI has been shopping for other suitors. It''s found some, says a CMGI managing director. [Wired News] CNET Begins $100 Million Pitch -- It''s one of the Internet''s biggest advertising campaigns ever, and will include everything from billboards to television spots. Also: Health sites buy medical news service.... Starbucks outlines Net plans.... No midnight Phantom in UK.... Lycos closes Wired Digital buy.... And more. [Wired News] CNN''s Dobbs Heads to the Web -- The Moneyline host and network executive is leaving to lead a space-related Web site. Also: NBC buys into a digital recording company.... Satellite radio gets a boost.... Lockheed sees quarterly loss.... And more. [Wired News] Cable & Wireless Sues MCI -- Cable Wireless says MCI Worldcom didn''t live up to a US$1.75 billion deal for the long distance company''s Internet assets. [Wired News] Cable Modems Boom -- The demand for the high-speed modems outpaces DSL installations 14 to 1, but "arms'' merchant" Broadcom is covering all the bases. [Wired News] Cable TV Channels as Data Pumps -- By pumping data one way through unused cable-TV channels, Internet Ventures thinks it can challenge At Home without having to pay billions for an underground cable-wire network. But first, it has to convince the FCC. [Wired News] Caldera Eyes Linux, IPO -- Caldera Thin Clients changed its name Tuesday to Lineo, in anticipation of a merger with a major semiconducter manufacturer. The company is betting its chips on embedded Linux. By Chris Gaither. [Wired News] Caldera: MS Cheated in DOS War -- Caldera, a tiny software company, details more alleged foul play by Microsoft to sink the smaller company''s DR-DOS operating system. It''s all out of context, Microsoft claims. Chris Stamper reports from Seattle. [Wired News] Calling IBM on Its E-B.S. -- An e-commerce upstart mocks Big Blue''s ubiquitous ad campaign and its irreverent approach to e-business. Intershop has had enough e-hype. [Wired News] Calling a Mobile Phone? Pay Up -- Mobile-phone customers can pass the cost of answering a call to the caller, the FCC rules. This could increase the use of mobile phones dramatically in the United States -- if the regulatory issues are ironed out. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] Can a Cell Spell Brain Pain? -- A former BT engineer files suit, saying his cell phone caused brain damage. Also: Two lawsuits accuse Compaq of keeping bad news from investors. [Wired News] Canadian Telecom Behemoth Born -- AT T Canada buys regional phone firm Metronet communications in US$4.6 billion deal. [Wired News] Candied-Apple Computers -- Pleased-as-punch Steve Jobs dropped a bombshell in his Macworld keynote Tuesday: iMacs, in five new high-fashion colors. What''s next, the Malibu Barbie iMac? By Polly Sprenger. [Wired News] Cash-Poor Dot Coms: Got Options? -- Is your company short on cash? No problem. These days Internet businesses are trading a cut of their company for all kinds of things. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] Cashing In on Email Lists -- Topica, a start-up with big-money backing, hopes to be the Yahoo of email lists. But does this vast, chaotic, and commercially untarnished Net territory really want order -- and advertising? [Wired News] Cashing Out and Moving In -- Every sixth house sold in California this spring was bought with stock market proceeds. Good news, or a harbinger of trouble? By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] Cell Phone: The Next Generation -- International regulators are in Brazil where, between samba lessons, they''ll set standards for a truly worldwide mobile-phone network. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] Cheap PCs Fail to Materialize -- Surprise, surprise -- a too-good-to-be-true offer of cheap PCs falls flat. SoftStream says it''s out of cash and won''t be able to deliver the computers. By Leander Kahney. [Wired News] Cheap PCs Push AMD Past Intel -- Intel is beaten in US retail PC sales for the first time, a report says. The company that did it, Advanced Micro Devices, can thank the growing market for PCs under US$1,000. By Chris Oakes. [Wired News] Cheaper Chips -- Motorola and Siemens announce a production breakthrough that will cut manufacturing costs by 30 percent, they say. [Wired News] Cheaper Net Access in Japan? -- The Japanese government is slowly coming around to the idea that by lowering exorbitant telephone charges, Japan could gain long-term benefits from increased Internet use. David Lazarus reports from Tokyo. [Wired News] Cheaper PCs Ahead? -- Compaq''s warning of an earnings shortfall may spell trouble for the computer manufacturing industry. It could also drag PC prices even lower. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] China Cuts Phone, Net Rates -- China loosens its grip on telecommunications, slashing Internet rates by half and long-distance calls to the United States by nearly 20 percent. Also: Intel expected to announce investment in VA Research.... Britain''s Virgin Group may compete to provide wireless phone services.... and more. [Wired News] China Gets Tough on Piracy -- A Chinese court awards Microsoft damages for copyright infringement by two software companies. [Wired News] China''s Net Population to Surge -- The number of Chinese citizens with access to the Internet is expected to grow from 2.1 million to more than 6.7 million over the next year, a new report finds. [Wired News] China''s Odd Telecom Reform -- The country confirms the breakup of China Telecom, but says it won''t stand for foreign investment or cheap Net telephony. Bad news for companies who have already poured millions into the country. [Wired News] China: Net Use Tripled in ''98 -- A China Daily survey puts the total number of users at 2.1 million. The official news agency Xinhua says 1.5 million. Either way, the Net is making inroads, especially in Beijing. [Wired News] Chinese Hit Back on the Web -- Sites are adding servers to keep up with the anti-US postings.... Also: Microsoft says it will do a wireless portal, and a deal with Nextel.... US West plans "Web Phone".... And Compaq makes its streamlining official. [Wired News] Chip Drought Slows Apple Profits -- A shortage of Motorola''s new G4 chips leaves Apple''s investors as disappointed as its customers. [Wired News] Chris Nolan Speaks for Herself -- The former technology columnist at the San Jose Mercury News responds to the newspaper''s reports about her investment in Autoweb.com in a letter to the editor that the Mercury News refused to publish. [Wired News] Cisco Agrees to Buy Webline -- Cisco agrees to buy Webline Communications for US$325 million in stock, giving the networking giant software to route emails and synchronize Web pages. [Wired News] Cisco Gobbles Up Two More Firms -- The world''s biggest data-equipment maker becomes even bigger with two acquisitions worth a total of US$445 million. The booty: technology to fuse voice and data networks. [Wired News] Cisco Goes Fiber-Optic Crazy -- The networking leader spends nearly US$7 billion to acquire Cerent, a money-losing startup whose one product helps keep traffic moving over fiber-optic lines. And for dessert, it gobbles up Monterey Networks for $500 million. [Wired News] Cisco Inside -- The maker of networking gear plans to edge its way into the consumer market, with co-branded modems and home-use devices. [Wired News] Cisco Kids Not: $7 Bil Binge -- The networking giant spends nearly US$7 billion to buy a money-losing startup whose one product helps keep traffic moving over fiber-optic lines. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] Cisco Pays $65 Million for Cocom -- The computer networking company buys Copenhagen''s Cocom to expand its delivery of broadband access products. [Wired News] Cisco Profit Rises 33 Percent -- The world''s biggest data networking gearmaker reports another big rise in quarterly earnings. Icing on the cake: a 2-for-1 stock split. [Wired News] Cisco Sales Surge -- The networking equipment maker''s revenues jump 40 percent and beat analyst earnings-per-share estimates by a penny. [Wired News] Cisco Struts New Net Technology -- Cisco takes on the competition with its next generation of network products. [Wired News] Cisco, Motorola Plan Net Access -- Cisco and Motorola unveil a US$1 billion alliance to provide wireless Net access, combining Cisco''s expertise in data with Motorola''s clout in wireless. By Joanna Glasner. [Wired News] Cities Singled Out for Piracy -- New York City, Los Angeles, and Seattle have the highest concentrations of pirated office software in the nation. Also: Online trading surges 47 percent in first quarter.... And more. [Wired News] City Guides Losing Sight? -- The Web is still flooded with city guides, although none are making money. And Microsoft ingloriously bowed out to its chief rival. What went wrong? By Lakshmi Chaudhry. [Wired News] Citysearch CEO Touts Lycos Deal -- OK, maybe the three-way merger between USA Networks, Lycos, and Ticketmaster won''t have the cachet of a pure Internet company, says a key exec. But the combination will make a lot of e-commerce hay. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] CmdrTaco on Slashdot Sale -- The co-founder and lead geek at Slashdot.org talks about selling the business to Andover.net. But he''s reluctant to say exactly how much the sale brought in. Interview by Leander Kahney. [Wired News] Comcast Goes Portal -- The cable-TV operator unveils a site for fat pipes, hoping to catch a piece of the burgeoning market for broadband Internet services. Competitors shrug. By Craig Bicknell. [Wired News] Comcast Seeks MS, AOL Backing -- It could become one of the biggest corporate skirmishes yet. Comcast may ask Microsoft and AOL for financial help in its bid to thwart AT T and buy MediaOne. The prize: a national broadband network into US homes. [Wired News] Comcast''s Consolation Prize -- The No. 4 cable provider backs away from its bid for MediaOne, ceding victory to AT T. A hefty breakup fee, plus 2 million cable subscribers soften the blow. [Wired News] Coming Soon: Transmeta''s Plans -- Silicon Valley''s most secretive startup may soon spill the beans on what it''s been up to, possibly at the November Comdex, says Linus Torvalds. [Wired News] Commerce One''s Stunning Debut --