Intel, Excite team for shopping service

The service, dubbed "Excite Shopping Service," will combine Intel's recently acquired Web storefront service iCat with Excite's existing shopping and personalization features. Excite's MatchLogic division will contribute its online direct marketing capabilities to the new site.

Excite plans to release the new service later this year on its "Shopping" channel.

"This relationship forms the cornerstone of the next phase of our commerce strategy," George Bell, Excite chief executive, said in a statement.

Today's announcement is the latest between the two companies, which teamed up for Excitextreme, a 3D Web search service that will be featured on Intel's Web Outfitter Service.

Neither Excite and Intel would give specific details surrounding the appearance or functionality of the new service. Executives did say that the service will allow users to search and browse merchant offerings, or have offers presented or sent to them according to their personalization preferences.

Andy Halliday, Excite vice president of e-commerce, said the site will fit in Excite's role as an "infomediary"--marketing lingo for linking Excite users and merchants with information about products and services.