"Portal madness" is sweeping the Internet industry, as new media, old media, entertainment, and telco companies jockey for position to become the next greatest portal brand in cyberspace. Some efforts are home grown, such as Netscape's Netcenter, while others, such as AT&T's rumored buyout overtures to AOL and its partnership with Excite, are the result of companies looking to buy what they can't create in hopes of cashing in on the latest online craze.
Netscape next in portal madness?
news analysis
Forget about America Online and Yahoo: Is Netscape Communications the next big portal buy?
Nando joins portal ranks
The site is the latest of a slew of sites to offer the add-ons of the "traditional" portals, but observers say it takes more to be a true Net gateway.
Old media shop for new media
news analysis
Media titans such as Disney and NBC are snapping up Internet media brands, and rumors of other "old" media companies shopping for new media companies abound.
AOL up after AT&T report
update
America Online rises in preopening trade after a report the online service had declined a tentative buyout offer from AT&T.
AOL affirms independence
update
The online giant's top executives tell employees that it is committed to remaining independent and is not merging with AT&T.
Disney takes stake in Infoseek
update
Walt Disney buys a 43 percent stake in Infoseek, ending a week of speculation that the two companies would combine forces.
Netscape rolls out portal beta
The firm is inviting the public to tour its Netcenter construction zone with the launch of the Netcenter 2.0 beta.
Netscape's deal dependency
The company's dealmaking ability is being put to the test, with or without help from the legal woes of rival Microsoft.
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