Lexis-Nexis, the popular legal
and news search firm today is launching an ambitious Web service aimed at
the business user.
Dubbed "Lexis-Nexis Universe," the project, consisting of a suite of Web
products, "is the most integrated product we have launched yet," said Lesley
Sprigg, spokeswoman for the company. "We are going after desktops in
corporate enterprises."
"It allows the average knowledge worker to have access to one of the
world's most powerful databases," she said.
Of course, it does not come for free. While there are thousands of free
advertiser-supported news sites, Lexis-Nexis is clearly hoping that people
are willing to pay a premium--this service will be customized based on
content, the number of users, and contract duration--for a service with its
reputation.
The company has long offered services online, but the Web interface will
allow it to reach people with no special training to use the legal and news
information.
The product includes five subscription offerings: news, news and company,
finance, public records, and vertical industries.
Lexis-Nexis's product, P-Trak helped stir one of the Internet's first
serious privacy controversies more than two years ago by putting
information online. But now the company has gone into overdrive to ensure
customer privacy and has a very stringent privacy policy in a continuing
effort to bring its business online.