Newsletter ArchiveSUBJECTs:Ultra-Wide Band - Search-Engine-Go-Round The Internet 800 Directory - http://www.inter800.com The Internet 800 Directory Newsletter This issue is for Friday, February 08, 2002 Table of Contents 01. Ultra-Wide Band 02. Search-Engine-Go-Round *01 Ultra-Wide Band The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expected to make a ruling on February 14 on Ultra-Wide Band (UWB). UWB has the potential to change computer and personal communications as we now know them. Today, most of us depend on landlines for our Internet connections. Imagine if we could all be connected via an inexpensive wireless device that offered super high speed, allowing such features as video and audio feeds. There are some people that believe that UWB can do just that, if they get a chance to develop the technology. Today, when we transmit a signal it goes out on a single frequency. With Ultra-Wide Band, it uses a wide group of frequencies with very short (0.5 nanoseconds) pulses at low power. The transmission signal is so weak that it’s undetectable by conventional radios. At first glance, it appears to be just an explosion of electrical noise. The communication is in the timing of the pulses that pound out a code. To understand the information in that code, an Ultra-Wide Band receiver has to know the exact pulse sequence used by the transmitter. This is the same technology used to communicate with submarines and is very secure, which is why the military developed it in the first place. The obstacle facing Ultra-Wide Band is a theory that emissions could potentially interfere with Global Positioning Systems (GPS), particularly in the aviation industry. GPS is used for navigation and landing. Normally, devices that produce such low output would not fall under the FCC's juridiction. Because of the potential for interference with GPS, the FCC has become involved and will issue a Notice of Proposed Rule Making on Valentine's Day. There are an increasing number of startups and established companies planning development of Ultra-Wide Band technology. If the FCC approves this new technology, we could see new consumer products as soon as next year. Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletter. If you have any thought or ideas you would like to share with me, please send them to Chuck Arning at chuck@inter800.com We’re Talkin’ Serious” Bone Suckin’ Sauce ! Winner: “Battle Of The Sauces.” Created in true western North Carolina style. Tomato based all-natural, sweetened with honey and molasses. Order your Box of six today for $39.99 +s/h. Toll-Free 1-800-446-0947 or online http://www.BoneSuckin.com *02 Search-Engine-Go-Round I had wanted to do a follow up on last week's article regarding Targeted Advertising. As part of my follow up, I had hoped to provide you with the rates various search engines charge for top placement on their results pages. Unfortunately, only two companies have responded so far (Google & Yahoo). From a sales point of view, Google responded the quickest and most professionally. Yahoo took a week to get back to me and I'm being kind when I say that the sales rep wasn't very polished. Lycos, Inktomi and others still haven't responded to my requests for information. Google: Google does not sell a priority positioning among their returns. They are one of the last remaining search engines that strives to provide completely objective algorithm generated results. They do sell "Sponsored Links", which appear above the results. When I asked about the cost of this feature, I was told that the minimum was $10,000 over three months and that my key word phrases (toll free directoy & 800 directory) wouldn't generate enough impressions to meet the minimum. As a solution, the rep offered to add more key words to my package so my ad would be returned enough to meet the minimum. This absolutely infuriated me. Adding key words that get searched more often certainly would cost me more money, but if these key words were not targeted specifically to the service I provide, it would be like throwing it away. Yahoo: Like Google, Yahoo displays advertisers above the actual returns. They are labeled "Sponsor Matches". I asked what this would cost, but I was told that Yahoo does not sell these ads. These listings are provided by Overture (formerly GoTo.com). To get on the top of Yahoo, one would have to bid enough to get on the top of Overture. The sales rep mentioned that this was only temporary and would be changing in April. This situation with Yahoo is not unique. In fact, there is a great deal of behind the scenes shifting and changing that the average searcher is completely unaware of. For example, this week alone I have received the following updates from Search Engine Watch: Google Ousts Overture At Earthlink, Begins Ad Distribution Without announcement, Google has begun serving up search results to users of the Earthlink web site, taking over a partnership previously held by Overture. Earthlink is one of the largest Internet service providers in the United States, and it has used Overture's paid placement results to power search at its site for the past two years. That deal expired in January, and Google apparently was selected to take over. AOL Switches To Inktomi It's not your imagination. AOL Search is now apparently using Inktomi results for its main listings, relegating the Open Directory's presence to having category-only links appearing at the bottom of the page. The switch happened last week. So Long Direct Hit, Hello Teoma Say your goodbyes to the Direct Hit search engine. Direct Hit is no longer the favored child of parent company Ask Jeeves, now that the company's new baby, Teoma, is growing up. Ask Jeeves has begun using Teoma results in place of information that previously came from Direct Hit. In addition, Ask Jeeves said this month that while the Teoma site would continue to operate on its own, the Direct Hit web site would be closed later this year. Apparently, many portals get their results from more than one party. For instance, Looksmart boasts that they provide results to MSN, iWON, & altavista, but when I search for "toll free directory" at altavista, I receive Overture's paid listings first and then a set of non-paid results that look nothing like the ones returned by Looksmart for the same search. Further, if you dig through Inktomi's site, you'll find that they also claim to supply results to MSN, iWon, and, get this, Looksmart. Confused? Me too. Even if you are committed to spending money for targeted web advertising, how do you know where to go? I, of course, heartily recommend advertising in the Internet 800 Directory. We have been owned and operated by the same people since out inception over six years ago. Just about any web site offering a toll free search is probably displaying our listings and advertisers. My experiences researching the other search engines have shown me that we already have fantastic placement in them for our favorite key words, which in turn drives a great deal of committed traffic to our site. And an Enhanced Listing in our directory costs less than $600 per year. Well, what are you waiting for? Call me. George Paul (http://gotollfree.com) The Internet 800 Directory 800-299-1879, george@gotollfree.com Vegas Vacation has the best rates on Las Vegas Hotel Rooms. Don't make a reservation without calling us first! Call 800-637-6442 or visit our ad in the Internet 800 Directory: http://inter800.com/02281174.htm Banners? Pay-per-click? Why not target your market with links or information placed in relevant content? The Internet 800 Directory Newsletter offers direct access to business people who are interested buyers. Advertising: Information on how to sponsor this publication: Call 800-299-1879 Thanks for taking to time to review our newsletter for this week. If you know of anyone that might benefit from receiving this newsletter, send them to (http://www.inter800.com/news800/ ) where they can subscribe. All Contents Copyright ©1995-2001 The Internet 800 Directory Subscribe To The Newsletter: |