The Netscape Communications Corp. has joined with Reuters,
ESPN, the N.Y. Times Company and Times Mirror in announcing an
Internet news network that can be displayed automatically in the
screen saver software of a personal computer, according to John
Markoff of the N.Y. TIMES. The system "will permit a personal
computer user connected to the Internet to receive a personalized
newspaper that would be updated at regular intervals." It will
also allow a personal computer to view running "ticker tape" of
news and sports scores. The news will be delivered free as
advertisers will sponsor "particular segments." The Pointcast
software is available in April (N.Y. TIMES, 2/13).
BIG BLUE OVERLOAD: IBM has apparently "underestimated"
demand for online info about its chess-playing computer taking on
champion Gary Kasparov. IBM's Web area offering up-to-the-minute
updates was "swamped" with over 1,200 access requests per second
on Sunday. IBM issued an apology Monday, telling chess fans
"we're scaling up as fast as possible" (James Kim, USA TODAY,
2/13).
