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→top: Rephrase to make clear this is Latin name, not just a Latin-language translation.
 
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{{Short description|Search engine and web portal}}
{{Short description|Search engine and web portal}}
{{about|the search engine|the former corporation Terra Lycos|Terra Networks|the defunct European venture|Lycos Europe}}
{{about|the search engine|the former corporation Terra Lycos|Terra Networks}}
{{Infobox website
{{Infobox website
| name = Lycos, Inc.
| name = Lycos, Inc.
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| screenshot_size = 250
| screenshot_size = 250
| caption = A screenshot of Lycos.com as of 2015
| caption = A screenshot of Lycos.com as of 2015
| company_type = [[Subsidiary]]
| website_type = [[Search engine]] and [[web portal]]
| language = Multilingual
| foundation = {{start date and age|1994|5}}<br />[[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| location = [[Waltham, Massachusetts]], United States
| location = [[Waltham, Massachusetts]], United States
| founder = [[Michael Loren Mauldin]]
| founder = [[Michael Loren Mauldin]]
| revenue = $250 million (2009)<ref>{{cite news| title = Lycos Sold To India's Ybrant Digital For $36 Million| first = Nikhil| last = Pahwa| url = http://www.medianama.com/2010/08/223-lycos-ybrant/ | newspaper = MediaNama| location = India | date = August 16, 2010 | access-date = August 17, 2010 }}</ref>
| parent = Brightcom Group
| parent = Ybrant Digital (Brightcom Group)<ref name="Ybrant1">{{cite web |url=https://info.lycos.com/resources/privacy-policy/ |title=Lycos Privacy Policy|website=Lycos.com |date=May 11, 2023}}</ref>
| url = {{URL|https://www.lycos.com/}}
| url = {{URL|https://www.lycos.com/|lycos.com}}
| advertising =
| registration = Optional
| registration = Optional
| language = Multilingual
| company_type = [[Subsidiary]]
| foundation = {{start date and age|1994|5}}<br />[[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| key_people = Suresh Reddy, CEO of Ybrant Digital<ref name="Ybrant2">{{cite web |url=https://www.brightcomgroup.com/newsroom/media-coverage/ybrant-digital-and-lgs-global-propose-to-merge-creating-a-global-digital-marketing-powerhouse/ |title=Suresh Reddy is CEO of Ybrant Digital|website=e27.co |date=August 10, 2015}}</ref>
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| num_employees =
| website_type = [[Web search engine|Search engine]] and [[web portal]]
| launch_date = {{start date and age|1995|4|13}}
| launch_date = {{start date and age|1995|4|13}}
| current_status = Active
| current_status = Active
}}
}}
'''Lycos, Inc.''' (stylized as '''LYCOS'''), is a [[web search engine]] and [[web portal]] established in 1994, spun out of [[Carnegie Mellon University]]. Lycos also encompasses a network of email, web hosting, social networking, and entertainment websites. The company is based in [[Waltham, Massachusetts]], and is a subsidiary of Ybrant Digital.
'''Lycos, Inc.''' (stylized as '''LYCOS'''), a subsidiary of Brightcom Group, offers a [[search engine]], [[web portal]], chat service, [[domain name]] registration service, and email client. The company also owns [[Tripod (web hosting)|Tripod]] and [[Angelfire]]. It was established in 1994 as a [[university spin-off]] from [[Carnegie Mellon University]].


== Etymology ==
The name "Lycos" is short for "Lycosidae", which is the [[Latin name]] of [[wolf spider]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.searchenginewatch.com/2003/10/08/whats-in-a-search-engines-name/ |title=What's In A (Search Engine's) Name? |last=Sherman |first=Chris |date=October 8, 2003 | work=[[Search Engine Watch]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103053032/http://searchenginewatch.com/sew/news/2063925/whats-in-a-search-engines-name |archive-date=2015-01-03 | url-status=live}}</ref>
The word "Lycos" is short for "Lycosidae", which is [[Latin]] for "[[wolf spider]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://searchenginewatch.com/sew/news/2063925/whats-in-a-search-engines-name |title=What's In A (Search Engine's) Name? |last=Sherman |first=Chris |date=2003-10-08 |website=Search Engine Watch |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103053032/http://searchenginewatch.com/sew/news/2063925/whats-in-a-search-engines-name |archive-date=2015-01-03 |access-date=2019-02-13}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
{{More citations needed|section|date=January 2019}}
Lycos began in May 1994 as a research project by [[Michael Loren Mauldin]] of [[Carnegie Mellon University]].<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~scsnews/jun20-95.html | title=Pittsburgh Company Established Using Lycos Internet Catalog Technology | work=[[Carnegie Mellon University]] | date=20 June 1995}}</ref> Lycos was funded with approximately US$2 million in [[venture capital]] funding from [[CMGI]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-VCDB-7705 | title=The Daily Start-Up: Buy Lycos And Save 99.7%! | first=Scott | last=Austin | work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | date=August 17, 2010 | url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/lycos-up-as-cmg-looks-to-unload/ | title=Lycos up as CMG looks to unload | first=Dawn | last=Kawamoto | work=[[CNET]] | date=March 6, 1998}}</ref>
{{update|section|date=January 2019}}
 
Lycos is a [[university spin-off]] that began in May 1994 as a research project by [[Michael Loren Mauldin]] of [[Carnegie Mellon University]] in [[Pittsburgh]]. '''Lycos Inc.''' was formed with approximately US$2 million in [[venture capital]] funding from [[CMGI]]. [[Bob Davis (businessman)|Bob Davis]] became the CEO and first employee of the new company in 1995, and concentrated on building the company into an advertising-supported [[web portal]], led by Bill Townsend, who served as Vice President, Advertising. Lycos enjoyed several years of growth during the 1990s and became the most visited online destination in the world in 1999, with a global presence in more than 40 countries.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/google0000scot |url-access=registration |title=Internet Archive |first=Virginia A. |last=Scott |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |year=2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Worlock |first=David |title=Paradigm Lost |url=http://www.davidworlock.com/2010/08/ |access-date=April 14, 2013 |date=August 20, 2010}}</ref>
[[Bob Davis (businessman)|Bob Davis]] became the CEO and first employee of the new company in 1995.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.internethistorypodcast.com/2015/01/lycos-founder-and-ceo-bob-davis/ | title=Chapter 4, Supplemental 9 – Lycos Founder and CEO Bob Davis | first=Brian | last=McCullough | work=Internet History Podcast | date= January 26, 2015}}</ref> He concentrated on building the company into an advertising-supported [[web portal]], led by [[Bill Townsend]].<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.observer-reporter.com/business/2016/jun/05/looking-for-the-next-business-success-local-native-bill-townsend-planning-to-start-a-sports-revolution/ | title=Looking for the next business success Local native Bill Townsend planning to start a sports revolution | work=[[Observer–Reporter]] | date=June 5, 2016}}</ref>
 
In April 1996, the company completed the fastest [[initial public offering]] from inception to offering in [[NASDAQ]]  history, ending its first day of trading with a market value of $300 million. It also became the first search engine to become a  public company, before rivals [[Yahoo!]] and [[Excite (web portal)|Excite]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/lycos-ipo-bodes-well-for-net-stock/ |title=Lycos IPO bodes well for Net stock | work=[[CNET]] | date=April 3, 1996}}</ref>
 
In May 1997, the company formed Lycos Europe, a joint venture with [[Bertelsmann]].<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.wired.com/1997/05/lycos-bertelsmann-unite-in-europe/ | title=Lycos, Bertelsmann Unite in Europe | work=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] | date=May 12, 1997}}</ref>
 
Lycos began offering [[e-mail]] services in October 1997.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/yahoo-buys-four11-for-free-email/ |title=Yahoo buys Four11 for free email |last=Pelline |first=Jeff | work=[[CNET]]  | date=October 8, 1997}}</ref>
 
That year, it became one of the first profitable [[Internet]] businesses.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB882392974998332500 | title=Lycos Backs Forecast of Profits In Second Quarter of Fiscal 1998 | first=Joelle | last=Tessler | work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | date=December 17, 1997 | url-access=subscription}}</ref>
 
In February 1998, Lycos acquired [[Tripod.com]] for $58 million.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB886470477499634000 | title=Lycos Acquires Tripod In $58 Million Stock Deal | first=Nick | last=Wingfield | work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | date=February 3, 1998 | url-access=subscription}}</ref>


In April 1996, the company completed the fastest [[initial public offering]] from inception to offering in [[NASDAQ]] (LCOS) history, ending its first day with a market value of $300 million. It also became the first search engine to go public, before its big rivals [[Yahoo!]] and [[Excite (web portal)|Excite]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/lycos-ipo-bodes-well-for-net-stock/ |title=Lycos IPO bodes well for Net stock |website=CNET |language=en |access-date=2019-01-28}}</ref> Lycos started offering [[e-mail]] services in October 1997,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/yahoo-buys-four11-for-free-email/ |title=Yahoo buys Four11 for free email |last=Pelline |first=Jeff |website=CNET |language=en |access-date=2019-01-28}}</ref> the same year it became one of the first profitable [[Internet]] businesses in the world. In 1998, Lycos acquired [[Tripod.com]] for $58 million in an attempt to "break into the portal market".<ref>{{cite news |last=Price |first=Christopher |title=Gateway to the future: Christopher Price gives the lowdown on the sites which offer not only a way into the worldwide web but so much more |work=[[Financial Times]] |page=16 |date=December 15, 1998}}</ref>
In March 1998, Lycos paid $4 million for a 9% stake in GlobeComm, which powered its free email service.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/lycos-buys-stake-in-e-mail-partner | title=Lycos buys stake in e-mail partner | work=[[MarketWatch]] | date=March 26, 1998 | url-access=limited}}</ref>


[[Lycos Europe]] was a joint venture between Lycos and the [[Bertelsmann]] transnational media corporation, but it has always been a distinct corporate entity. Although Lycos Europe remains the largest of Lycos's overseas ventures, several other Lycos subsidiaries also entered into joint venture agreements including Lycos Canada, Lycos Korea and Lycos Asia.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lycos Asia seeks speed and performance |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/lycos-asia-seeks-speed-and-performance/ |work=[[ZDNet]] |date=January 17, 2001}}</ref>
In August 1998, Lycos acquired WhoWhere for $133 million in stock.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lycos-to-buy-whowhere/ | title=Lycos To Buy WhoWhere | work=[[CBS News]] | date=August 11, 1998}}</ref>


Lycos was one of the most popular websites on the internet, ranking 8th in 1997, and peaking at 4th in both 1999 and 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tech.co/news/top-20-popular-websites-1996-present-infographic-2014-12 |title=Infographic: Top 20 Most Popular Websites (1996-2013) |date=2014-12-26 |website=TechCo |language=en |access-date=2019-02-03}}</ref>
In October 1998, the company acquired the digital assets of ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' for $83 million in stock after the print version of the magazine was sold to Advance Magazine Publishers.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.wired.com/1998/10/lycos-acquires-wired-digital/ | title=Lycos Acquires Wired Digital | work=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] | date=October 6, 1998}}</ref> The deal also included [[Hotbot]]<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/hotbot-is-heart-of-lycos-deal/ | title=HotBot is heart of Lycos deal | first=Jim | last=Hu | work=[[CNET]] | date=October 6, 1998}}</ref> and WebMonkey, which was shut in 2004 but relaunched in 2008.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wired-buys-back-hotwired-and-webmonkey-too-relaunches-latter/ | title=Wired Buys Back HotWired and Webmonkey Too; Relaunches Latter | work=[[CBS News]] | date=May 19, 2008}}</ref>


On May 16, 2000, near the peak of the [[dot-com bubble]], Lycos announced its intent to be acquired by [[Terra Networks]], the Internet arm of the Spanish telecommunications giant {{Lang|es|[[Telefónica]]|italic=no}}, for $12.5 billion.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/2000/05/16/europe/terra/ |title=Lycos in $12.5B deal |first=David |last=Kleinbard |work=[[CNN]] |date=May 16, 2000}}</ref> The acquisition price represented a return of nearly 3,000 times the company's initial venture capital investment and about 20 times its initial public offering valuation.<ref name=":0" /> The transaction closed in October 2000 and the merged company was renamed Terra Lycos, although the Lycos brand continued to be used in the United States. Overseas, the company continued to be known as Terra Networks.
In a brief surge in April 1999, the website was visited by 52% of all internet users, which was more than the reach of [[Yahoo]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.forbes.com/1999/04/22/mu1.html | title=Lycos' alleged traffic growth raises eyebrows | work=[[Forbes]] | date=April 22, 1999 | url-access=limited}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB980895463339062681 | title=Tension at Top Threatens Outlook for Terra Lycos | first=David | last=Armstrong | work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | date=January 31, 2001 | url-access=subscription}}</ref>


Having been set back by the dot-com bubble burst, Lycos abandoned its own search crawler in late 2001, and started using [[Microsoft Development Center Norway|FAST]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://www.thehistoryofseo.com/The-Industry/Short_History_of_Early_Search_Engines.aspx |title=Short History of Early Search Engines – The History of SEO |website=www.thehistoryofseo.com |access-date=2019-01-28 |archive-date=2019-01-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121213229/http://www.thehistoryofseo.com/The-Industry/Short_History_of_Early_Search_Engines.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 1999, the company abandoned its internal search technology and outsourced search technology to [[AlltheWeb]].<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.searchenginewatch.com/2003/03/04/where-are-they-now-search-engines-weve-known-loved/ | title=Where Are They Now? Search Engines We've Known & Loved | first=Danny | last=Sullivan | work=[[Search Engine Watch]] | date=March 4, 2003}}</ref>


In August 2004, Terra announced that it was selling Lycos to [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]]–based Daum Communications Corporation, now [[Kakao]], for $95.4 million in cash, less than 2% of Terra's initial multibillion-dollar investment.<ref name=":0" /> In October 2004, the transaction closed and the company name was changed back to Lycos.<ref name=":0" />
In April 1999, Lycos launched an [[internet radio]] service.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/business/1999/08/07/lycos-to-acquire-maker-on/50519613007/ | title=Lycos to acquire maker of on-line music player | work=[[The Standard-Times (New Bedford)|The Standard-Times]] | date=August 7, 1999}}</ref>


Under new ownership, Lycos began to refocus its strategy. The company moved away from being a search-centric portal and toward a community destination for broadband entertainment content.<ref name=":0" /> With a new management team in place, Lycos also began divesting properties that were not core to its new strategy. In July 2006, [[Wired News]], which had been part of Lycos since the purchase of Wired Digital in 1998, was sold<ref name=":0" /> to [[Condé Nast Publications]] and re-merged with ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired Magazine]]''. The Lycos Finance division, best known for [[Quote.com]] and [[RagingBull.com]], was sold<ref name=":0" /> to FT Interactive Data Corporation in February 2006, while its online dating site, [[Matchmaker.com]], was sold<ref name=":0" /> to Date.com. In 2006, Lycos regained ownership of the Lycos trademark from Carnegie Mellon University, allowing the company to rename to Lycos, Inc.<ref name=":0" />
In September 1999, the company acquired [[Quote.com]] for $78 million in stock.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/09/business/company-news-lycos-to-buy-stock-quote-service-for-its-web-site.html | title=COMPANY NEWS; LYCOS TO BUY STOCK QUOTE SERVICE FOR ITS WEB SITE | agency=[[Associated Press]] | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=September 9, 1999 | url-access=limited}}</ref>


During 2006, Lycos introduced several media services, including Lycos Phone which combined video chat, real-time video on demand, and an MP3 player.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-mar-27-fi-phones27-story.html | title=Lycos, Jajah Launch Internet Phone Call Services Today | agency=[[Associated Press]] | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=March 27, 2006}}</ref> In November 2006, Lycos began to roll out applications centered on social media, including its video application, Lycos Cinema, that featured simultaneous watch and chat functionality.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://arstechnica.com/business/2006/11/8209/ | title=Lycos Cinema ties chat to movies; content library, technical details disappoint | first=ANDERS | last=BYLUND | work=[[Ars Technica]] | date=November 13, 2006}}</ref> In February 2007, Lycos MIX was launched, allowing users to pull video clips from [[YouTube]], [[Google Video]], [[Yahoo! Video]] and [[MySpace]] Video. Lycos MIX also allowed users to create playlists where other users could add video comments and chat in real-time.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.cnet.com/uk/news/lycos-mix-fails-to-stir/ | title=Lycos Mix fails to stir | first=Josh | last=Lowensohn | work=[[CNET]] | date=February 8, 2007}}</ref>
In November 1999, Lycos acquired [[Gamesville]] for $207 million in stock.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.wired.com/1999/11/lycos-acquires-gamesville-com/ | title=Lycos Acquires Gamesville.com | agency=[[Reuters]]  | work=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] | date=November 30, 1999}}</ref>


As part of a corporate restructuring to focus on mobile, social networks and [[location-based service]]s, Daum sold Lycos for $36 million in August 2010 to Ybrant Digital, an [[Internet marketing]] company based in [[Hyderabad, India]].<ref name="marketwatch1">{{cite news |url= http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ybrant-digital-buys-lycos-for-36-million-2010-08-16?reflink=MW_news_stmp |title=Ybrant Digital Buys Lycos for $36 Million |date=August 16, 2010 |work=BusinessWire |publisher=Comtex News Network, Inc. |access-date=August 16, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100816005874/en/Ybrant-Digital-Buys-Lycos-36-Million | title=Ybrant Digital Buys Lycos for $36 Million | publisher=[[Business Wire]] | date=August 16, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cnet.com/news/lycos-is-alive-acquired-for-36-million/ | title=Lycos is alive, acquired for $36 million | first=Don | last=Reisinger | work=[[CNET]] | date=August 16, 2010}}</ref> Ybrant Digital paid $20 million at signing and there has been a legal dispute over magnitude of the second installment between Ybrant and Daum. In 2018, a New York court ruled in favor of Daum and appointed Daum (by then merged with [[Kakao]]) as receiver of Ybrant's 56% ownership interest in Lycos.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/1570905/Daum_Global_Holdings_Corp_v_Ybrant_Digital_Limited_et_al|title=Daum Global Holdings Corp. v. Ybrant Digital Limited et al|website=pacermonitor.com|date=May 8, 2018}}</ref>
In December 1999, the company formed Lycos Asia, a $50 million joint venture with [[Singtel]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/internet-daily-asia-lycos-asia-goes-live-in-singapore | title=Lycos Asia goes live in Singapore | work=[[MarketWatch]] | date=December 9, 1999}}</ref>


In May 2012, Lycos announced the appointment of former employee Rob Balazy as CEO of Media division of Lycos.<ref>{{cite news | title=Rob Balazy appointed CEO of Lycos | url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2012/05/07/robert-rob-balazy-appointed-ceo-lycos/znExR2XDhUsRo860ew4IlL/story.html | first=Chris | last=Reidy | work=[[The Boston Globe]] | date=May 7, 2012}}</ref>
In June 2000, Lycos acquired [[Matchmaker.com]] for $44 million in cash.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/lycos-to-buy-matchmaker-com-for-44-million/ | title=Lycos to buy Matchmaker.com for $44 million | work=[[CNET]] | date=June 26, 2000}}</ref> it was sold in February 2006.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.onlinepersonalswatch.com/news/2006/02/avalanche_llc_d.html | title=Avalanche LLC (Date.com) Acquires Matchmaker.com | date=February 27, 2006}}</ref>


In September 2014, Ed Noel was appointed in place of Rob and manages the operations under the title of General Manager of Lycos Media.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://businesswireindia.com/news/news-details/ed-noel-head-lycos-media-division/40889|title=Ed Noel to head Lycos Media Division|website=businesswireindia.com|access-date=2017-10-11}}</ref>
In July 2000, Lycos began using [[Microsoft Windows 2000]] software and [[Intel]] processors to power its platform.<ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://news.microsoft.com/source/2000/07/27/e-business-solutions-advance-with-microsoft-intel-and-lycos/ | title=E-Business Solutions Advance With Microsoft, Intel and Lycos | publisher=[[Microsoft]] | date=July 27, 2000}}</ref>


In June 2015, Lycos announced a pair of wearable devices, called Band and Ring.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/6/4/8729279/lycos-smart-band-ring-wearables-announced|title=The web portal Lycos is releasing a smart band and smart ring|last=Kastrenakes|first=Jacob|date=2015-06-04|website=The Verge|access-date=2019-01-28}}</ref>
In October 2000, near the peak of the [[dot-com bubble]], Lycos was acquired by [[Terra Networks]], a division of {{Lang|es|[[Telefónica]]|italic=no}}, for $12.5 billion and was renamed Terra Lycos.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/2000/05/16/europe/terra/ |title=Lycos in $12.5B deal |first=David |last=Kleinbard |work=[[CNN]] | date=May 16, 2000}}</ref>


Lycos Internet was renamed Brightcom Group in May 2018.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/lycos-rechristened-brightcom/article23857164.ece| title = Lycos rechristened Brightcom - The Hindu BusinessLine| date = 11 May 2018}}</ref>
In January 2001, the company acquired [[RagingBull.com]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jan-31-fi-19196-story.html | title=Terra Lycos Buys Raging Bull | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=January 31, 2001}}</ref>


==Lycos Network sites==
In October 2002, the company acquired GetRelevant.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/2002/10/08/On-the-Net-with-UPI/9881034049600/ | title=TERRA LYCOS ACQUIRES GETRELEVANT | work=[[United Press International]] | date=October 8, 2002}}</ref>
* [[Angelfire]], a Lycos property which provides paid web hosting, blogging and web publishing tools
* [[Tripod (web hosting)|Tripod]], a Lycos property providing paid web hosting, blogging and web publishing tools


===Lycos-branded sites===
In October 2004, Terra sold Lycos to Daum Communications Corporation, now [[Kakao]], for $95.4 million in cash, less than 2% of Terra's initial multibillion-dollar investment.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2205621/terra-lycos-sells-lycos-to-daum-for-105-million.html | title=Terra Lycos sells Lycos to Daum for $105 million | work=[[InfoWorld]] | date=August 2, 2004}}</ref>
* Lycos Chat, a photo chatting community.
* Lycos Domains, Internet [[domain name]] purchasing
* Lycos Mail, an e-mail provider formerly known as Mailcity.com. (As of 15 May 2018 providing only paid services.<ref>[http://helpdesk.lycos.com/support/solutions/articles/29000021029-end-of-free-service-faq Lycos "End of free service FAQ" (dated 09 April 2018).]  Accessed 2018-04-12.</ref>)
* Lycos Weather
* Lycos Yellow Pages


===Former Lycos sites===
In July 2006, the company sold the digital assets of [[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] to [[Condé Nast Publications]] which remerged it with the print version of the magazine.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2167365/lycos-sells-wired-news.html | title=Lycos sells Wired News | first=Steven | last=Schwankert | work=[[InfoWorld]] | date=July 12, 2006}}</ref>
* Chickmail, a free e-mail service sponsored by [[ChickClick]]
* Chickpages, a free web hosting service sponsored by ChickClick<ref name="fornas et all 2002">{{cite book |first1=Johan | last1=Fornäs | first2=Kajsa | last2=Klein | first3=Martina | last3=Ladendorf | first4=Jenny | last4=Sundén | first5=Malin | last5=Sveningsson |date=2002-11-06 |title=Digital Borderlands: Cultural Studies of Identity and Interactivity on the Internet | contribution=Cyberzines: Irony and Parody as Strategies in a Feminist Sphere | contributor-first=Martina | contributor-last=Ladendorf |url=http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:229162/FULLTEXT01 |location=Switzerland |publisher=[[Peter Lang (publisher)|Peter Lang]] |page=119 |isbn=9780820457406}}</ref>
* Estromail, a free e-mail service sponsored by Estronet
* Estropages, a free web hosting service sponsored by Estronet
* [[Gamesville]], Lycos multi-player gaming site
* GetRelevant.com, a Lycos online advertising site
* Gurlmail, a free e-mail service sponsored by [[Delia's]] for [[Gurl.com]]
* Gurlpages, a free web hosting service sponsored by Delia's for Gurl.com<ref name="fornas et all 2002"/>
* [[Hotbot]], a search engine
* InsiderInfo
* Lycos Radio, allowed users to create and host their own free Internet radio shows
* [[Matchmaker.com]], a dating site
* [[Quote.com]] and [[RagingBull.com]], finance sites
* [[Weather Zombie]], a Lycos property which provided weather forecasts, with a zombie theme, via [[AccuWeather]]
* [[Webmonkey]], web-building help and tutorials
* WhoWhere.com, a people search engine
* [[Wired.com]], the online arm of ''Wired'' magazine


== See also ==
In February 2006, Lycos sold [[Quote.com]] and [[RagingBull.com]] to FT Interactive Data Corporation for $30 million.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/interactive-data-agrees-to-buy-quotecom-from-lycos-for-30m | title=Interactive Data agrees to buy Quote.com from Lycos for $30M | first=Gabriel | last=Madway | work=[[MarketWatch]] | date=February 1, 2006 | url-access=limited}}</ref>
{{Portal|Internet
 
}}
In March 2006, Lycos introduced phone call services, including video chat, real-time video on demand, and an MP3 player.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-mar-27-fi-phones27-story.html | title=Lycos, Jajah Launch Internet Phone Call Services Today | agency=[[Associated Press]] | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=March 27, 2006}}</ref>
 
In November 2006, Lycos introduced Lycos Cinema.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://arstechnica.com/business/2006/11/8209/ | title=Lycos Cinema ties chat to movies; content library, technical details disappoint | first=ANDERS | last=BYLUND | work=[[Ars Technica]] | date=November 13, 2006}}</ref>
 
In February 2007, Lycos Mix was launched, allowing users to pull video clips from [[YouTube]], [[Google Video]], [[Yahoo! Video]] and [[MySpace]] Video and allowed users to create playlists where other users could add video comments and chat in real-time.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.cnet.com/uk/news/lycos-mix-fails-to-stir/ | title=Lycos Mix fails to stir | first=Josh | last=Lowensohn | work=[[CNET]] | date=February 8, 2007}}</ref>
 
Lycos was sold for $36 million in August 2010 to Ybrant Digital, an [[Internet marketing]] company based in [[Hyderabad, India]].<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ybrant-buys-lycos-for-36-million-100870919.html |title=Ybrant Digital Buys Lycos for $36 Million | publisher=[[PR Newswire]] | date=August 16, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100816005874/en/Ybrant-Digital-Buys-Lycos-36-Million | title=Ybrant Buys Lycos for $36 Million | publisher=[[Business Wire]] | date=August 16, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cnet.com/news/lycos-is-alive-acquired-for-36-million/ | title=Lycos is alive, acquired for $36 million | first=Don | last=Reisinger | work=[[CNET]] | date=August 16, 2010}}</ref> Ybrant Digital paid $20 million at signing and there was a legal dispute over magnitude of the second installment between Ybrant and Daum. In 2018, a New York court ruled in favor of Daum and appointed Daum (by then merged with [[Kakao]]) as receiver of Ybrant's 56% ownership interest in Lycos.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/1570905/Daum_Global_Holdings_Corp_v_Ybrant_Digital_Limited_et_al |title=Daum Global Holdings Corp. v. Ybrant Digital Limited et al |website=pacermonitor.com |date=May 8, 2018}}</ref>
 
In May 2012, Rob Balazy was named CEO.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2012/05/07/robert-rob-balazy-appointed-ceo-lycos/znExR2XDhUsRo860ew4IlL/story.html | title=Rob Balazy appointed CEO of Lycos  | first=Chris | last=Reidy | work=[[The Boston Globe]] | date=May 7, 2012}}</ref>
 
In June 2015, Lycos announced the Band and Ring wearable devices.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/6/4/8729279/lycos-smart-band-ring-wearables-announced |title=The web portal Lycos is releasing a smart band and smart ring |last=Kastrenakes |first=Jacob  |work=[[The Verge]] |date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
 
In October 2016, Lycos sold the HotBot.com [[domain name]] for $155,000.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://domainnamewire.com/2016/10/04/lycos-sells-hotbot-com-155000/ | title=Lycos sells HotBot.com for $155,000 | first=Andrew | last=Allemann | work=Domain Name Wire | date=October 4, 2016}}</ref>
 
The parent company of Lycos, YBrant Digital, was renamed Brightcom Group in May 2018.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/lycos-rechristened-brightcom/article23857164.ece | title = Lycos rechristened Brightcom | work=[[Business Line]] | date=11 May 2018}}</ref>


==See also==
{{Portal|Internet}}
* [[List of search engines]]
* [[List of search engines]]
* [[Search engine]]
* [[Comparison of search engines]]
* [[Comparison of web search engines|Comparison of search engines]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
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{{Web search engines}}
{{Web search engines}}
{{Daum Kakao}}
{{Kakao}}
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{{Dot-com Bubble}}
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{{Authority control}}
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Latest revision as of 17:37, 29 September 2025

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "about". Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "check for clobbered parameters". Lycos, Inc. (stylized as LYCOS), a subsidiary of Brightcom Group, offers a search engine, web portal, chat service, domain name registration service, and email client. The company also owns Tripod and Angelfire. It was established in 1994 as a university spin-off from Carnegie Mellon University.

The name "Lycos" is short for "Lycosidae", which is the Latin name of wolf spiders.[1]

History

Lycos began in May 1994 as a research project by Michael Loren Mauldin of Carnegie Mellon University.[2] Lycos was funded with approximately US$2 million in venture capital funding from CMGI.[3][4]

Bob Davis became the CEO and first employee of the new company in 1995.[5] He concentrated on building the company into an advertising-supported web portal, led by Bill Townsend.[6]

In April 1996, the company completed the fastest initial public offering from inception to offering in NASDAQ history, ending its first day of trading with a market value of $300 million. It also became the first search engine to become a public company, before rivals Yahoo! and Excite.[7]

In May 1997, the company formed Lycos Europe, a joint venture with Bertelsmann.[8]

Lycos began offering e-mail services in October 1997.[9]

That year, it became one of the first profitable Internet businesses.[10]

In February 1998, Lycos acquired Tripod.com for $58 million.[11]

In March 1998, Lycos paid $4 million for a 9% stake in GlobeComm, which powered its free email service.[12]

In August 1998, Lycos acquired WhoWhere for $133 million in stock.[13]

In October 1998, the company acquired the digital assets of Wired for $83 million in stock after the print version of the magazine was sold to Advance Magazine Publishers.[14] The deal also included Hotbot[15] and WebMonkey, which was shut in 2004 but relaunched in 2008.[16]

In a brief surge in April 1999, the website was visited by 52% of all internet users, which was more than the reach of Yahoo.[17][18]

In 1999, the company abandoned its internal search technology and outsourced search technology to AlltheWeb.[19]

In April 1999, Lycos launched an internet radio service.[20]

In September 1999, the company acquired Quote.com for $78 million in stock.[21]

In November 1999, Lycos acquired Gamesville for $207 million in stock.[22]

In December 1999, the company formed Lycos Asia, a $50 million joint venture with Singtel.[23]

In June 2000, Lycos acquired Matchmaker.com for $44 million in cash.[24] it was sold in February 2006.[25]

In July 2000, Lycos began using Microsoft Windows 2000 software and Intel processors to power its platform.[26]

In October 2000, near the peak of the dot-com bubble, Lycos was acquired by Terra Networks, a division of Script error: No such module "Lang"., for $12.5 billion and was renamed Terra Lycos.[27]

In January 2001, the company acquired RagingBull.com.[28]

In October 2002, the company acquired GetRelevant.[29]

In October 2004, Terra sold Lycos to Daum Communications Corporation, now Kakao, for $95.4 million in cash, less than 2% of Terra's initial multibillion-dollar investment.[30]

In July 2006, the company sold the digital assets of Wired to Condé Nast Publications which remerged it with the print version of the magazine.[31]

In February 2006, Lycos sold Quote.com and RagingBull.com to FT Interactive Data Corporation for $30 million.[32]

In March 2006, Lycos introduced phone call services, including video chat, real-time video on demand, and an MP3 player.[33]

In November 2006, Lycos introduced Lycos Cinema.[34]

In February 2007, Lycos Mix was launched, allowing users to pull video clips from YouTube, Google Video, Yahoo! Video and MySpace Video and allowed users to create playlists where other users could add video comments and chat in real-time.[35]

Lycos was sold for $36 million in August 2010 to Ybrant Digital, an Internet marketing company based in Hyderabad, India.[36][37][38] Ybrant Digital paid $20 million at signing and there was a legal dispute over magnitude of the second installment between Ybrant and Daum. In 2018, a New York court ruled in favor of Daum and appointed Daum (by then merged with Kakao) as receiver of Ybrant's 56% ownership interest in Lycos.[39]

In May 2012, Rob Balazy was named CEO.[40]

In June 2015, Lycos announced the Band and Ring wearable devices.[41]

In October 2016, Lycos sold the HotBot.com domain name for $155,000.[42]

The parent company of Lycos, YBrant Digital, was renamed Brightcom Group in May 2018.[43]

See also

Script error: No such module "Portal".

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Web search engines Template:Kakao Template:Dot-com Bubble Template:Authority control

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  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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