Didn't we say it? Portal business is exciting!

In a further sign that the portal business is exciting and continues to grow - yesterday, Asia Business Consulting reported that Daum Communications of Korea purchased Lycos in an effort to expand overseas. (http://asiabusinessconsulting.blogspot.com/2004_08_01_asiabusinessconsulting_archive.html#109152915256922985).

Now, in a next step, it is Yahoo's turn to expand to new geographies - Australia under the domain name http://www.au.yahoo.com. This follows the earlier trend seen elsewhere that local portals are more successful in attracting local audiences, especially when one considers that there are very local communities already that, for instance, advertise the restaurant next door with maps and how-to-get there guides, or book or magazine delivery with the extra free price of a personalised map of your own area (really, it exists!) on the cover of the envelope.

We also have a number for the global search advertising market to share. It is estimated by Microsoft's internet arm MSN to be worth US$7 billion by 2006 - which explains some of the excitement of portal or search companies.

Yahoo's main target group in Australia is small businesses, who might want to advertise online. In doing so, of course, they take on incumbent Telstra and companies that produce business directory companies - but this is the normal way of how things go.