Internet Entrepreneurs, The

Possible future partnerships

Despite his success, Schrock maintains a beady eye on prospective alliances. The cross-holdings of CMGI in AltaVista and rival search engine Lycos have prompted much speculation among investors and analysts that a merger could be on the cards. Indeed, Morgan Stanley, the US investment bank and one of AltaVista's advisers, are reported to have said that bringing the two companies together would create a web dream team. Schrock does not baulk at the thought:

'We have discussed it. I am a supporter as I said (of partnerships and alliances). We are a new media company where our brand is our most differentiating feature to our audience and, as you know, no single brand can capture an entire audience. It's very difficult ...