From the issue dated September 3, 1999

'Portal' Companies Compete for Colleges' Business and Students' Eyes CAMPUS PIPELINE: Colleges can either pay an enrollment-based licensing fee ALSO SEE: Colleges Get Free Web Pages, but With a Catch: Advertising -- which the company has set at $108,000 to $811,500, plus a 20-per-cent annual maintenance charge -- or accept an option that allows sponsors to place "unobtrusive" ads on pages that students visit to register for classes or check their schedules. More than 400 colleges have signed up, all using the advertising model. The company also makes money from purchases of merchandise and services through the site. MYBYTES: Colleges pay nothing for the portal services, which include e-mail, chat rooms, and academic resources. The company makes money from ads on the site and any "e-commerce" undertaken through it. The company says it is working with about 160 institutions, although in many cases the arrangements involve just one school or administrative unit, not the entire institution.. MASCOTNETWORK: The service is free to early clients. The company makes its money from ads and e-commerce, and says it has signed "between four and six" institutions. JENZABAR: The service is free to the first 50 institutions that sign up. The company keeps all revenues from advertising and e-commerce, at least for now. It says five schools or institutions have signed up for the service. CAMPUSCRUISER: The service is free to colleges. The company shares advertising and e-commerce revenues with participating institutions. It says that 10 institutions have agreed to test the site's services, and that those institutions will receive a bigger percentage of revenues than will later clients. COLLEGECLUB: Founded as a student-oriented Web site, the company is also pursuing ties with colleges by offering free portal services. The company retains all advertising and e-commerce revenues. It says about a half-dozen institutions have signed up as "beta testers." SOURCE: CHRONICLE REPORTING http://chronicle.com Section: Information Technology Page: A45 Easy-to-print version E-mail this article