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{{Short description|American company}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2012}}
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| founder = [[Naveen Jain]]
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'''Infospace, Inc.''' was an American company that offered private label [[search engine]], online directory, and provider of metadata feeds. The company's flagship metasearch site was [[Dogpile]] and its other notable consumer brands were [[WebCrawler]] and [[MetaCrawler]]. After a 2012 rename to Blucora, the InfoSpace business unit was sold to data management company OpenMail.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mitchell |first=Dan |date=2008-06-23 |title=Once an Internet Giant, InfoSpace Dismantles Itself |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/technology/23infospace.html |access-date=2022-05-17 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
==History==
The company was founded in March 1996 by [[Naveen Jain]] after he left [[Microsoft]]. The company started with six employees, and Jain served as CEO until 2000.<ref name="seattletimes"/> InfoSpace provided content and services, such as phone directories, maps, games and information on the stock market, to websites and mobile device manufacturers.<ref name="inc">{{cite news|title=Options, Equity, Rancor|first=Edward|last=Welles|url=http://www.inc.com/magazine/20010701/22958.html|newspaper=Inc. Magazine|access-date=March 25, 2015|date=July 1, 2001}}</ref> The company grew at low cost without funding using co-branding strategies. Rather than try to get traffic to an InfoSpace website, sites like [[Lycos]], [[Excite (web portal)|Excite]] and [[Playboy]] embedded InfoSpace's features and content into their site and added an InfoSpace icon to it. InfoSpace then earned money by taking a small percentage of licensing, subscription or advertising fees.<ref name="redherring">{{cite web|url=http://www.redherring.com/mag/issue44/jain.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020219205103/http://www.redherring.com/mag/issue44/jain.html|archive-date=2002-02-19|title=Smarter than Bill|publisher=[[Red Herring (magazine)|Red Herring]]|date=June 30, 1997|access-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref> On December 15, 1998, InfoSpace [[Initial public offering|went public]] under the ticker INSP, raising $75 million in the offering.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120919055524/http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,16842-0.html A Fine IPO for InfoSpace] from ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]''</ref>
By April 2000, InfoSpace was working with 1,500 websites, 60 content providers and 20 telecommunications companies.<ref name="inc"/> InfoSpace was praised by Wall Street analysts and at its peak its market cap was $31 billion. It became the largest internet business in the American Northwest.<ref name="SeattleTimes1">{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002198103_dotcon1main06.html|title=Dot-con Job: Part 1: Dubious Deals|publisher=The Seattle Times|date=March 8, 2005|access-date=June 7, 2011|first1=David|last1=Heath}}</ref> InfoSpace may have contributed to the inflated expectations in internet companies during the height of the [[dot-com bubble]].<ref name=SeattleTimes1/><ref name="inc"/> In July 2000, InfoSpace acquired Go2Net. After the merger, Go2Net CEO Russell Horowitz became president of InfoSpace.<ref>[http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-243697.html InfoSpace to buy Go2Net to expand content delivery]</ref> The same year, InfoSpace used a controversial accounting method to report $46 million in profits when in fact it had lost $282 million. Company executives skirted [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|SEC]] trading restrictions to sell large blocks of their personal stock.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002199042_dotcon2main07.html |title=Dot-Con Job — Part 2: Cashing Out — When times got tough, execs hid troubles, dumped stock |access-date=September 13, 2013 |publisher=The Seattle Times | first1=David | last1=Heath | date=March 7, 2005}}</ref>
Jain resumed the role of CEO in 2001,<ref name="INFOSPACE-INC-Jan-2001-8-K">{{cite web|url=http://pdf.secdatabase.com/2235/0001032210-01-000078.pdf |title=INFOSPACE INC, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Jan 23, 2001 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date =May 15, 2018}}</ref> but was soon forced out by InfoSpace's board in December 2002.<ref name="PSBJ Ties">{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2003/04/28/daily5.html|title=InfoSpace severs final ties with founder Jain|publisher=[[Puget Sound Business Journal]]|date=April 28, 2003|access-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref> By June 2002, the company's stock price, which reached $1,305 in March 2000,<ref>[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/news/business/infospace/infospaceTimelineDay1_2_intro.swf The two faces of InfoSpace, 1998–2001]</ref> had dropped sharply to $2.67.<ref name=seattletimes>{{cite news |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002198103_dotcon1main06.html |title=Dot-Con Job — Part 1: Dubious Deals — How InfoSpace took its investors for a ride: Business & Technology: The Seattle Times |
In December 2002, Jim Voelker assumed Jain's role as chairman, CEO and President of InfoSpace.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/infospace-names-new-president-ceo/|title=InfoSpace names new president, CEO|last=Kane|first=Margaret|date=December 23, 2002|publisher=[[CNET]]|access-date=November 28, 2018}}</ref> Voelker shut down or sold many of InfoSpace's 12 businesses to focus on five core segments.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/new-management-tighter-focus-finally-put-infospace-in-the-black/|title=New management, tighter focus finally put InfoSpace in the black|last1=Heath|first1=David|last2=Chan|first2=Sharon Pian|author-link=Sharon Chan (journalist) |date=March 8, 2005|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|access-date=November 28, 2018}}</ref> In 2003, InfoSpace acquired Moviso from [[Vivendi|Vivendi Universal Net USA]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB106675333736088600|title=InfoSpace to Acquire Moviso|date=October 21, 2003|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=November 28, 2018}}</ref> In early March 2003, InfoSpace sued Jain alleging he violated non-compete agreements in his role at newly founded [[Intelius]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/infospace-sues-ex-ceo-naveen-jain/articleshow/39981535.cms|title=InfoSpace sues ex-CEO Naveen Jain|date=March 12, 2003|work=[[The Economic Times]]|access-date=November 28, 2018|archive-date=November 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130031808/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/infospace-sues-ex-ceo-naveen-jain/articleshow/39981535.cms|url-status=dead}}</ref> In April 2003, Jain resigned from the InfoSpace board.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB105153722450985000|title=Ex-InfoSpace CEO Jain Steps Down From Board|date=April 28, 2003|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=November 28, 2018}}</ref>
In 2004, InfoSpace acquired online yellow pages service Switchboard.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB108031135882566382|title=InfoSpace Agrees to Acquire Switchboard for $160 Million|last=Saranow|first=Jennifer|date=March 26, 2004|work=[[The Wall Street Journal|The Wall Street Journal Online]]|access-date=November 28, 2018}}</ref> It also moved into the mobile games space, acquiring Atlas Mobile, [[IOMO]] and Elkware.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/3973/SuperData_Freetoplay_games_led_2017_generating_15B_in_revenue.php|title=InfoSpace Mobile Acquires Atlas|last=Duffy|first=Jill|date=July 1, 2004|work=[[Gamasutra]]|access-date=November 28, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/more-mobile-consolidation-as-infospace-buys-iomo|title=More mobile consolidation as InfoSpace buys IOMO|last=Fahey|first=Rob|date=December 2, 2004|work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]]|access-date=November 28, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/infospace-signs-agreement-to-acquire-mobile-games-company-elkware-gmbh|title=InfoSpace Signs Agreement to Acquire Mobile Games Company Elkware GmbH|date=December 16, 2004|work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]]|access-date=November 28, 2018}}</ref> InfoSpace reported $249 million in revenue that year, up 89 percent from the previous year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2002200296_dotcon3today08.html|title=Dot-Con Job - Part 3: The Aftermath - New management, tighter focus finally put InfoSpace in the black|last1=Heath|first1=David|date=March 7, 2005|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|access-date=September 13, 2013}}</ref>
In 2007, InfoSpace sold Atlas Mobile studio to Twistbox,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/26/twistbox-acquires-infospace-games|title=Twistbox Acquires Infospace Games|date=January 26, 2007|work=[[IGN|IGN Wireless]]|access-date=November 28, 2018}}</ref> Moviso to mobile content tech firm FunMobility,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2007/06/12/infospace-unloads-moviso/|title=InfoSpace Unloads Moviso|date=June 12, 2007|work=[[TechCrunch]]|access-date=November 28, 2018}}</ref> and IOMO re-emerged as FinBlade.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mcvuk.com/development/finblade-opens-its-doors|title=FinBlade opens its doors|last=O'Brien|first=Stuart|date=August 6, 2007|work=[[MCV (magazine)|MCV]]|access-date=November 28, 2018}}</ref> InfoSpace's directory services were acquired by Idearc for $225 million in September 2007,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/id/20821424|title=InfoSpace to Sell Assets to Idearc for $225 Million|date=September 17, 2007|agency=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=[[CNBC]]|access-date=November 28, 2018}}</ref> while the remaining portions of InfoSpace Mobile were acquired by Motricity for $135 million in October 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mashable.com/2007/10/15/motricity-infospace/|title=Motricity Acquires InfoSpace for $135M|last=Nicole|first=Kristen|date=October 15, 2007|work=[[Mashable]]|access-date=November 28, 2018}}</ref>
▲By June 2002, the company's stock price, which reached $1,305 in March 2000,<ref>[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/news/business/infospace/infospaceTimelineDay1_2_intro.swf The two faces of InfoSpace, 1998–2001]</ref> had dropped to $2.67.<ref name=seattletimes>{{cite news |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002198103_dotcon1main06.html |title=Dot-Con Job — Part 1: Dubious Deals — How InfoSpace took its investors for a ride: Business & Technology: The Seattle Times |accessdate=September 13, 2013 | first1=David | last1=Heath | date=March 6, 2005}}</ref>
In February 2009, Jim Voelker resigned as CEO and president but remained chairman. From February 2009 to November 2010, Will Lansing served as president and CEO.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2009/02/Voelker_leaves_InfoSpace_as_former_VC_takes_over39151932.html|title=Voelker retires as CEO of InfoSpace; former VC takes over|last=Cook|first=John|date=February 5, 2009|work=Puget Sound Business Journal|access-date=November 28, 2018}}</ref> Under Lansing's leadership, InfoSpace started an online auction website called haggle.com, but after one year the website was shut down and its remaining assets were sold to BigDeal.com.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2010/11/infospace-shuts-down-haggle-sells.html|title=InfoSpace shuts down Haggle, sells assets to BigDeal.com|last=Engleman|first=Eric|date=November 2, 2010|work=Puget Sound Business Journal|access-date=November 2, 2010}}</ref>
==Rename==
In January 2012, InfoSpace acquired tax preparation software company TaxAct,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/01/09/infospace-buys-online-tax-solutions-company-taxact-for-287-5m-in-cash/|title=InfoSpace Buys Online Tax Solutions Company TaxACT For $287.5M In Cash|date=January 9, 2012|work=[[TechCrunch]]|access-date=November 28, 2018}}</ref> and to help differentiate its name from its new purchase, and that of its InfoSpace search unit, it rebranded as Blucora.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/infospace-becomes-blucora-new-symbols-bcor-2012-06-07|title=InfoSpace becomes Blucora; new symbol's BCOR|last=Fox|first=Ben|date=June 7, 2012|work=[[MarketWatch]]|access-date=November 28, 2018}}</ref> On April 21, 2014, Discovery Communications announced that they had sold [[HowStuffWorks]] to Blucora for $45 million.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-21/discovery-sells-howstuffworks-at-82-loss-after-seven-years.html | title=Discovery Sells HowStuffWorks at 82% Loss After Seven Years | work=Bloomberg | date=April 21, 2014 | access-date=April 22, 2014}}</ref>
In July 2016, Blucora sold InfoSpace and HowStuffWorks to data analytics and data management company OpenMail for $45 million in cash.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/blucora-to-sell-infospace-business-for-45-million/ |title=Blucora to sell InfoSpace business for $45 million | work=Seattle Times | date=July 5, 2016}}</ref>
In a shareholder lawsuit filed in 2003, a lower court federal judge ruled that former InfoSpace CEO, Naveen Jain, had purchased shares of
==References==▼
▲== Shareholder lawsuit ==
▲In a shareholder lawsuit filed in 2003, a lower court federal judge ruled that former InfoSpace CEO, Naveen Jain, had purchased shares of Infospace in violation of six month [[short swing]] [[insider trading]] rules, and issued a $247 million judgment against him, the largest award of its kind at that time.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20030823&slug=infospace230|title=Ex-InfoSpace chief ordered to pay $247 million penalty|last=Heath|first=David|date=August 23, 2003|publisher=Seattle Times|accessdate=February 24, 2010}}</ref> While on appeal in 2005, Jain settled the case for $105 million, while denying liability. Jain's attempt in further litigation against his former lawyers for the loss was dismissed.<ref name="SeattleTimes4">Heath, David; Pian Chan, Sharon; ''Dot-con Job: Part 3: The Aftermath – Unusual ally: SEC'', [[The Seattle Times]]'', 2005.</ref><ref name="SeattleTimes5">''[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008831296_apscotusinfospace.html Court turns down appeal from Infospace founder,] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622053354/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008831296_apscotusinfospace.html |date=June 22, 2011 }}'' The Seattle Times, March 9, 2009.</ref><ref>http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1068875/000119312504219392/dex991.htm</ref>
{{Dot-com Bubble}}
{{Authority control}}
▲==References==
▲{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
[[Category:Internet search engines]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 1996]]
[[Category:Companies based in
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