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{{Short description|American company}}
{{COI|date=October 2012}}
{{refimprove|date=November 2015}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2012}}
{{Infobox dot-com companywebsite
| name = '''BLUCORA'''InfoSpace, Inc
| logo = = File:Infospace-logo.png
| company_type = Public Corporation
| traded_asfounded = {{NASDAQ|BCOR}}<br>[[S&Pstart 600|S&Pdate 600and Component]]age|1996|3}}
| foundationdissolved = {{start2012 date(renamed and age|1996|3}}InfoSpace (asbusiness sold off Infospace,in Inc.2016)
| founder = [[Naveen Jain]]
| founder = Punam Agrawal, Glenn Byrd, Jean-Remy Facq, Anu Jain, Naveen Jain, Sanjay Kohli, Kevin Marcus, Charles Mathieu, Chris Matty, Richard Openheimer
| location_city = [[Bellevue, Washington]]
| location_country = USAU.S.
| key_people = John S. Clendening (President and CEO)
| services =
| services = [[metasearch engine|metasearch]] and [[private-label]] [[web search engine|Internet search]] [[tax preparation service]]s
| revenue =
| revenue = $228.8 million for FY2011<ref name=10K2011>{{cite web|title=2011 Annual Report |url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9NDU4NDYxfENoaWxkSUQ9NDg1ODU1fFR5cGU9MQ==&t=1 |publisher=InfoSpace |accessdate=April 23, 2012 }}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
| url subsid = http://www.blucora.com/
|subsid website = [[TaxAct]]<br>[[HD Vest]]https://www.blucora.com/
}}
 
'''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>
'''Blucora''' (formerly '''Infospace, Inc.''') is a provider of Internet-related services, mostly search engines. InfoSpace changed its name to Blucora and NASDAQ symbol from INSP to BCOR on June 7, 2012. This event reflected the company's change as the owner of two online businesses, after its acquisition of [[TaxACT]] in January 2012, and distinguishes the parent company from its search business operating unit, which is called InfoSpace.<ref>http://investor.blucora.com/secfiling.cfm?filingID=1181431-12-33701&CIK=1068875</ref>
 
Blucora's InfoSpace business provides [[metasearch engine|metasearch]] and [[private-label]] [[web search engine|Internet search]] services for consumers and online search and monetization solutions to a network of more than 100 partners worldwide. InfoSpace's main metasearch site is [[Dogpile]]; its other brands are [[WebCrawler]], and [[MetaCrawler]].<ref name="ourbusinesses">[https://web.archive.org/web/20120629134106/http://www.blucora.com/index.php/our-business/infospace Our Business](archived) Blucora.com</ref>
 
Blucora's TaxACT subsidiary offers online [[tax preparation]] services. Founded in 1998 and made by 2nd Story Software, in the 2005 tax season, TaxACT became the first to offer free federal tax software and free e-file to all U.S. taxpayers.<ref>http://www.taxact.com/company/company_aboutus.asp</ref>
 
==History==
The company was founded as Infospace in March 1996 by [[Naveen Jain]] after he left [[Microsoft]]. HeThe servedcompany asstarted CEOwith untilsix 2000.employees, Theand company,Jain whichserved startedas withCEO sixuntil employees2000.<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|accessdateaccess-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 InfospaceInfoSpace'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|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020219205103/http://www.redherring.com/mag/issue44/jain.html|archivedatearchive-date=2002-02-19|title=Smarter than Bill|publisher=[[Red Herring (magazine)|Red Herring]]|date=June 30, 1997|accessdateaccess-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|accessdateaccess-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&nbsp;— Part 2: Cashing Out&nbsp;— 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>▼
InfoSpace [[Initial Public Offering|went public]] on December 15, 1998. The company raised $75 million in the offering.<ref>[https://archive.is/20120919055524/http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,16842-0.html A Fine IPO for InfoSpace] from ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]''</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&nbsp;— Part 1: Dubious Deals&nbsp;— How InfoSpace took its investors for a ride: Business & Technology: The Seattle Times |accessdateaccess-date=September 13, 2013 | first1=David | last1=Heath | date=March 6, 2005}}</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|accessdate=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 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 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>
 
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>
Also, in 2000, 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&nbsp;— Part 2: Cashing Out&nbsp;— When times got tough, execs hid troubles, dumped stock |accessdate=September 13, 2013 |publisher=The Seattle Times | first1=David | last1=Heath | date=March 7, 2005}}</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>
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 |accessdate =May 15, 2018}}</ref> but was forced out by InfoSpace's board as chairman and CEO 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|accessdate=June 7, 2011}}</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>
▲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&nbsp;— Part 1: Dubious Deals&nbsp;— 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>
 
==Rename==
On August 1, 2013, Blucora bought [[Monoprice]] in an all-cash transaction.<ref>{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Ben|title=Blucora buying Monoprice for $180M|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2013/08/blucora-buying-monoprice-for-180m.html|accessdate=December 21, 2013|newspaper=Puget Sound Business Journal|date=August 1, 2013}}</ref>
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>
 
OnIn AprilJuly 212016, 2014,Blucora Discoverysold CommunicationsInfoSpace announcedand thatHowStuffWorks theyto haddata soldanalytics HowStuffWorksand todata Blucoramanagement company OpenMail for $45 million in cash.<ref>{{cite news | url=httpshttp://www.bloombergseattletimes.com/newsbusiness/2014-04-21technology/discoveryblucora-sellsto-howstuffworkssell-atinfospace-82business-lossfor-after-seven45-years.htmlmillion/ | title=DiscoveryBlucora Sellsto HowStuffWorkssell atInfoSpace 82%business Lossfor After$45 Seven Yearsmillion | work=BloombergSeattle Times | date=April 21, 2014 | accessdate=AprilJuly 225, 20142016}}</ref>
 
== Shareholder2003 shareholder lawsuit ==▼
June 2, 2014, Blucora completes the purchase of [[HowStuffWorks]].
In a shareholder lawsuit filed in 2003, a lower court federal judge ruled that former InfoSpace CEO, Naveen Jain, had purchased shares of InfospaceInfoSpace 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|accessdateaccess-date=February 24, 2010}}</ref> WhileJain onappealed appealthe ruling in 2005, Jainand settled the case for $105 million, while denying liability. Jain's attempt into further litigationlitigate 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>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1068875/000119312504219392/dex991.htm|title=Press Release, dated December 22, 2004|website=www.sec.gov|access-date=2019-01-08}}</ref>▼
 
==References==▼
In July 2016, Blucora announced the sale of its Infospace business, including HowStuffWorks, to OpenMail for $45 million in cash. As part of the deal, CEO Bill Ruckelshaus was replaced by John Clendening.<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> On November 15, 2016, Blucora said it would move its headquarters from Bellevue, Washington, to Irving, Texas. At the same time, the company announced the sale of Monoprice, its online electronics retail business, to Taiwan-based electronics company YFC-BonEagle for $40 million.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/blucora-to-sell-monoprice-for-40-million/ | title=Blucora moving headquarters to Texas, selling Monoprice for $40 million | work=Seattle Times | date=November 15, 2016}}</ref>
{{reflistReflist|colwidth=30em}}▼
 
{{Dot-com Bubble}}
▲== 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>https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1068875/000119312504219392/dex991.htm</ref>
 
{{Authority control}}
== New Management and Company Restructuring==
{{refimprovesect|date=November 2015}}
In December 2002, Jim Voelker took over Naveen Jain's role as Chairman, CEO and President of InfoSpace. Voelker quickly shut down or sold many of InfoSpace's 12 businesses, and focused on five core segments.
In 2003, InfoSpace acquired Moviso from Vivendi Universal Net USA. Moviso provides ringtones, wallpapers and video games, usually accessed through a mobile handset enabling wireless carriers to charge a fee for these downloads.
In early March 2003, InfoSpace sued Jain for allegedly violating noncompete agreements in his role at newly founded Intelius. In an interview after the suit was filed, Jain said the lawsuit was without merit and was a retaliation for Jain's whistle-blowing. In April 2003, he resigned from the InfoSpace board.
 
In 2004, InfoSpace acquired Switchboard, which is now owned by Verizon spin-off Idearc Media, and overshadowed by Idearc's SuperPages. It also moved into the mobile games space, acquiring Atlas Mobile, IOMO and elkware.
InfoSpace reported $249 million in revenue in 2004 — up 89 percent from the previous year and more than Jain ever achieved in the company's dot-com heyday.<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 |accessdate=September 13, 2013 |publisher=The Seattle Times | first1=David | last1=Heath | date=March 7, 2005}}</ref>
September 2006, InfoSpace released news that a carrier partner would be working directly with major recording labels thus negatively impacting their core business. Following this carrier/label arrangement, InfoSpace sold the Moviso mobile content business to FunMobility, Atlas Mobile studio to Twistbox and IOMO re-emerged as FinBlade. The remaining portions of InfoSpace Mobile were acquired by Motricity in December 2007.
Between May 2007 and January 2008, the company paid shareholders $500 million in special dividends, or $15.30/share. Infospace.com began redirecting to SuperPages in 2009. Superpages had acquired InfoSpace's directory services in 2007.In 2008, industry analysts believed InfoSpace was gradually dismantling itself.
 
In February 2009, Jim Voelker retired as CEO and president yet remained on the company's board as chairman. From February 2009 to November 2010, Will Lansing served as President and CEO of InfoSpace. Under Lansing's leadership, InfoSpace started an online auction website called haggle.com. A year later, it shut down the website and sold its assets to BigDeal.com.
 
William J. Ruckelshaus was appointed CEO in November 2010 after serving as a board member since May 2007. In January 2012, the company acquired TaxAct, and to help differentiate its name from its new purchase, and that of its InfoSpace search unit, it rebranded its name to Blucora, and its NASDAQ ticker symbol changed to BCOR on June 7, 2012.
 
▲==References==
▲{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
 
[[Category:Internet search engines]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 1996]]
[[Category:Companies based in BellevueIrving, WashingtonTexas]]
[[Category:Companies1998 listedinitial onpublic NASDAQofferings]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InfoSpace"