MEDIA-I: LTDNetwork markets over 2,000 sites

<p>SYDNEY: Australian start-up LTDNetwork is touting itself as a </p><p>second-generation dotcom, with a business model that positions the </p><p>company as a gateway for internet searches and transactions. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The company spent the past 18 months registering thousands of domain </p><p>names, from booksltd.com to rosesltd.com to more obscure ones such as </p><p>implantsltd.com and veltltd.com. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The idea behind LTDNetwork's bid to attract investor cash is that it is </p><p>not one but thousands of websites. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>On a recent visit to Asia, LTDNetwork chairman and chief executive </p><p>officer, Allan Klepfisz, said: "We looked at what was wrong with the </p><p>internet to come up with a business that we think address all those </p><p>issues. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"People hate searching and we have given them an easy option; they </p><p>simply key in what they are looking for and add ltd before the '.com', </p><p>such as germanshepard.com. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"From our LTD sites they can read content and if they are interested in </p><p>specific content or in making a purchase, they will be linked to our </p><p>partner websites." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The company plans to roll out operations in September and follow this </p><p>with a Nasdaq listing in the first quarter of 2002. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Klepfisz said the company expected to generate 60 per cent of its </p><p>revenue from commissions, 30 per cent from online advertising and the </p><p>remaining 10 per cent by licensing its propriety software. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"We think affiliate marketing is the way to go. We're basically creating </p><p>a marketing funnel effect for our partners. For example, fogdog.com is a </p><p>retail sporting site that's not very well known. LTD has 22 sporting </p><p>sites and each of these can be linked to fogdog's catalogue," he </p><p>added. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>While he declined to name LTDNetwork's affiliates in Asia, Klepfisz said </p><p>the company would focus on Hong Kong and Malaysia. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>He also said the company expected to be profitable before its Nasdaq </p><p>listing. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Klepfisz added: "We know no one will advertise on a half-baked idea of a </p><p>site, and that ecommerce hasn't kicked off here as in the US, because </p><p>they have long had a culture of catalogue shopping." </p><p><BR><BR> </p>