MEDIA-I: Yam.com to turn $17.3m in profit after downsizing

TAIPEI: Yam.com is hoping to become the first Taiwanese portal to

turn a profit following savings made from downsizing and new revenue

streams.

Revenues for the internet conglomerate are expected to reach NT$600 million (US$17.3 million) this year, according to chief

executive officer Chen Jen-ran, a sum that will put it in the black.

"Our parent company (Yam Digital Technology) has three arms: e-media,

e-channels and ASP services. Our yam.com portal is the hub for our

business and we expect advertising to account for 55 per cent of

revenues this year, and e-commerce another 15 per cent. Our recently

launched ASP services already account for the remaining 30 per

cent."

Revenues from ASP projects for clients such as EVA Airways and Eslite's

online bookstore generated NT$6 to NT$8 million per month

in the first half of the year.

Yam.com's march toward profitability in part stems from its lay off of

40 per cent of its staff last year and earlier this year.