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

<p>TAIPEI: Yam.com is hoping to become the first Taiwanese portal to </p><p>turn a profit following savings made from downsizing and new revenue </p><p>streams. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Revenues for the internet conglomerate are expected to reach NT$600 million (US$17.3 million) this year, according to chief </p><p>executive officer Chen Jen-ran, a sum that will put it in the black. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"Our parent company (Yam Digital Technology) has three arms: e-media, </p><p>e-channels and ASP services. Our yam.com portal is the hub for our </p><p>business and we expect advertising to account for 55 per cent of </p><p>revenues this year, and e-commerce another 15 per cent. Our recently </p><p>launched ASP services already account for the remaining 30 per </p><p>cent." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Revenues from ASP projects for clients such as EVA Airways and Eslite's </p><p>online bookstore generated NT$6 to NT$8 million per month </p><p>in the first half of the year. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Yam.com's march toward profitability in part stems from its lay off of </p><p>40 per cent of its staff last year and earlier this year. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>