Lycos the biggest?

May 2000

From Lycos press release:

"WALTHAM, Mass., and OSLO, Norway, June 14, 2000: Lycos, Inc. (NASDAQ: LCOS), the InternetÃs leading multi-brand network, today announced its Lycos.com main search database has grown to the top spot in Web coverage with more than 340 million webpages. Powered by Fast Search & Transfer (FAST), a leader in Internet search technology, Lycos now offers the largest search database on the Web today. The companies are on the path to achieve a one billion URL catalog in the coming year."

This means that Lycos is one of the first major search sites that is using the Fast database for their search engine. Moreover, Lycos' own spider technology is finally out in the US. The other part of Lycos - the search directory - is based on the Open Directory Project.

Lycos has for a long time used Fast for their FTP (File) and MP3 search engines. Given Inktomi's latest claim, it remains to be seen whether Lycos really has the largest index in the world.

Searchers should note that the old search syntax for Lycos Pro no longer applies. Instead one will have to use Fast' more limited menu based system.

On May 16 Lycos announced the merger with the European company Terra Networks, giving birth to Terra Lycos. Given Lycos' previous collaboration with Fast in Norway, one could say that the search site is becoming more and more European.

• Lycos (American version)
• Lycos press release

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