Vicious loops and a black day for e-marketplaces

NEWS In a statement, the regulator said it would "extend the existing price controls on BT's residential prices because BT continues to have market power in the provision of telephony services to residential customers". The telco had hoped that control on its billing prices would be removed, however, Oftel warned that the price controls may even be extended beyond from August 2002. Nothing personal, of course. Online e-hub Just2clicks.com is considering putting itself up for sale as the Financial Times reports on the latest dot-com boom to bust story. The company has put itself up for sale after failing to attract enough users to its online marketplaces, which include e-cement.com, Pulpandpaper.net, translinX and WebFreight. According to the FT, the company is planning to sell its operations because of the unpredictable nature of buying and selling online. Just2clicks' market capitalisation has plunged by 88 per cent since it floated in February 2000. And finally, there's trouble afoot at Terra Lycos. Bob Davis is poised to set down as CEO of the internet giant because of an ongoing dispute over his role in the company. Talks designed to convince Davis to stay on as a non-executive adviser look set to fail according to the FT. Joaquim Agut, chairman of Terra Lycos, is expected to take over the vacant role, the paper speculates. The company is expected to issue a press statement later today.