Local.com aussichtsreich

Abstract

A localization service is provided that provides users with online information on local retailers that sell particular products. A user can perform a search using a web page associated with the localization service or by searching using an internet search engine. The user's search includes a search origin. The search origin may be defined in terms of location information such as a place name or a postal code. A search for a particular product at local retailers may be made using search parameters such as search origins, product names, model numbers, product categories, and product attributes. The localization service may provide the user with search results in the form of web pages that list which retailers sell the desired product in the vicinity of the search origin. A targeted advertisement server at the localization service may use display criteria to determine which targeted advertisements should be displayed for the user.  

Rovion, Local's rich media technology company that does not require coding to create and send professional-grade ads, was sold to mammoth Gannet Co. , publisher and owner of USA Today and 800 other print publications, 23 television stations, a myriad of website affiliations including ShopLocal and CareerBuilder, and developer of marketing campaigns for Dunkin' Donuts, Ford and Sprint. Gannett wants Rovion's main product for its PointRoll digital marketing subsidiary to step up mobile platform capabilities. The beauty of this deal is that little Rovion becomes part of Gannett Digital, with each Gannett division able to access the Rovion technology, including Local itself, which struck a licensing pact with Gannett at the time of the sale. Not bad when you factor in a 44% return on investment and the elimination of a third of a million of Local's cash burn per quarter.

The Gannett/Local relationship deepened when, at the time of the Rovion transaction, Gannett agreed to license Krillion, Local's product search directory that had already been woven into Rovion's ad platform. A nice fit with Gannett's ShopLocal and its multi-channel shopping and advertising services.  

"We generate revenue when it is realizable and earned, as evidenced by click-throughs occurring on advertisers' sponsored listings, the display of a banner advertisement, the fulfillment of subscription listing obligations, the sale of deal of the day vouchers, or the delivery of Exact Match products to our customers. We enter into contracts to distribute sponsored listings and banner advertisements with our direct and indirect advertisers. Most of these contracts are short-term, do not contain multiple elements and can be cancelled at anytime. Our indirect advertisers provide us with sponsored listings with bid prices (for example, what their advertisers are willing to pay for each click-through on those listings). We recognize our portion of the bid price based upon the execution of our contractual obligations. Sponsored listings and banner advertisements are included within pages that display search results, among others, in response to keyword searches performed by consumers on our Local.com website and network partner websites. Revenue is recognized when earned based on click-through and impression activity to the extent that collection is reasonably assured from credit worthy advertisers. Management has analyzed our revenue recognition and determined that our web hosting revenue is recognized net of direct costs. "

Source: Last Q10-Report  

sehen das mit den Patenten so wie Libuda und ich gehe einmal davon aus, dass der Autor von Seeking Alpha nicht bei mir abgeschrieben hat.

Local Corporation's Patent Developments Set Table For A Fundamental Breakout

"An increasing number of investors are following Intellectual Property (IP) as the hottest new asset class. The issuance or purchase of patents and milestones in patent enforcement and licensing are becoming huge triggers for stocks. Some investors are watching IP metrics for valuation as much as, if not more than, revenues and earnings.

In light of this, Local Corporation's (LOCM) stock may show some interesting movements in the very near term. The chart has already seen a spike since September but appears to be poised for a technical and fundamental break-out worth paying attention to."  

http://seekingalpha.com/article/...a-fundamental-breakout?source=feed  

Local Corporation Granted U.S. Pay-Per-Call Patent Can Help Company Monetize Multi-Billion Dollar Mobile Advertising Market
By flankenking . 1 second ago . Permalink
Local Corporation Granted U.S. Pay-Per-Call Patent
Patent Can Help Company Monetize Multi-Billion Dollar Mobile Advertising Market

Press Release: Local Corporation – 3 hours agoRELATED QUOTESSymbol Price Change
LOCM 2.55 0.02


IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Local Corporation (LOCM), a leading online local media company, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted the company patent number 8,306,208, which covers a pay-per-call Enhanced Directory Assistance method or system.

Issued on Nov. 6, 2012, the patent describes an Enhanced Directory Assistance (EDA) method and/or system whereby pay-per-call advertiser listings are provided to consumers in response to directory assistance inquiries. The company believes that the patent may cover numerous pay-per-call EDA inquiry methods, such as text and the latest voice command search integrations offered on many of today’s smartphones, as well as traditional voice-based EDA inquiries.  

"Borrell Associates estimates that approximately 5 billion Enhanced Directory Assistance (EDA) inquiries from mobile devices will be made in 2012, along with 1 billion more from landlines. EDA is gradually transitioning into an advertiser-pays model, with pay-per-call representing the advertising vehicle," said Heath Clarke, Local Corporation chairman and chief executive officer. “We believe this patent may represent a core intellectual property component of the emerging pay-per-call mobile ad industry because it contemplates the provision of pay-per-call ad listings in response to EDA searches. We’re pleased that this patent validates the considerable time we have spent developing our intellectual property in the area of performance advertising, including EDA.”  

rapide an:

Number of buyers by most deals increasing strong
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aber das nachstehende - und daher nimmt auch Yahoo das folgende Posting, das nur ein Zitat aus Seeking Alpha ist und auch gekennzeichnet ist, nicht an - zumindest nicht auf dem Amazon-Board, wo ich aufzeigen wollte, dass der Dienst Amazon (Instant) von diesem Patent berührt wird:

Groupon (Groupon Now), Living Social (Instant), Foursquaref, eBay's Milo (Nasdaq: EBAY), Jiwire's NearbyNow, Retailigence and Goodzer could hurt this patent

"Patent #8,032,427 related to location based product search appears to encompass core aspects of services being offered by Groupon (GRPN) (Groupon Now), Living Social (Instant) and Foursquare; and is part and parcel of the product search functionalities offered by eBay's Milo (Nasdaq: EBAY), Gannett's ShopLocal (NYSE: GCI), Jiwire's NearbyNow, Retailigence and Goodzer. This patent could offer LOCM one of its most significant opportunities for near term licensing revenue, as we believe that the patent encompasses core aspects of the local product search offerings of these companies. This niche is growing rapidly, attracting significant capital and most importantly for Local Corps purposes, the key players emerging in the space are not partners/revenue sources for Local.Corp."

Source: Seeking Alpha  

No problem for Gannett's offer, because this patent was licensed to Gannett

Krillion Licensed to Gannett – In conjunction with the Rovion sale, Gannett will license the Krillion technology from the company. Krillion’s real time shopping inventory data has been integrated into the Rovion rich media ad platform, providing Gannett’s customers with access to real time shopping data.

Source: Q3/2012-report of Local Corp  

Groupon needs for Groupon Now a licensing from Local Corp

"Before a company can book a single penny in profit it needs a product to sell. Yet in today’s fiercely competitive global economy, before a company can produce something to sell, it needs to patent the idea. Otherwise, it’s too easy for competitors to knock off the product and steal market share.

In other words, being first to market is no longer enough of a competitive advantage. Companies need to be first to market and have patents protecting their products to ensure sales and profit longevity.

Groupon (Nasdaq: GRPN) and Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) serve as good examples of this new paradigm at work.

As you’re well aware, Groupon invented the daily deals market in 2008. All it took was a novel idea to connect consumers and businesses in a new way – via coupons over email. But guess what? Groupon didn’t have even one patent protecting its novel business model. And within four years, over 300 competitors emerged. Now, Groupon doesn’t stand a chance to keep booking higher profits, let alone survive.

Contrast Groupon’s experience with the details behind the meteoric rise of Apple and you’ll definitely get the connection between patent filings and stock price performance.

We can all agree that Apple took the world by storm with its iPhone launch in June 2007. Before it sold a single one, though, it secured as many patents as possible. And it continued to do the same thing on every next generation device."

Source: Patent Filings: The Next Great Leading Indicator by Seeking Alpha
March 11, 2012  

Mobille is part of Launch for Local: More and more, customers are searching for businesses while they’re on the go using their mobile phones and tablets. We will:

• Create a mobile site that is optimized for mobile phones that properly mirrors your business site

• Establish a mobile web address that helps you rank higher when customers search using a phone or tablet

• Professionally designed interface for your existing website optimized for mobile viewing

• Single touch click to call, map/directions, and social integration  

Mobile

Within 5 years, 80% of local searches will be done on a mobile device (Source: Borrell Associates Source: BIA/Kelsey)

Mobile Apps and mobile-enabled available for consumer sites:
• Local. Corps Flagshipsite
• Spreebird.com

Launch by Local solution offers a mobile-optimized website for SMBs  

aber noch bem Tempo, in dem neue Direct SMB-Subscribers gewonnen werden. Zwar sieht es ganz ordentlich aus, wenn man berichtet, dass man am Ende von Q3/2011 489 Direct Subscribers hatte und diese Zahl auf 856 Direct Subscribers in Q3/2012 steigern konnte, aber die heutige Präsentation, die jetzt von mehr als 900 Direct Subscribers spricht, enttäuscht mich etwas. Denn man darf nicht vergessen, dass die bisher über die Telcos abkassierten Subscirbers im Laufe des vierten Quartals wegfallen (auch wenn die pro Subscriber nur 10% des Umsatzes eines Direct Subscribers brachten, aber es waren zuletzt noch 6.000 und vorher einmal 16.000). Ich hatte eigentlich damit gerechnet, dass man mehr von diesen Nicht-Direct-Subscribers schneller gewinnt und die Zahl zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt schon über 1.000 liegen würde. Aber offensichtlich hat man Angst hier massiv Verkaufspersonal einzustellen, weil man damit bei Spreebird auf die Schnanuze gefallen ist (den Laden schmeißen heute locker weniger als 10 Leute statt früher einmal 60). Und da man zudem Rovion verkauft hat, ist die Personalstärke auf 162 gesunken, was sich bei den Kosten erheblich bemerkbar machen müsste - selbst wenn man zur Zeit wieder aufstockt.  

der durch die momentane Marktkapitalisierung völlig lächerlich dargestellt wird - meines Erachtens werden Investoren, die Naked-Shortselling-Gemeinde, die schon erheblich Federn lassen musste, noch sehr viel mehr auslachen:

The Value of Local Corp


First part of the value of Local Corp = TRAFFIC

• Greater than 30M MUVs on our site and network

• ~ 300K daily deal subscribers

• Channel Partners

• Regional media publishers

• SMB Solution resellers

Second part of the value of Local Corp = TECHNOLOGY

• 10 Patents issued/11 pending

• Aggregate & publish local content

• Proprietary platform for SMB Solution

Third part of the value of Local Corp = ADVERTISERS

• Google

• Yahoo!

• Super Media

• ATTi

• ~ 900 Direct SMB Subscribers  

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und daher erwarte ich auch, dass meine in 4339 geäußerten Bedenken kleiner werden, wenn die ehemaligen Kunden von Local Corp, die früher Teilleistungen bezogen haben, jetzt vor die Alternative "ganz oder gar nichts" gestellte werden (was nicht die Absicht von Local Corp war, sondern der Telcos, die die Abrechnung mit den Kunden nicht fortsetzen wollen) sich für eine Paketleistung entscheiden. Dies gilt umso mehr, als man sicht nicht nur für die große Variante mit monatlich $249 entscheiden muss, sondern auch eine kleine Variante namens Ignite für $99 möglich ist, die aber meiines Erachtens leider nur sehr schwach beworben wird und fast "unter der Ladentheke" geführt wird - aber das kann sich ja auch noch ändern, denn das Produkt gibt es ja auch erst seit ca. zwei Monaten. Vielleicht hat man auch Angst, dass man bei einem zu frühen Herausstellen diese Alternative die Nachfrage nach dem Paket für §249 kannabalisiert.

Whatever your business, we have an online solution for you. Select from the list below to see how we work with businesses just like yours to deliver results.

Apartment Communities
Flooring Businesses
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Assisted Living Facilities
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Plastic Surgeons
Caterers
Golf Courses
Pool Businesses
Cleaning Services
Hair Salons
Roofers
Conventions
HVAC Businesses
Universities
Cosmetic Dentists
Lawyers
Dentists
Movers  

Does it makes any sense, that such a company has a market-cap of 920 million and Local Corp only a market-cap of 57 million?

Zillow climbed to a profit in the most recent quarter, beating Wall Street’s profit estimate, but lowered its revenue estimate. Zillow now expects fourth-quarter revenue of $30 million to $31 million. Analysts were looking for revenue of $32.5 million. Zillow, Inc. is a real estate information marketplace. The Company provides information about homes, real estate listings and mortgages through their website and mobile applications. Zillow enables homeowners, buyers, sellers, and renters to connect with real estate and mortgage professionals.

Aber möglicherweise haben die einen dicken Werbevertrag mit Yahoo - dann wäre das Poting umm gelaufen. So ist nun einmal die Welt.  

die nach meinem Eindruck momentan aber nur sehr defensiv verkauft wird, weil man wohl Angst hat, dass diese $99-Offerte das $249-Angebot kanibalisiert.

Ignite your business: Not ready for the whole package Launch by Local (Propel)? Get started with some essential features for only $99/month.

- Site Design

- Web Hosting

- Moible

- Listings  

auch schon zitiert, aber hatte bisher keine Adresse zum Durchklickken hier reinstellen können:

http://www.equities.com/research/crystal-research/...O-08-28-2012.pdf  

Konkurrenz aber nicht ganz so deutlich wie beim größeren Paket (Propel):

Price Comparison: You could spend about $200 get it four important features with Ignite for just $99. See how Ignite stack up over the competition

Site Design:
- Go Daddy $50-$80/mo
- web.c.. $95/mo
- network solutions $95/mo

Web Hosting
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- network solutions $6.95-$9.95/mo
- Go Daddy 3.99/mo

Mobile
- dot Mobi $5.99/mo
- duda mobile $9.99/mo
- mofuse $7.95/mo

Listings
- Competitor A $42/mo
- Universal Business Listings $49/mo  

eine eindeutige Verletztung von Patenten von Local Corp. Zeitweilig hatte Living Social die Instant-Variante auch schon einmal aus dem Verkehr gezogen, aber im Rahmen der Apps ist sie jetzt wieder da.

This offer of Living Social hurt patents of Local Corp:

Consumers aren’t pulling their phones out to search for the nearest real-time discount on a car inspection or framing service. They are, however, looking for a faster and better way to order food from their favorite local restaurants,” he said.

Now, Takeout & Delivery will replace Instant on the LivingSocial apps.

The mobile app allows users to place and pay for orders for either pickup or delivery. On the back end, the restaurant receives the order by fax, and is able to say how long the order will take to fill. Consumers who show up for takeout are directed to a specific line and can pick up their order without having to pay. Restaurants that offer delivery are responsible for supplying the drivers.

Discounts can always be layered on top of the transaction if a merchant wishes, but it’s no longer the starting point. LivingSocial shares the revenue from the transaction.

“This helps broaden our offerings and puts us in a place where we can offer fast casual to five-star gourmet,” he said."  

einmal bei Yahoo "eingemietet", denn ich darf z.B. dort das folgende nicht posten:

SMB's needing Launch by Local

There are two areas of focus for local search marketing: local search optimization and local business listings.
Kaci Bower, lead author of the 2012 Search Marketing Benchmark Report – SEO Edition, and Research Analyst, MarketingSherpa, says, “In terms of local search, a good portion of businesses that claim a local business listing do not fully optimize and enhance their local business listings with all the available options.”
She adds, “In other words, they are underutilizing the potential of local search simply because they do not do everything with it that they could.”