The parent group of Internet portal Yam.com (蕃薯藤) said yesterday that it is on schedule to break even by the year's end, thanks to growing revenues from their application service provider business.
According to Yam Digital Technology Co Ltd, in the period from January to June, the group's total earnings were approximately NT$1.6 billion.
While earlier in the year the majority of its income -- 55 to 60 percent -- came from online advertisements, the new breadwinner in the Yam family is the ASP, raking in some 30 percent of total income.
An ASP is a company that manages and distributes software-based services or applications over the Internet, such as Web hosting or e-commerce solutions.
Yam launched its service earlier this year, providing solutions for domestic firms such as the Eslite corp's (誠品) online bookstore and the EVA Airways Corp (長榮航空) Web site.
Backed by a strong team of engineers, Yam regards its ASP service as a growing part of its business, and the sector least affected by the economic recession.
"Internet or E service can be used to promote an enterprise's value, thus many companies need our solutions," said Chen Jen-ran (
Chen added that the service will contribute an estimated 50 percent or more to the Yam group's income this year, and if all ongoing ASP cases are completed, the group's total earning of this year will rise from NT$4 billion to NT$6 billion dollars.
Yam's Chen also used the event to officially introduce the group's affiliates to the public, including financial info and solution provider Megatime Inc (大時科技), cableTV solution provider Cablesoft tech Inc (開博科技), e-marketing solution provider Cyber Yam Digital Technology Co Ltd (賽勃網絡信息服務), human resource consulting service Hrgini.com (昱藤數位), fashion industry Internet application provider Fashion Guide Network, electronic applications chain store CyberMart (賽勃數碼) and e-commerce Web site shopping.yam.com (賣蕃天拍賣王).
The Yam group holds over 50 percent share of the first four companies and retains a minority share in the final two.
Chen emphasized that "there is no cash problem for Yam," and that the Yam group plans to get capital infusion in China via its affiliate Megatime Inc or CableSoft Tech Inc either this year or early next year.
While other web ventures are cutting staff, Chen said Yam won't fire any more people.
Between last year and April of 2001, Yam.com fired some 40 percent of its employees, and currently employs 160 people.
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