One of the fastest growing technological solutions to information overload are customized electronic news services. These are software products that automatically search electronic information services "behind the scenes" for predesignated subjects and deliver results directly to the end users' PCs.
However, not all of these services work the same way, and features differ substantially. If you are interested in acquiring one, how do you know which is right for you? In this section, we identify the key differences between four major providers, and compare their features and costs on page five.
The first thing you need to know about these products is that they are not all alike. To select the one that's right for your firm, you need to decide what criteria and what features are critical for your operations. Below is an examination of the how these products differ.
Type of Service
Most broadly, services can be grouped as falling into one or more of these categories:
1. Real time. Here the user receives news and data as it's being released by the wire or news service. (Caution: some of the smaller wire services will hold off transmitting their data until evening when rates are lower.
2. Current awareness. This type of service is not necessarily real time, but a headline/news service, delivered electronically to the users' desktop, typically on a daily basis.
3. On-demand user searchable. Here, the user not only passively receives news and information, but can initiate searches as well.
Type of Sources Utilized
Some services offer links directly to database hosts, and allow users to initiate a search. Many, though, just download from newswires, which seem to make up the bulk of the sources for most of these services. Some allow access to CD-ROMs, and others will let you link your internal databases. Be sure to get a list of sources to check the number of fulltext newspapers, journals, international sources, wires, and so on.
The latest trend is using sources from the Internet and from video broadcasts. With technical advances continuing in the delivery of video, it's not unlikely that users will be able to search and view actual news broadcasts at some point in the near future.
User Interface
This is an important category, but can't be easily compared in chart form. The appropriate use of graphical elements like icons, toolbars, and sizable windows all affect the ease of use of a service. You should try to arrange for a demonstration to try it out yourself.
Method of Selection
Systems will either provide a predefined list of categories (e.g., industries, events, etc. from which users can choose, or allow users to create their own customized categories. Some systems provide a blend of the two. In general, the more customizable the better. Systems also vary in how matches are made: some use relevancy ranking, others Boolean.
On-Demand User Searching
For systems that permit on-demand searching, users may or may not have the ability to perform sophisticated searching: e.g., truncation and use of proximity operators.
Delivery
Vendors may differ in how their product is delivered. All can deliver over a network (and all are Lotus Notes compatible); however one can send by fax, and another requires either FM hardware or a satellite.
Completeness
Most services provide fulltext; others just offer summaries and charge extra to order the fulltext. For those that offer only summaries, be sure to evaluate the comprehensiveness of the accompanying bibliographic data.
Costs
Costs vary widely. Some charge a one-time installation fee. Most offer site licenses.
One other caution. You should find out how completely you can customize the sources. In a trial, we had with one vendor, we felt that too many "news" items were derived from press wires; however, the technology did not allow us to direct the system to eliminate or reduce searching from sources we wished to de-emphasize. This could be a major limitation on a system's value as a useful information filter.
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