CompuServe Inc says it’s melding management, editorial and marketing functions for its two online services, CompuServe Information Service and WOW!, to strengthen its ability to drum up contracts for online advertising, transaction fees and site linkages with one point of contact. As a result of the move, 10 employees will get their pink slips; CompuServe did not say yesterday how many employees it has in the affected areas. The company said it started with WOW!, it’s PC novice-oriented service, as a separate business unit because it was the only way it could launch the online offering on time. With its move to transfer all its content to HTML and move to the Web by the end of the year (CI No 2,918), the company’s been investigating new ways to make money over the past three months, aside from standard subscriber fees. The combined business unit, called Online Services, will be headed up by VP Scott Kauffman, who will also be charged with coordinating the new revenue drive. Kauffman was the executive who headed up the firm’s WOW! consumer service.
