Push technology and broadcast news outfit PointCast Inc has announced its first subscription-based service for its push- delivered information. The company is to offer what it calls Companies Premier, featuring First Call’s earnings estimates; Hoover Inc’s company profiles, Reuter’s Securities news; company comparison reports and other financial information from Media General, some of which though is already available for free on the web. The company is widely expected to be heading towards an initial public offering next year, especially since the appointment in October of new chief executive David Dorman, the former CEO of Pacific Bell Corp, and this is a way of proving to Wall Street that it is serious about generating revenues. PointCast has also struck an alliance with Visa International Inc, in a combined effort to bring electronic commerce to the PointCast Network. Under the terms of the agreement PointCast will make Visa its preferred method of payment, while Visa card holders will be entitled to unspecified special benefits if they use the PointCast network. New security systems will be introduced to the network conforming to Secure Electronic Transaction (SET) standards. Companies Premier will launch next quarter, when pricing will also be announced. PointCast will still offer its free channels
