Kelkoo – right from the start – was perceived as a low rent partner. But you are right Philip in that they forogt effective R&D. because the portals and media oweners like to work with effective products, and there ain’t no traffic quite like cost-of-sale traffic.

btw – after your comments, Crowdstorm had better be good, rather than just another aggregator/adder.

Let’s be clear – definitely agree there is a balance to be had between constant innovation and business revenue – but lose the momentum in either case and you’re just another “have-been”

I don’t know too much about what Kelkoo have been doing, but it looks like an aggregator to me. Aggregating content itself was an innovation, improving the way it works is enhancing your product. Napster was an innovation, other P2P services are enhancements of that concept.

I would disagree that Google are innovating every day – they didn’t invent web search, they’ve enhanced the way it works. AdWords are arguably an innovation, but not earthshattering – they were a great enhancement to web search on which Google relies for its revenue. So, Google continually enhances its product to keep it cutting-edge, but I wouldn’t say they’re consistent innovators.

So, what we are saying is that Kelkoo should have enhanced their product, to increase functionality, rather than get too comfortable? Agree there. History is littered with the ghosts of companies who have fallen into the trap of being comfortable with an initially great product for too long (Commodore, anyone?).

As to who would buy it – who can tell? I would value it as I would any other business, based on its revenues and profits. Anything else is speculative (look at Skype…).

To give you a solid example, price comparison was actually a pretty advanced technology in 1998 and very unique. Now, it is much easier to do and lots of sites have API’s (shopping.com) so you can launch your own. Thus, once it becomes a commodity – you need to think how else you keep differentiating yourself.

Kelkoo has sat on its arse for the last few years which is pretty annoying – for the very reason that they were making good money, had dominant market share, and were comfortable. Google are not even doing this – but innovating every day AND making money.

Ciaron – who would buy it? Following on from the above post – why would you need to? (I’d buy the team and the merchant relations and that’s it to be honest).

It’s time to set the Kelkoo team free – let them come and join a new wave of ecommerce and be alive again!!!!! Crowdstorm anyone? muhaaaahhhaa