Compaq Makes Move Into Searchable Video

Compaq Computer Corp. will announce today that it has acquired a 10% equity stake in Virage Inc.--producer of technology that allows users to search video clips on Web sites. The $4-million investment is linked to Compaq’s efforts to build up its AltaVista search site, which it recently announced it would spin off as a separate company and build into a multipurpose portal site competing with Yahoo, Excite, Lycos and others.

“This solidifies our strategic relations with Compaq and gives us access to AltaVista’s search engine� as part of an effort to make searchable video pervasive on the Web, said David Bayliss, manager of marketing communications for San Mateo, Calif.-based Virage. The company’s indexing and search tools are already used by a range of video-intensive Web sites, including those operated by CNN, CBS and NASA.