Rival infests Sharkhunt waters

A week after Sharkhunt.com -- careful how you say it -- said it planned to pay Net users in the UK for receiving advertising while they go about their Web business, The Register has learnt that another British company is set to offer a similar service. Details are still sketchy but one source said that it will be launched in the autumn and compete directly with Sharkhunt. It is also understood that the new company is prepared to pay users more cash than Sharkhunt, although Net users will want to see how the figures pan out before committing themselves to either scheme. And before anyone has the smug idea that they can run both systems in parallel and earn a stash of cash -- think again. A spokeswoman for Sharkhunt said it was highly unlikely that this could be done, although she was surprised to hear that a new Net company was set to enter the targeted ad market so soon after Sharkhunt's announcement. She also declined to say how many people had signed up to the service, which will also be launched in the autumn. Once operational though, Sharkhunt users can earn up to £20 a month by viewing online ads. ®