SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - The holiday shopping season online starts earlier than usual this year, which should help increase fourth-quarter Net sales 25% from the year-earlier period, a pair of analysts noted Monday.

For millions of savvy consumers who shopped online for Christmas last year, comparison shopping sites were all the rage, saving them time and money and eliminating the hassles of crowded malls and long checkout lines.

Lycos Europe buys online shopping technology firm Telecom Paper (subscription), Netherlands - ... business. It will integrate the Mentasys online selling technology with its own Pangora international shopping solution platform. The ...