Go2Net, Paul Allen Invest $20 Million In Commtouch

PRINCETON, N.J. - Go2Net, an Internet directory and Web site operator, and billionaire Paul Allen's Vulcan Ventures agreed to invest $20 million in cash in e-mail service provider CommTouch Software.

Users of Seattle-based Go2Net's Internet sites will be able to use e-mail and related services from CommTouch, which provides Web-based services in 14 languages. Closely held CommTouch, based in Santa Clara, Calif., and Ein Vered, Israel, are expected to sell shares this week in an initial public offering.

The investment broadens Go2- Net's portfolio, which includes financial-discussion site Silicon Investor and search service MetaCrawler. Microsoft co-founder Allen already has invested $300 million in Go2Net, which he wants to link with high-speed access offered to subscribers of his cable-television company Charter Communications.

The amount each company will invest and their stakes weren't

disclosed.