1.   Earlier this year, Yahoo and Lycos announced plans to launch business portals, and last week, Microsoft said it was jumping into the fray.

2.   Small business portals say they can help entrepreneurs set up a Web site with ease, save money ordering goods and services online, and simplify their management chores.

3.   Usually they are more modest, as in the recent alliance between Phone.com, a provider of wireless Internet technology, and MyWay.com, which builds custom business portals.

4.   The company has already been moving to control costs in other areas, including the shutdown of its unprofitable business portal Work.com.