Fast Search and Transfer’s sales up 50% last year

Fast Search & Transfer, Oslo, Norway-based developer of web site search technologies, is reporting fourth quarter revenues of $20.4 million, a 24% increase from the previous quarter, and a 64% gain from the year-earlier period.

Revenues for 2004 totaled $63.6 million, up 50% from 2003.

Fourth quarter net income was $3.5 million, a 62% increase from the third quarter and a 300% jump from the fourth quarter of 2003.

Net income for 2004 was $7.9 million, compared to $2.9 million in 2003.

Helping to spur fourth-quarter activity was the release of FAST ImPulse search, navigation and merchandising software for business-to-business and business-to-consumer sites. The out-of-the-box application is designed for easy deployment and to enable online shoppers to quickly locate products, the company reports.

Customers signing new or expanded contracts for FAST technologies during the fourth quarter include America Online Inc., Associated News Media, FindWhat.com, Herefordshire Council, Oslo Kommune, Tenet Healthcare Corp., SURFnet and 118.com.