The Online Travel Biz Soars into 2004 - Joystar Inc. (OTCBB: ARGT)

Dear Readers,

Not so long ago but amid the chaos of a busy holiday season we sent you a new profile on a young company smack in the middle of one of the hottest sectors in the market.  Today, we offer you more information about this compelling story, Joystar Inc. (OTCBB: ARGT,) the online travel industry, and the market at large. We strongly encourage you to review the latest Joystar profile by clicking here.  Reminder: As you begin your research on this stock - the name hasn't been officially changed yet so don't be surprised to see the former company's operating name on some Internet sites.  ARGT is indeed Joystar's stock symbol.

By any objective standard Online Travel is RED HOT with two recent issues leading the pack, Orbitz Inc. (NasdaqNM: ORBZ) and CTRIP.com (NasdaqNM: CTRP) both of which debuted with promising IPO's at the end of 2003.  Of the two, CTRIP's stock has performed the best to date.  Regardless, both equities benefitted from very high valuations from "Wall Street" and investors have flocked to the IPOs and aftermarket trading.  Both issues raised large sums in their IPOs while giving up very small percentages of their companies.  Again, by most any objective standard this is very bullish for the industry.

Comparatively, Joystar must be classified as an entry-level play ...but with a twist as it not only offers full-service Internet travel bookings but also has created a secondary model enabling their clientele to become travel agents by booking travel for friends and family under their own personal online Joystar travel outlet.  This is perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the Joystar business plan as it melds the Red-Hot Online Travel Biz with the fuel of a consumer-driven marketing effort.  In esssence, customers become salespeople and motivation, loyalty and sales stand to benefit.

On the stock side, many investors may view ORBZ and CTRP's stock prices ($24-$37) as out of reach or beyond their speculative appetite.  While little-known Joystar currently trades for less than $3 a share.

The reasons are many to research and watch this interesting story.  We encourage you to discuss it with your financial advisor and to take a look at some interesting market notes we've detailed below.  It may well provide a perspective on the Online Travel Biz and a stock market getting healthy in a hurry.
 

IPO'S ARE ON THE RISE!

If you're among the majority of investors who believe that IPO's are a strong indicator of a market heading the right way then consider this: when the market was en fuego in 1999, over 500 companies made their debuts on the exchanges. As the market declined so too did these offerings with 400+ in 2000 declining to 2002's dismal 85.  And last year, once again just 85 IPO's saw the light of day - yet what's important to note was a sharp rise in successful IPOs at the end of the year heading into 2004.  Raise your hand if you see any parallels to the Dow in the aforementioned statistics.

This give us a strong indication as to how some of the deeper pockets in the market view the investing climate!
a

THE ONLINE TRAVEL MARKET

a

Let's look at these snapshots from the Online Travel industry:

Big companies and business luminaries acquiring Online Travel co's.
Sabre (NYSE: TSG) gobbled up Travelocity (Nasdaq: TVLY) and  Barry Diller and his InterActiveCorp (NasdaqNM: IACI) are hoarding notable travel outlets such as Expedia.com, Hotels.com and spending $665 million in cash for Hotwire.com to name just a few. 

Orbitz- Trading near IPO price is a good thing says Motley Fool.
One of the more recent travel/technology ventures is Orbitz (Nasdaq: ORBZ). While the stock did not perform straight out of the gates, market watchers like Motley Fool believe that the stock's performance is actually a good thing noting that, "The stock's lack of movement probably indicates the IPO was priced right and the company maximized its cash yield from the offering. It's far better to see than the ridiculous, speculative IPOs of the late 1990s, where companies without business plans popped 1000% on their first day of trading and individual investors got burned big time."

Makes sense to us.

CTRIP- The Heat is On
Up sharply since it's impressive IPO, no doubt this stock chart has industry mavens and CEO's salivating about future online travel IPO's. The stock opened at $24 on December 9, 2003 and roughly a month later is threatening $40.

SideStep:  $15 Million in New Funding Goes to Private Online Travel Co.
SANTA CLARA, CA--(MARKET WIRE)--Jan 6, 2004 -- SideStep, Inc. (www.sidestep.com), the travel search engine, today announced that it has secured $8 million in financing from Trident Capital (www.tridentcap.com). SideStep, which has been profitable and cash flow positive since April of 2002, has raised a total of $15 million to date. The company will use the additional funding to accelerate product development and expand its strategic relationships. 
SideStep is positioned at the intersection of two of the Internet's fastest growing market sectors: online travel and Web search. SideStep serves as a marketing vehicle for travel providers, driving consumers directly to the sites of trusted brands to book their travel. More than two million active travelers turn to SideStep's popular search engine each month to find flight, hotel and rental car values.

Who's the Next "Star"?
Can Joystar get some love from the spate of infatuation hitting this industry? It's hard to tell, yet we're intrigued by what they've accomplished so far and the fact that like SideStep (search engine too) they offer something to differentiate themselves in their industry group and solidify the branding that seems to be a chief concern among companies battling for market share.  In our opinion, customers who buy into the "I can be a travel agent" lure at Joystar should have a dramatic referral value increase over regular users for obvious reasons.  This could be a wildfire of the MLM variety if it takes hold... and it's priced at less than $3 a share today! <View a Full Profile on Joystar Here>

a

aaaa

CONTACT

* * * SPECIAL TO STOCKUPTICKS READERS * * *

 
www.stockupticks.joystar.com

At Stockupticks,  we were so impressed with the Joystar operation, that we applied to be a partner in their program.  Click here or on the address below and we can book your travel!  Or, if you are interested in becoming your own travel agent, read the following and call or e-mail Joystar!

PARTNER WITH JOYSTAR

The benefits include revenue sharing, access to “agent only” specials, deeply discounted travel offered by our travel suppliers, cash incentives and the possibility of upgrades when the agent is traveling. Weekly e-newsletter. Vacation Values sent to you every 2 weeks. The self-employment income generated from travel bookings can be directed to the agents’ Solo 401k plan and 529 college savings programs for their children or grandchildren.  Joystar has two versions of its partner program: The Agent Advantage, priced at $495 and a “light” version, Agent Access for $149. Travel Agent Program marketing material ("The Program") includes: Agent quotes, teleconferences, seminars, promotions, conventions, cruise college, fare trackers, travel guides and other special promotional marketing communications.

Agents Save Up To 50% On Hotels And Packages And Up To 
70% On Cruises!

or go to our site and click on

---

*** THE DOW IS HOVERING NEAR 10,500 ***
There may never be a better time to feature 
YOUR company to over 1 MILLION investors!
Email us directly at info@stockupticks.com

Disclaimer: StockUpTicks.com is a property of Market Pathways Financial Relations Incorporated (MP).  The information, opinions and analysis contained herein are based on sources believed to be reliable but no representation, expressed or implied, is made as to its accuracy, completeness or correctness.  Past performance is no guarantee of future results. This report is a paid advertisement and is for information purposes only and should not be used as the basis for any investment decision. MP has been compensated twenty-eight thousand five hundred seventy-one restricted common shares of ARGT by Joystar for preparation and distribution of this report and other advertising services. This constitutes a conflict of interest as to MP’s ability to remain objective in its communication regarding the subject company.  Write or call MP for detailed disclosure as required by Rule 17b of the Securities Act of 1933/1934.  MP is not an investment advisor and this report is not investment advice. This information is neither a solicitation to buy nor an offer to sell securities but is a paid advertisement.  Information contained herein contains forward-looking statements and is subject to significant risks and uncertainties, which will affect the results.  The opinions contained herein reflect our current judgment and are subject to change without notice. MP and/or its affiliates, associates and employees from time to time may have either a long or short position in securities mentioned.  Information contained herein may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of Market Pathways Financial Relations Incorporated.