One laptop, one good idea now worth around twenty-five million pounds. Steve Pankhurst and his business partner run 'FriendsReunited' from one computer in a bedroom in Barnet. The website, which brings together old school friends, has grown so quickly that it's attracting strong interest from potential buyers. Selling a stake in the business would make Steve a multimillionaire overnight. Obviously money is one part of it. I mean, I personally would like to see the site remain in its current state and not become too commercial. Clare Greenway and Joanna Cartwright haven't been in touch since leaving school in the West Midlands. Now they're two of the eight million registered users of 'FriendsReunited'. That makes it bigger than the Trades Union Movement or indeed all the political parties put together. So what might a big investor get for ploughing millions into 'FriendsReunited'? One thing's pretty clear: this is a business which profits from the power of love. The most lucrative potential area seems to be the dating area and clearly we've already got examples from 'FriendsReunited', which have successful marriages and other marriages broken up, so that seems to be a major interest. Julie Pankhurst, married to one of the website's founders came up with the original idea for 'FriendsReunited' when she wanted to trace old friends. Like the Pankhursts' new baby, the website's a jolly little thing growing rapidly. Hywel Jones, BBC News, North London.


一部手提电脑加一个好想法，现在价值约2500万英镑。Steve Pankhurst 在巴尼特的卧室电脑上和生意伙伴经营“故友重逢网”。这个网站让老校友相聚在一起，发展迅速，结果不断吸引潜在收购者的浓厚兴趣。出售公司股份会让Steve一夜间成为百万富翁。 显然，钱是一部分。我指的是，我个人想看到这个网站仍保持现状，不要变得太商业化。 Clare Greenway 和 Joanna Cartwright 自从在西米德兰毕业后一直不曾联系。现在，他们加入“故友重逢网”上已注册的八百万用户之中。这比工会运动或一切政党加起来都要大得多。所以大投资者从巨资投入“故友重逢网”能得到什么？当然，一件事非常清楚：这是个靠爱的力量汲取利润的行业。 最赚钱的潜市场似乎是相亲这块，很清楚，我们已从“故友重逢网”上得到很多例证，其中有成功的婚姻也有婚姻破裂的，因而很引人关注的。 Julie Pankhurst，嫁给了网站创始人之一，当初想寻觅老朋友，结果提出“故友重逢网”这一最初想法。就像Pankhurst一家的新生儿，网站的快乐小天使正飞速成长。 英国广播公司 Hywel Jones 来自北伦敦的报道。