The dot-com information service provider broke the newsyesterday in a nationwide conference call with all field workers.The New York City operation had not been included in the morningconference when verbal pink slips had been handed out, our Dallassource reveals. Since then, employees have received written noticeof permanent layoffs that will give cash for unused vacation timeand two weeks pay. As of yesterday, the cell phones for the NewYork City sales staff had been disconnected, he reports--anotherfact that the New York based contact denies.

As reported on GlobeSt.com this morning, the cash-strappedcompany is scrambling to dig up more investors and as it does so,made the cutbacks in order to "make it leaner and stronger. Theyare not closing their doors, and they are not going to change theirbusiness model."

Just two months ago, RealtyIQ had received about $50 million inadditional venture capital from its financial backer, FrontLineCapital, a publicly traded company. A new COO, Tim Lemmon, had justjoined the ranks in recent weeks. GlobeSt.com's Dallas source saysBrian Jetty, a vice president based in Dallas, had flown to NewYork City two weeks ago to meet with Lemmon. Jetty had returned toDallas with the good news that all would be fine with theoperation, the source says. Jetty is among those who were shown thedoor yesterday.