Compiled by Mark Balestra
Trintech and Motorola last week introduced a virtual credit card that's designed to boost the growth of e-commerce by replacing smart card payment systems. The new cards will enable purchasers to conduct financial transactions over mobile networks using a standard GSM handset. Unlike smart cards, the new virtual credit cards will not require users to upgrade handsets for mobile credit card transactions. Users will be able to operate the card either using the keypad or through Motorola's voice activation technology.
America Online Inc. and Yahoo! Inc. both announced plans this week to set up
business-to-business marketplaces. AOL's browser-based exchange, using the technology of PurchasePro.com, is expected to launch in the second quarter. The AOL exchange will enable businesses to buy and sell from one another and will be offered across all of AOL's properties. Yahoo!, meanwhile launched its B2B marketplace today. The new site enables buyers to search other marketplaces, perform price comparisons and integrate data into calendar features. Yahoo! is launching the site with data from DoveBid Inc., a capital asset auction firm, and plans to include content from FreeMarkets.com Asset
Exchange, Imark.com and Tradeout.com.
First Data Corp. and CyberCash inc. have partnered to create a new e-commerce solution aimed to make it easier than ever for Internet businesses to obtain merchant accounts and payment processing services. First Data's patent-pending technology, VirtualApp, will be integrated into CyberCash's Internet payment service, CashRegister, enabling Internet merchants to apply for merchant accounts online, receive a response within minutes and begin processing payments. VirtualApp is a paperless, click-through process helping businesses securely establish merchant accounts, receive online credit decisions from acquiring financial institutions and accept electronic payments. First Data will provide payment-processing services, including authorization, data capture, processing, settlement and online statement reporting to Internet merchants using the CyberCash CashRegister offering and the First Data VirtualApp product. This integrated service is currently available from CyberCash. Merchants can obtain more information by visiting www.cybercash.com/solutions/firstdata.html or by calling 800/666-5777.
L90 Inc., a provider of Internet advertising and direct marketing solutions, has proclaimed itself the first Internet advertising network to deliver a full-service, targeted broadband category for advertisers seeking more dynamic, richer interactive tools to reach consumers that have a high-speed Internet connection. The company's new service, "L90Broadband," is an expansion of L90's network of comprehensive vertical categories including sports, entertainment, e-commerce and 18-34 year olds. L90 President and CEO John Bohan says the service will provide advertisers opportunities for integrated product placements within existing content, in-stream audio/video advertisements, embedded e-commerce opportunities, audio/video banner ads, and "Webmercials" mimicking the traditional television advertising experience. Tickets.com will be the first advertiser to use the service. For more information, visit www.L90.com.
Foundry Networks, Inc., Infonetics Research, Inc., Network ApplianceTM, Inc. and Nokia are jointly producing a series of free e-commerce network infrastructure seminars in 12 cities throughout the United States. The seminars are designed to help companies learn how to take full advantage of revenue and productivity opportunities through e-commerce over the Internet and
corporate Intranets. The "Building High Availability E-Commerce/Intranet Infrastructure" seminar series
will provide in-depth analysis of the performance, reliability, scalability and security elements of an integrated network infrastructure that is the foundation of any high availability e-commerce solution.
The three-hour seminar will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon in several U.S. cities. For more information, visit http://www.foundrynet.com/seminars.
Macromedia, Inc. announced Wednesday that it is shipping its Director 8 Shockwave Studio multi-media software. Director 8 simplifies the creation and delivery of rich, engaging Shockwave content, which
provides a magnetic cornerstone for building online communities. The software company also introduced the Fireworks Import Xtra, which intelligently integrates Macromedia Fireworks graphics into the
Director development environment. The studio has also been optimized to support leading-edge platforms from Apple and Intel. Director 8 Shockwave Studio includes the Shockwave Multiuser Server, which provides Web developers with a powerful solution for creating Web communities. Macromedia Director is a leading multimedia solution for creating destination Web content such as high performance multi-user games, interactive product simulations, and online entertainment. Shockwave Player displays the interactive content on the Web. The Shockwave Player download, which includes the Macromedia Flash Player, automatically updates itself, ensuring users always play back the latest content.
The Director 8 Shockwave Studio is priced at $999. Registered Director 7 users can upgrade to a single platform for $399, and, if they are already registered users of Director for both Macintosh and Windows, can upgrade both platforms for $699. Registered Director 5, 6, and 6.5 users can upgrade to a single
platform for $499. Visit http://www.macromedia.com/software/director for more information.
AltaVista has introduced a new search engine that's specifically geared for e-businesses. Designed for e-commerce companies, portals and global enterprises, "AltaVista Search Engine 3.0" features "new technologies designed to improve the search experience people have online." Highlights of the new tool include query processing tools to improve the success rate of incoming searches; a search developer's kit to create custom search applications that work with any information type; a database search with automated gathering using a simple wizard to set up complex searches; advanced Web gathering algorithms for websites to maintain fresher, more comprehensive search results; and multiple indices and gatherers to collect data from multiple sources, each on a different schedule. AltaVista Search Engine 3.0 is available immediately for Windows NT platforms. Unix, Solaris, Linux, and Tru64 versions are planned for release within 30 days. For more information, visit www.altavista.com.