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August 1, 2000 *4,000 subscribers* Volume 2, Issue 8
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CONTENT - ECMGT.COM E-COMMERCE NEWS

  • STRATEGIES & TRENDS
  • E-PRODUCTS
  • E-SERVICES
  • E-MARKETING
  • SUPPLY CHAIN
  • CONTENT, PORTALS & COMMUNITY
  • GOVERNANCE & GOING GLOBAL
  • PARTNERS & DEALS
  • MOVERS & SHAKERS


E-STRATEGIES & TRENDS NEWS
This section sponsored by - ECnow.com, please visit them at http://www.ecnow.com
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  • Andersen Says Sites Need To Rethink E-Commerce
  • The ones that got away
  • Are Customers Ever Right? Service's Decline and Fall
  • New Systems for Better Customer Service
  • A Word to the Wise: Multilingual Means Multi-Dollars
  • Get a head start in e-business
  • Seniors Top Online Shoppers
  • U.S.-Asian E-Commerce Alive and Clicking
  • Demographic dotcoms dividing, but not conquering
  • Some Drastic Dot-Com Remedies Aren't So Smart
  • Future of E-Tail Lies with Multi-Channel Retailers
  • Track the transforming future
  • Trends in the b-to-b space
  • Gartner survey sparks debate on Internet retail fraud
  • Finding the Best I-Builder
  • Chief privacy officers report for duty
  • Money switches from dot-com to comm
  • Online Site Says Male and Female Job Seekers Have Different Goals
  • World Wide Wireless Web

Andersen Says Sites Need To Rethink E-Commerce
Research just published says that e-commerce sites that only allow customers one way to buy a product are missing out on opportunities to expand their businesses.

The ones that got away
The "build it and they will come" commerce mantra is giving way to "build it right and they will stay."

Are Customers Ever Right? Service's Decline and Fall
American consumers are more unhappy with the service they are receiving in nearly every sector of the economy as measured by the American Customer Satisfaction Index.

New Systems for Better Customer Service
Some companies have recently begun synchronizing their catalog, Web and retail operations, which they hope will yield not only better customer service but higher profits

A Word to the Wise: Multilingual Means Multi-Dollars
A new industry research report states conclusively that for U.S., companies, multilingual e-commerce and business sites "are no longer optional."

Get a head start in e-business
The four components critical to startup success.

Seniors Top Online Shoppers
American seniors 55 and over have embraced the Internet and are shopping and surfing online in ever increasing numbers, according to a study released Tuesday by Internet research firm Greenfield Online.

U.S.-Asian E-Commerce Alive and Clicking
While still facing language and cultural challenges in the international e-commerce arena, Asian e-commerce is set to boom at home, and U.S. companies smelling opportunity are already diving into the region with big-dollar investments.

Demographic dotcoms dividing, but not conquering
Owning a demographic niche doesn't guarantee a successful website.

Some Drastic Dot-Com Remedies Aren't So Smart
Net consumer companies need to creatively rethink their strategies. Wild cost-cutting could make matters worse

Future of E-Tail Lies with Multi-Channel Retailers
Online B2C sales in the US will grow from an estimated $25 billion in 1999 to $152 billion in 2002 and $233 billion in 2004, according to Giga Information Group, which predicts multi-channel retailers will benefit the most from the Internet, and new categories will take charge.

Track the transforming future
There are some near-term bottlenecks b2b businesses will need to overcome.

Trends in the b-to-b space
Brick-and-mortar aggression and subscription-based revenue are two rising trends to watch.

Gartner survey sparks debate on Internet retail fraud
Gartner Group Inc. yesterday released the results of a survey showing that online retailers get hit by fraudulent credit-card purchases much more than their brick-and-mortar counterparts do. But some observers said they aren't sure the problem is as dire as the survey indicates.

Finding the Best I-Builder
Picking an e-commerce consultant is part investigating, part begging and part crossing your fingers.

Chief privacy officers report for duty
As concern about online privacy violations grows, companies are staffing up with watchdogs to guard consumers' rights.

Money switches from dot-com to comm
Communications startups replace dot-coms as the beneficiaries of a VC investment frenzy. Amber Networks, Astral Point, and CopperCom fetch more than $220 million combined

Online Site Says Male and Female Job Seekers Have Different Goals
Differences in compensation and work environment requirements between men and women were shown in a recent study by Wetfeet.com

World Wide Wireless Web
As investors have turned a cold shoulder to the glut of cash-guzzling, unprofitable dot-coms, attention is being diverted to a whole new World Wide Wireless Web (WWWW).

---

E-PRODUCTS NEWS

  • eGain Offers Three New Customer Service Apps
  • UPS, AmericasMart deliver credit to retailers
  • CheckFree Will Incorporate Equifax ID Technology
  • Payment System Adds Fraud Protection for Visa
  • Excite's Free Online Stores an Overnight Hit
  • Retailers May Not Like Sony's New Look
  • Start-up to fuse file swapping with e-commerce
  • Toysrus.com launches Babiesrus.com
  • Visa targets Web payments with new Net unit
  • The Far Side of E-Commerce
  • Big record labels tune in to digital downloads
  • Portal Wave Launches Enterprise Suite
  • Webtrends Targets Firewall Security
  • MSN Adds Voice Capabilities to Messenger
  • Webtop Brings Search to Desktop
  • Critical Path Unveils Secure Messaging Services
  • EverAd Inks Deals with Software Developers
  • PeopleSoft Introduces Internet-based Software

eGain Offers Three New Customer Service Apps
Customer relationship management company eGain Communications Corp. delivered three new applications -- eGain Voice

UPS, AmericasMart deliver credit to retailers
Package delivery giant United Parcel Service plans to offer a credit card and unsecured line of credit to retailers that buy merchandise from AmericasMart.com, according to a report.

CheckFree Will Incorporate Equifax ID Technology
Electronic billing and payment company CheckFree signed a multi-year agreement with Equifax Inc. Wednesday, allowing it to incorporate the Equifax Secure authentication engine into its EBP enrollment process.

Payment System Adds Fraud Protection for Visa
A new payment system for online transactions announced Wednesday by Visa and Trintech Group is expected to lower the cost of online transactions for merchants.

Excite's Free Online Stores an Overnight Hit
Excite@home reported that it already signed up more than a thousand new e-tailers within the first 24 hours of launching its new free online storefront service.

Retailers May Not Like Sony's New Look
The electronics giant plans to open a new online store, skirting companies that sell its products.

Start-up to fuse file swapping with e-commerce
Lightshare is preparing a service to allow individuals to sell digital goods directly from their computers rather than going through centralized servers from companies like eBay or Amazon.com.

Toysrus.com launches Babiesrus.com
Toysrus.com will announce the launch of Babiesrus.com, an online store that will accompany the offline chain of Babies R Us stores.

Visa targets Web payments with new Net unit
Visa International said today it has formed a new Internet unit to focus on expanding the top credit card network's share of payments crisscrossing the Web.

The Far Side of E-Commerce
If you want Harry Potter, you can get him on the Internet. But if you are in the market for the blood of a real live wizard, guess what? You can get that on the Internet too.

Big record labels tune in to digital downloads
As if competing against free downloads weren't enough of a headache, now small online music companies have to contend with the big record labels.

Portal Wave Launches Enterprise Suite
Portal Wave Inc. Monday kicked off an enterprise application portal solution designed to merge companies' enterprise tools into one e-business platform.

Webtrends Targets Firewall Security
WebTrends, a provider of solutions for ebusiness intelligence and visitor relationship management, this week upgraded its flagship firewall solution.

MSN Adds Voice Capabilities to Messenger
The company Thursday sealed a deal to give its instant messaging utility long distance capabilities.

Webtop Brings Search to Desktop
Upstart search firm WebTop Wednesday unveiled a new tool that's designed to expand Web searches beyond the browser.

Critical Path Unveils Secure Messaging Services
Critical Path Inc. unveiled two products aimed at ensuring secure digital messaging.

EverAd Inks Deals with Software Developers
A new player on the ads-in-software scene rounds up software developers that will make programs that carry ads.

PeopleSoft Introduces Internet-based Software
PeopleSoft, the Pleaston-based eBusiness applications provider, announced plans to deliver PeopleSoft Customer Relationship Management (CRM) for Communications, a new generation of Internet-based software today.

 --

E-SERVICES NEWS

  •  UPS Sees The Writing On The Web
  • Blockbuster To Rent Videos Online
  • Online Privacy 101
  • Poor Customer Service Cost E-Tailers $6 Billion in '99
  • Alternative Payment Options Abound For E-Shoppers
  • Try Explaining eCRM on an Airplane Banner
  • Equifax Trumpets Online Shopper ID Method
  • MasterCard, Motorola to Develop Wireless Buying
  • Destination Contentville
  • Hack Attack? Relax, You're Covered
  • Verizon Launches Mobile Web Service
  • A T1 now connects lattes and loans
  • MasterCard Launches Electronic Wallet Service
  • New Moon ASP'd On Me!
  • Siebel Joins LivePerson Ranks
  • Encanto Launches Rent-an-App Portal
  • SBC gears up e-commerce services
  • Agilera Adds BroadVision E-Commerce Solutions

UPS Sees The Writing On The Web
The United Parcel Service is about to let companies verify that a package was signed for and even view the handwritten signature online.

Blockbuster To Rent Videos Online
In an attempt to extend its dominance of the video rental market to cyberspace, Blockbuster, Inc. has inked a deal with utility firm Enron to offer videos for rent over the Internet.

Online Privacy 101
Backed by 12 other Net companies, TRUSTe will seek to educate consumers about its seal of approval.

Poor Customer Service Cost E-Tailers $6 Billion in '99
Internet retailers lost about $6.1 billion in online sales last year from transactions that were abandoned by consumers but could have been salvaged with decent customer service, says a new industry study.

Alternative Payment Options Abound For E-Shoppers
Not too long ago, if you didn't have a credit card, you didn't shop online. But a growing number of companies are giving online shoppers more choices and flexibility than ever.

Try Explaining eCRM on an Airplane Banner
Definition of what eCRM is all about and some examples of the good, the bad, and the ugly in electronic customer relationship management.

Equifax Trumpets Online Shopper ID Method
As part of the industry-wide effort to make e-commerce more secure, credit reporting giant Equifax, Inc. has announced plans to positively identify online shoppers through quizzes based on their credit reports.

MasterCard, Motorola to Develop Wireless Buying
MasterCard International, the leading credit card network, and telecommunications giant Motorola Inc., said on Tuesday they will work together to develop a standard for wireless purchasing.

Destination Contentville
Steven Brill's new Web site will offer all kinds of content - books, magazines, speeches, even doctoral dissertations. It's also got serious competition.

Hack Attack? Relax, You're Covered
Lloyd's of London is offering coverage of up to $100 million for customers of security firm Counterpane.

Verizon Launches Mobile Web Service
The company aims to become the nation's largest wireless Internet service, but does Mobile Web offer anything new?

A T1 now connects lattes and loans
Hey, at least you'll stay awake while clicking through your account activity. This fall, Dutch giant ING Group will open cafés to serve its American online bank customers.

MasterCard Launches Electronic Wallet Service
MasterCard International launched the MasterCard e-wallet -- an electronic wallet service designed to simplify online shopping.

New Moon ASP'd On Me!
Like the rampant transition from a B2C to a B2B strategy, the ASP revolution has exploded as the chic (and sometimes very profitable) thing to do for new companies competing in the Internet economy.

Siebel Joins LivePerson Ranks
E-business software giant Siebel Systems, Inc., is the latest company to take advantage of Live Person, Inc., a live chat company offering sales and customer support for Web sites.

Encanto Launches Rent-an-App Portal
Encanto Networks, Inc. made a grab for market share with the launch of its RentableApps Web-based applications portal on Monday (Jul 24th).

SBC gears up e-commerce services
The telecom company takes a number of new steps, which include deals for offering Web hosting and other services, as it attempts to expand into Internet commerce.

Agilera Adds BroadVision E-Commerce Solutions
Agilera Inc. will host BroadVision's One-To-One Commerce applications via its Extended Enterprise line.

---

E-MARKETING NEWS

  • Jump Start Your Affiliate Program With Internal Support
  • For E-Tailers, the Price-Cut Paradigm Doesn't Pay
  • Direct Marketers Try to Change the Approach of Internet Retailers
  • Marketing the Electronic Marketplace
  • Companies Seek Reciprocal Deals
  • Report: Online Ads Boosting E-tailers
  • Developing a Successful Online Brand
  • Six Weeks to Building an E-Commerce Brand
  • Hey, Big Spenders
  • FTC to ToySmart: Define "Never"
  • Online Advertising Speaks Out
  • Retailers May Not Like Sony's New Look
  • Is WSJ.com 'Sticky'?
  • Sears.com bulks up
  • Industry Reacts to FTC Online Profiling Report
  • Banner Ad Frequency = Branding
  • Toyota, MindArrow Develop Interactive Brochures
  • eBay, Mediaplex Team For "Real Time" Banners
  • Direct Partners Creates Online Division
  • Pay-to-surf site moving into prizes instead
  • From Print Page To Web Page

Jump Start Your Affiliate Program With Internal Support
Your boss wants an affiliate program, and you've just been anointed as the affiliate manager. So you pick a solution provider, and things are ready to roll, right? Well, not exactly.

For E-Tailers, the Price-Cut Paradigm Doesn't Pay
Deep discounts don't make for good marketing. Cyber-sellers have better reasons for getting shoppers to buy online

Direct Marketers Try to Change the Approach of Internet Retailers
Until recently Internet retailers paid little attention to the lessons of an industry that long ago learned to choose its media carefully and to control the costs of acquiring customers.

Marketing the Electronic Marketplace
With projections of 10,000 digital marketplaces by 2003 it's been said "If your company is not building or planning to participate in an electronic trading network, it probably won't be around within three years." The problem is: Net market makers haven't been focusing on marketing their marketplaces.

Companies Seek Reciprocal Deals
A technique known as reciprocal marketing, which allows companies to offer their paying customers discounts at other online retailers, allows merchants to attract customers at little expense.

Report: Online Ads Boosting E-tailers
Online advertising campaigns result in significantly more traffic to e-tail Web sites and attract attentive visitors who are likely to linger, according to new research by Media Metrix division AdRelevance.

Developing a Successful Online Brand
One of the assumptions in the early days of the web was that it was a level playing field. Smaller businesses actually had an advantage -- they could move more quickly than the clueless big guys. It hasn't quite worked out that way. But sometimes the savvy little guy does win.

Six Weeks to Building an E-Commerce Brand
BrokersPortal.com went from nothing to a success with just six weeks worth of work.

Hey, Big Spenders
Some Web sites spent more than 20% of their ad revenue to advertise themselves last year, a report states.

FTC to ToySmart: Define "Never"
ToySmart says that when it said it would never disclose customer data, it meant "unless someone wants to buy it."

 Online Advertising Speaks Out
Frustrated with ineffective banner ads, advertisers are screaming for alternatives. Will audio ads help get their messages heard?

Retailers May Not Like Sony's New Look
The electronics giant plans to open a new online store, skirting companies that sell its products.

Is WSJ.com 'Sticky'?
For the first time, Dow Jones discloses how many pages users view at the site per month.

Sears.com bulks up
One of the oldest names of the old economy expands online, and should benefit further from a competitor's problems.

Industry Reacts to FTC Online Profiling Report
The FTC's recommendations to Congress regarding online profiling are provoking a mixed reaction.

Banner Ad Frequency = Branding
A study by Dynamic Logic shows the benefits of showing a banner ad to a single person more than four times.

Toyota, MindArrow Develop Interactive Brochures
Multimedia e-mail presentations go out to promote Toyota's new cars.

eBay, Mediaplex Team For "Real Time" Banners
Mediaplex wins a big-name client.

Direct Partners Creates Online Division
A traditional direct marketer jumps into the Internet biz.

Pay-to-surf site moving into prizes instead
mValue, an online direct marketing company with a "pay-to-surf" program, will announce later this week that it is changing its name and its game.

From Print Page To Web Page
Three companies are bringing hyperlinks to magazines and newspapers. Advertisers love the idea, but will readers?

---

SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS
This section sponsored by - Sameday.com, please visit them at http://www.sameday.com

  • Harry Potter tests dotcom wizardry
  • Risk-Sharing as B2B Ideal
  • Web leaves businesses nowhere to hide
  • Federal agencies look to pool buying power online
  • New Sites Make Businesses Bid For Consumers
  • Birth of a PrintNation
  • Same-day delivery faces high hurdles
  • AllBusiness.com to Offer firstsource Procurement Engine
  • Coffee Trading Goes Online
  • For E-Tailers, the Shipping News Isn't Good
  • Amazon space in Lexington sitting unused
  • GE gets e-commerce boost
  • The higher cost of business online
  • FTC fines e-tailers $1.5 million for shipping delays
  • Harry Potter and the Chamber of Commerce
  • Can Stephen King Scare Publishers?
  • Delivering Red Ink
  • 13 Airlines to Launch B-to-B Exchange
  • U.S. Fines E-Tailers $1.5M for Late Holiday Deliveries
  • IBM, Ariba unveil software package for suppliers
  • IVillage Enters Retail (Super) Market

Harry Potter tests dotcom wizardry
Harry Potter is set to arrive in 250,000 U.S. homes Saturday in a feat of high-tech wizardry by Federal Express Corp. and Amazon.com Inc. that will mark the biggest single order in the history of e-commerce.

Risk-Sharing as B2B Ideal
A study by Beta Consulting Group says that success in the B2B marketplace depends upon the establishment of true business partnerships which transcend the production and delivery of goods.

Web leaves businesses nowhere to hide
When you make the decision to become an e-business, one thing you can't ever forget is that all those little operational foibles you've been hiding will be out there in front of customers and competitors alike.

Federal agencies look to pool buying power online
Uncle Sam is moving online with a new Web site launching next month that will allow the government to save money on small IT-related purchases for its widely dispersed agencies.

New Sites Make Businesses Bid For Consumers
A new breed of online bartering, known as "reverse auctions" or "shopping by request" are designed to draw merchants into bidding wars for a consumer's pocketbook.

Birth of a PrintNation
Startup brings Net's efficiency to mom-and-pop print shops.

Same-day delivery faces high hurdles
Same-day delivery companies that support online commerce face an interesting dilemma. They offer a highly compelling service, but delivering that service profitably is extremely difficult. To ensure their survival, companies such as Kozmo.com will have to work hard and form the right partnerships. In part, however, survival is, unfortunately, beyond their control.

AllBusiness.com to Offer firstsource Procurement Engine
AllBusiness.com and firstsource Corp. agreed to create a business marketplace and procurement engine for AllBusiness.com's small business users.

Coffee Trading Goes Online
Now even Juan Valdez is getting wired with a new business-to-business marketplace called eGreenCoffee.com set to launch next month.

For E-Tailers, the Shipping News Isn't Good
Next week a key policymaking group is expected to adopt an accounting change that will make gross margins at many e-tailers look even more pathetic than they are now.

Amazon space in Lexington sitting unused
Amazon.com spent millions during the last year transforming a Lexington warehouse into a high-tech distribution center. Now the e-commerce giant isn't using it.

GE gets e-commerce boost
The world's largest company, US-based General Electric, has recorded a 20% rise in its second quarter profits thanks to its increasing activity in e-commerce.

The higher cost of business online
Some banks are charging dotcoms up to $1 more per transaction than their brick-and-mortar cousins to process credit card purchases, a Gartner Group survey has found

FTC fines e-tailers $1.5 million for shipping delays
Seven Internet retailers agree to pay a total of $1.5 million in fines stemming from charges by the Federal Trade Commission involving shipping delays last holiday season.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Commerce
Brick-and-mortar bookstores must wait until midnight, but Amazon has special powers.

Can Stephen King Scare Publishers?
An e-book venture from the horror author is the highest-profile end run around traditional publishing yet.

Delivering Red Ink
The ouster of Kozmo chief Joseph Park is only the latest sign that last-mile delivery services are headed for a fall.

13 Airlines to Launch B-to-B Exchange
Aeroxchange is expected to handle $45 billion worth of goods and services - but faces stiff competition.

U.S. Fines E-Tailers $1.5M for Late Holiday Deliveries
Seven online e-tailers, including Macys.com, Toysrus.com and CDNOW, will pay fines totaling $1.5 million (US$) to settle a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lawsuit over late deliveries made during the 1999 holiday season. According to the FTC, the e-tailers promised delivery dates when fulfillment was not possible and failed to notify customers when shipments would be late.

IBM, Ariba unveil software package for suppliers
The computing giant and the software maker want to reach companies looking to quickly develop a Web site that will automatically connect to partners, buyers and marketplaces.

IVillage Enters Retail (Super)Market
The U.S. dot-com and U.K. grocery chain Tesco will launch a content site in a cross-promotion deal.

 ---

CONTENT, PORTALS & COMMUNITY NEWS

  • Trucking E-Marketplace Breaks Down
  • Minority-geared Net marketplace shuts down
  • Food and Drink Exchange Going Hungry
  • China Portals Go Splat
  • French Court Gives Yahoo More Time
  • Gay.com Comes Out to Latin America
  • AOL, NTT DoCoMo Near Cellular Pact
  • New E-Marketplace for the Legal Industry Launching
  • B2G Site Selects BroadVision One-To-One
  • Five European Banks to Launch E-Marketplace
  • Research Firm Predicts Enterprise Portal Shakeout
  • AdStar.com, dbusiness.com to Serve Business Advertisers
  • Gnutella not ready for prime time
  • The iGroup, Enterworks Deliver Portal Solution
  • MSN inking deal to place reviews on shopping site
  • B-To-B Exchanges Ache From Growing Pains

Trucking E-Marketplace Breaks Down
FleetScape.com closes its doors after Accel Partners fails to get more funding.

Minority-geared Net marketplace shuts down
An online marketplace linking minority-owned suppliers with U.S. corporations closed its doors today less than four months after a former General Motors vice president founded it.

Food and Drink Exchange Going Hungry
Efdex is out of money and its employees are walking out, proving that even b-to-b plays can turn sour.

China Portals Go Splat
After a pair of failed IPOs in the past month, Chinese consumer sites are scrambling to solidify their businesses.

French Court Gives Yahoo More Time
The portal has until Aug. 11 to remove Nazi-related auction items or to block French residents' access to such merchandise.

Gay.com Comes Out to Latin America
The gay and lesbian community site has launched a Spanish-speaking portal as part of an international expansion.

AOL, NTT DoCoMo Near Cellular Pact
The deal would add content from the world's largest ISP to the Internet services available by cell phone.

New E-Marketplace for the Legal Industry Launching
More than 30 law firms from Silicon Valley, Wall Street and across the United States will be charter members in the LawCommerce.com e-marketplace.

B2G Site Selects BroadVision One-To-One
FCW Government Technology Group has selected BroadVision's e-commerce applications for its upcoming business-to-government Web site.

Five European Banks to Launch E-Marketplace
Five leading European financial institutions announced Thursday their plans to launch an e-marketplace for Treasury and Capital Markets products by the spring of 2001.

Research Firm Predicts Enterprise Portal Shakeout
E-commerce is not the only sector to have a research firm rain on its promise of success.

AdStar.com, dbusiness.com to Serve Business Advertisers
The classified advertising portal and the business content site join forces.

Gnutella not ready for prime time
Could music-sharing network pick up Napster's slack?

The iGroup, Enterworks Deliver Portal Solution
The iGroup has signed a deal to integrate Enterworks Inc.'s products suite with its intranet technology.

MSN inking deal to place reviews on shopping site
MSN and Epinions.com will announce a deal tomorrow that will bring customer reviews to the Microsoft-owned portal's shopping area.

B-To-B Exchanges Ache From Growing Pains
Online marketplaces have raised a great deal of fanfare in the business-to-business space, but these new models face a number of challenges, said executives and analysts last week.

 ---

GOVERNANCE & GOING GLOBAL NEWS

  • Sign of the Times
  • Report Slams European Govts Over E-Commerce Support
  • U.S.-EU Data Privacy Deal Panned
  • European Parliament Hears E-Commerce Tax Pitch
  • Regulating e-commerce: lessons from India
  • FTC policy chief: E-marketplaces are on the radar
  • Japan, EU execs to propose WTO e-commerce round
  • U.S. Seeks Dialogue With EU On E-Commerce
  • FTC Goes Public With Privacy
  • EU to Restrict Use of Spam and Cookies
  • E-Commerce Promotion Bill Moves To Senate Floor
  • Europe Looks at B2B Exchanges
  • U.S. Treasury Unveils E-Commerce Initiatives
  • Cyberlaws Emerge, Slowly
  • Tackling the Web's Language Barrier
  • White House Submits Web Surveillance Plans
  • U.S., Europe to Unite on Web Traffic Standards

Sign of the Times
Electronic signatures are now legally valid. So what's an electronic signature?

Report Slams European Govts Over E-Commerce Support
Research just published says that, while the tide of e-commerce is steadily rising across Europe, European governments aren't doing their bit when it comes to helping companies embrace selling on the Web.

U.S.-EU Data Privacy Deal Panned
The European Parliament rejects the proposal, saying the 'safe harbor' agreement does not do enough to protect Europeans.

European Parliament Hears E-Commerce Tax Pitch
The European Parliament in Brussels today received the Internet-based value-added tax pitch from EU Commissioner Frits Bolkestein, who explained that - despite American IT company objections - e-commerce should be taxed within the European Union in the same fashion as traditional sales.

Regulating e-commerce: lessons from India
Governments around the world are waking up to the fact that the Internet and e-commerce need to be regulated.

FTC policy chief: E-marketplaces are on the radar
Q&A with the FTC's director of policy planning, Susan DeSanti.

Japan, EU execs to propose WTO e-commerce round
The business leaders are expected to call on their governments to push for deregulation of the IT and e-commerce sectors and for a WTO round to standardize e-commerce systems.

U.S. Seeks Dialogue With EU On E-Commerce
The United States is seeking a dialogue with the European Union on electronic commerce issues, including an early warning system to preempt disputes, a U.S. official said on Wednesday.

FTC Goes Public With Privacy
Orson Swindle, who heads the Federal Trade Commission, tells the Internet industry to pay strict attention to consumer privacy concerns, or else.

EU to Restrict Use of Spam and Cookies
The measures signal a significant strengthening of data-privacy rules in the European Union.

E-Commerce Promotion Bill Moves To Senate Floor
A bill that would create a centralized federal government clearinghouse for e-commerce issues and would promote the use of e-commerce in both the public and private spheres is awaiting a full vote in the Senate.

Europe Looks at B2B Exchanges
The European Commission is preparing a key antitrust ruling on a business to business Internet marketplace which could have huge ramifications for similar Web sites, European Union officials said.

U.S. Treasury Unveils E-Commerce Initiatives
The U.S. Treasury Department announced two e-commerce initiatives Tuesday designed to streamline the process of doing business with the government.

Cyberlaws Emerge, Slowly
Experts suggest that existing laws in many countries can cover such crimes as fraud, trespassing, and causing harm. But they also point out that improving cyberlaw globally could take years, as many countries' citizens are just seeking to get online.

Tackling the Web's Language Barrier
The Multilingual Internet Names Consortium wants ICANN to allow domain names to recognize Asian-language characters.

White House Submits Web Surveillance Plans
The chief of staff says Web surfers are entitled to the same protections as telephone conversationalists.

U.S., Europe to Unite on Web Traffic Standards
Advertising officials are convening to develop guidelines and methods for measuring online audiences.

 ---

PARTNERS & DEALS NEWS

  • Million-dollar merger helps CDNow play on
  • Drkoop.com calls merger offer "premature"
  • iVillage unloads iBaby e-commerce unit
  • Mail Boxes Etc., Juniper ink online banking deal
  • Don't Win, Don't Tel
  • Two Tickets to Paradise
  • You'll Never Walk Alone
  • IBlast Gets Digital-Spectrum Boost
  • Feed and Suck Link Up
  • Copycats Battle for Small-Biz Market
  • CNET to Grab ZDNet for $1.6 Billion
  • Commerce One, GE Unit Start B-to-B Venture
  • The Internet Deal Nobody Likes
  • Nortel Acquires Alteon For $7.8 Billion
  • Intel, SAP Joint Venture Calls It Quits
  • Cisco Aims for EMC
  • InfoSpace Acquires Portal
  • Firms Merge to Form Security Powerhouse
  • Lucent Snatches Network Switching Firm
  • HOTBIZ.COM, InfoSpace Offer B2B Services
  • Dell Invests Heavily in SiteSmith
  • iAskWeb Partners With Morningstar
  • Quokka Sports Announces Acquisition of Total Sports Inc.
  • Home Shopping, Excite@Home Team for Broadband Shopping

Million-dollar merger helps CDNow play on
German media conglomerate Bertelsmann today said it has agreed to buy cash-strapped online retailer CDNow for $117 million.

Drkoop.com calls merger offer "premature"
Drkoop.com said today although it will consider the merger offer it received from a health care news company, the announcement of a transaction is "highly premature."

iVillage unloads iBaby e-commerce unit
Online women's network iVillage today said it will sell its iBaby e-commerce unit to Babygear.com for an undisclosed amount.

Mail Boxes Etc., Juniper ink online banking deal
Starting this fall, customers of the financial institution will be able to deposit their checks free of charge at any of the postal services company's locations.

Don't Win, Don't Tel
Gateway and AOL have a deal with upstart Transmeta to build an "Internet appliance." Translation: "No Windows."

Two Tickets to Paradise
Ticketmaster says its acquisition of TicketWeb in a $35 million stock deal is a 'terrific fit.'

You'll Never Walk Alone
E-Trade, trading 75 percent below where it was a year ago, has lined up with venerable Ernst & Young, and it's not sounding so radical these days.

IBlast Gets Digital-Spectrum Boost
The Web broadcaster moves to expand its coverage by entering licensing deals with 85 local TV stations.

Feed and Suck Link Up
The two dot-com content providers join forces to create Automatic Media.

Copycats Battle for Small-Biz Market
IPrint.com, an online print shop, is teaming up with IKON to take on Kinkos.com.

CNET to Grab ZDNet for $1.6 Billion
The planned merger of the tech-info giants would create the eighth-largest Net firm.

Commerce One, GE Unit Start B-to-B Venture
The companies would jointly offer technology and transaction processing for online marketplaces in various industries.

The Internet Deal Nobody Likes
Investors don't like the new Jupiter Media Metrix combo, but the merger could push Internet research forward.

Nortel Acquires Alteon For $7.8 Billion
Nortel Networks' $7.8 billion deal to acquire Alteon WebSystems in an all-stock deal is a boon for both companies and essential for Nortel's own data networking strategy, say analysts.

Intel, SAP Joint Venture Calls It Quits
Pandesic, which provided e-commerce support to B-To-C e-tailers, ceases operations due to low demand.

Cisco Aims for EMC
The company is adding storage area networks to its arsenal with a $450 million acquisition.

InfoSpace Acquires Portal
Infospace is spending $4 billion to add more broadband content to its offerings.

Firms Merge to Form Security Powerhouse
Symantec Corp. Thursday purchased a smaller rival in a deal valued at $975 million.

Lucent Snatches Network Switching Firm
Lucent Tuesday continued its aggressive acquisition spree as it continues to chase market leader Cisco Systems.

HOTBIZ.COM, InfoSpace Offer B2B Services
Global e-commerce service provider InfoSpac Tuesday inked a B2B hosting deal with infrastructure firm HOTBIZ.COM.

Dell Invests Heavily in SiteSmith
Often the best way to determine the future success or failure for a new application service provider is to take a look at its friends. SiteSmith picked up a hefty affirmation from an industry leader Friday.

AskWeb Partners With Morningstar
The Waltham developer of natural language search engines has teamed with the Chicago investment ratings firm to launch a new product.

Quokka Sports Announces Acquisition of Total Sports Inc.
San Francisco-based online sports network says acquisition doubles the network audience size, consolidates production technology leadership, and will accelerate path to profitability.

Home Shopping, Excite@Home Team for Broadband Shopping
HSN and Excite@Home are developing a co-branded shopping experience to be broadcast both and on HSN TV.

--- 

MOVERS & SHAKERS NEWS

  • Kozmo.com founders step down; new CEO named
  • President of Amazon Quits for VerticalNet
  • The fall of a dotcom king
  • Cyberbuck President Quits Over Hidden Past
  • Red Hat shares dive on news of CFO departure
  • IBM taps new president, vice chairman
  • Amazon, Marimba lose key personnel
  • Two More Execs Fly the Drkoop
  • DoubleClick Names New CEO
  • IVillage CEO Says Farewell
  • Cowgirl Without Wires
  • All In The Family
  • Five Questions With...
  • Alan Baratz, back in the Valley again
  • Eric Schmidt, the future is calling
  • Incubator chief comes home to roost
  • Profile: Jared Schutz, founder of Blue Mountain Arts
  • Profile: Austin Hill, president of Zero-Knowledge
  • DoubleClick Brings Ryan Upstairs, Makes O'Connor Chairman
  • Returns Online Adds Two Directors to its Board

Kozmo.com founders step down; new CEO named
The two twenty-somethings who founded Kozmo.com and built the Net's largest same-day delivery firm have stepped down, sources close to the company said.

President of Amazon Quits for VerticalNet
Joseph Galli, the president and chief operating officer of Amazon.com, resigned after a year to become president and chief executive of VerticalNet, an Internet company that runs 56 Web sites devoted to specific industries.

The fall of a dotcom king
Remember Jason Silverspoon, who, in the fall of 1998, was on the cover of Fortune magazine with the cover line, "Could this 19-year-old be the next Bill Gates?" Where is he now after the fall of the market?

Cyberbuck President Quits Over Hidden Past
The president of an Internet firm that offers to protect consumers from fraud was forced to resign after admitting that he lied about his past and hid his criminal record, company officials said on Friday.

Red Hat shares dive on news of CFO departure
In a surprise move, the company hires Red Hat's Hal Covert to become chief financial officer, just four months after he started his last job.

IBM taps new president, vice chairman
Big Blue names Sam Palmisano to become its president and chief operating officer and John M. Thompson to the position of vice chairman in what could be the first stages of a succession plan for Lou Gerstner.

Amazon, Marimba lose key personnel
As the dot-com shake-up continues, some companies are starting to see new faces in top jobs.

Two More Execs Fly the Drkoop
The resignations of health site's COO and CFO come as the company issues a warning about 2nd-quarter losses.

DoubleClick Names New CEO
Former president Kevin Ryan will fill the role, following months of controversy over the ad firm's privacy policies.

IVillage CEO Says Farewell
Candice Carpenter leaves the women's site behind, as the firm struggles with mounting losses.

A Cowgirl Without Wires
When asked to describe the wireless landscape, Motorola senior VP Janiece Webb says it's the "wild wild west - and I'm a bit of a cowgirl."

All In The Family
Austin Hill seems like he can go on forever about Zero-Knowledge Systems USA, the company he has built with his brother, Hamnett, 28, executive VP, and his 56-year-old father, Hammie, CEO

Five Questions With...
The second of the "Five Questions With..." series presents conversations with the CEOs of Fogdog, Salary.com, Myplay, and Vignette as they talk about online retail, compensation, digital music, and employee retention and international ventures

Alan Baratz, back in the Valley again
The former Java chief quits commuting to NYC's Warburg Pincus and takes over at Firedrop. Also: Another analyst goes VC, Salon expatriate founds book site, and Enermetrix management gets a shot in the arm.

Eric Schmidt, the future is calling
Novell's CEO needs to find more fertile fields for his forward-thinking agendas.

Incubator chief comes home to roost
The founder of The Enterprise Network, one of Silicon Valley's oldest incubator, takes back the CEO role. Also: new iBenefits CIO's been around the block; former 49ers quarterback Steve Young hops on the VC train.

Profile: Jared Schutz, founder of Blue Mountain Arts
Jared Schutz the founder of Blue Mountain Arts and Proflowers.com considers his greatest professional achievement, "Bringing smiles to hundreds of thousands of people every day through Bluemountain.com cards and fresh Proflowers.com flowers." Awww ... Isn't he sweet? Read

Profile: Austin Hill, president of Zero-Knowledge
Austin Hill, president of Zero-Knowledge Systems, is quite confident in himself; when asked what failed predictions he's made, he replied, "All of my predictions come true, it's just a matter of waiting long enough." Find out more about Austin in The Network at:

DoubleClick Brings Ryan Upstairs, Makes O'Connor Chairman
DoubleClick makes personnel shifts at the top.

Returns Online Adds Two Directors to its Board
James D. Robinson, III, co-founder and general partner at RRE Ventures and Chad Waite, partner at Olympic Venture Partners will both be joining the Board of Directors of the Mercer Island-based company.

 

 

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