The Internet ShopKeeper v1.0 is a WWW "mall server" providing ordering support for online storefronts. Each store item may be displayed with graphics, an audio file, demo software, etc. Orders are placed using an online "form" or entry screen that is emailed to the shop owner. Contact http://www.ip.net/shops.html or webdev@tcp.ip.net, 804.446.9060, 804.446.9061 Fax. [Internet Presence & Publishing (keith@tcp.ip.net), inet-marketing, 8/2/94.]
CyberDeals is a new shopping WWW server "offering 24-hour service" at low overhead to retailers. http://cyberdeals.com/. [David Sharma, c.i.www, 7/9/94. net-hap.]
VSERV from MCSNet (Chicago) provides small businesses with a turnkey WWW, FTP, or Gopher presence for under $100/month. Imagemaps and forms are under full client control. Karl Denninger (karl@mcs.com), 312-248-8649, or info@mcs.net, http://www.mcs.net, or gopher.mcs.net. [alt.internet.services, 8/12/94. net-hap.]
NetBank now offers a payment service for shareware and other online information services. You order $10 coupons from a 900 number, or send NetBank a check for any amount (in $.25 increments) at a 10% discount. (Mailed checks must clear before you get your email coupons.) A NetBank email server can combine or break coupons into "quarters," "dollars," etc. You send coupons (e.g., "NetCash $ 10.00 E1234H5678W") to the vendor, who sends them to NetBank to get new, validated coupons. There are no transaction fees. The vendor may spend the new coupons for online services or deposit them in a withdrawal account. The latter are cashed out by check once a month, less service charges. It's like using a foreign currency. For the FAQ, send a "netbank-faq" message to netbank- info@agents.com. [rgardner@charon.mit.edu, 7/13/94.] (Possible problems, as initially announced: Getting coupons at $10 per call is too cumbersome (and by mail is equally so); the coupons are cumbersome; security/encryption is left to users and vendors; cashing out monthly is too restrictive (especially since no interest is paid); and the service charge for cashing out exceeds 20% (to pay for 900-number charges or purchasing discounts). I'd be happier with a debit card using public-key encryption to validate transactions in any amount.)
DigiCash is starting an e-cash trial; contact ecash-beta @digicash.support.nl to participate as a possible buyer, or to stay informed of developments. David Chaum (info@digicash.nl), +31 20 665 2611, +31 20 668 5486 Fax; http://digicash.support.nl. [Ed Vielmetti (emv@recepsen.aa.msen.com), 7/14/94.]
BiblioBytes has developed an Internet Creditcard Encryptor for taking credit orders over the net. info@bb.com, 201-222-1600. [Glenn Hauman (g.hauman@genie.geis.com), small-press, 8/4/94.] (Fewer than 1% of CommerceNet customers are using encryption of card numbers. "It's a non-issue.")
NetMarket is a PGP-encryption service for Mosaic credit-card transactions. For info, connect to http://www.netmarket.com/ or telnet netmarket.com, or email/finger info@netmarket.com. A PGP-capable version of X Mosaic from NCSA is required for transactions. (Finger pgp@netmarket.com for their public key.) The NetMarket Company has so far signed up only a florist and a music CD vendor. [Guy H.T. Haskin (guy@netmarket.com), net-hap, 8/12/94.] (The NYT had an article about it on 8/12/94, D1.)
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