NetObjects Inc., a provider of e-business solutions and services and Dell Computer Corp. Wednesday announced a deal designed to help small businesses make better use of the Internet.

As part of the strategy, the companies will provide small and medium-sized businesses with NetObjects Fusion 5.0 through DellHost.

DellHost is an Internet presence provider that provides space for Web pages and supports sites with technical expertise and upgrades as soon as they are available. Fusion 5.0 helps users to plan and build an entire site incorporating a consistent theme and formatting.

Effective immediately, the NetObjects Fusion 5.0--Dell Edition is available at no cost. Customers can create their Web sites and then pay a fee to have the site hosted by DellHost.

As part of the agreement, NetObjects is making available training and tools to DellHost Web site builders for building more complex Web sites.

The marketing and delivery strategy makes it easy for millions of small businesses to Web-enable their business, according to Samir Arora, NetObjects chairman and chief executive officer.

"We can accomplish our goal with a powerful combination of DellHost's customer focus and NetObjects' leading Web technology," Arora said. "This agreement marks an important occasion as we work with partners to create innovative distribution methods that make productive Web solutions readily available to the more than 18 million small businesses."