Maura Ginty

With an eye towards the future of e-commerce, Telstra, ERG and ANZ announced plans to develop a standard platform and transaction processing joint venture for smartcards. The companies expect smartcards to play an important role in security as e-commerce becomes a larger chunk of the business world. The unnamed smartcard operating joint venture will receive […]

StarMedia and Hewlett-Packard Co. Friday announced plans to co-produce an e-commerce solution that will allow businesses in Latin American to create a Web-based store in one day. The co-branded solution will offer H-P application hosting, Web-based procurement, and customer services. Merchants can create and host low-cost Web stores, and StarMedia will offer the storefronts a […]

Rapidly-expanding ISP PSINet Inc. Thursday announced its subsidiary PSINetworks Japan Inc. had been granted a Type 1 License by the Japanese government which will allow the company to purchase telecom companies and expand its IP network. PSINetworks Japan can now offer high-speed circuit services in Asia through its stake in the Japan-US Cable Network System, […]

Three of the biggest names in technology Wednesday signed a joint venture deal to create Asia Global Crossing, which will offer advanced network services in Asia. Global Crossing (GBLX) will operate the network, with Microsoft (MSFT) and Softbank each kicking in a $175 million investment and a $200 million capacity commitment over three years. The […]

In an effort to simulate the advantages of offline shopping, America Online Inc. Wednesday teamed with e-SIM to offer interactive product demonstrations to its Shop@AOL e-commerce network. Shoppers can participate in product simulations and animated features displays for items such as phones, digital video cameras, DVD players and audio systems. The LiveProducts service emulates the […]

Net2Phone Tuesday inked a deal with Philippine telecom SMART Communications to offer IP telephony services in the Philippines. SMART will install Net2Phone’s gateways in the country and will enlist the U.S.-based company’s services in its roster of offerings. “Our new relationship with SMART Communications will help further our commitment to becoming a fully global IP […]

Freeserve Tuesday brought the instant messenger battle across the pond, announcing plans to roll out its own instant messenger in partnership with Tribal Voice. The new service is expected to be launched by the end of the year. Dubbed Freeserve Communicator, it will be interoperable with America Online’s (AOL) Instant Messenger (IM), Microsoft’s (MSFT) MSN […]

Telecom Italia Thursday released the guidelines that will restructure the former telecom monopoly, including plans to cut noncore assets and focus on Internet services. The company’s reorganization will rely on the telecom’s successful mobile phone unit, Telecom Italian Mobile (TIM). It will take advantage of its mobile phone user base by building up its WAP […]

Building on its strategy to combine community and e-commerce, online women’s network iVillage Inc. late Wednesday bought community site and affinity group marketer FamilyPoint.com for $26 million in cash and stock. iVillage will give FamilyPoint.com 550,000 shares of stock and the remainder of the purchase price will be paid in cash. The price could rise […]

StarMedia Network Wednesday rolled out its new Internet access service for Latin America, StarMedia Acesso/Acceso. The service is now available in Brazil, and the company expects to offer StarMedia Acesso/Acceso in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico by the end of the year. The various StarMedia Acesso/Acceso plans include Internet connectivity, 24- hour customer support, international […]

PSINet Inc. (PSIX) Wednesday continued its overseas buying spree, purchasing Netline Comunicaciones S.A., the third largest ISP in Chile, and Netsystem, a networking and Internet connectivity provider based in Argentina. The acquisition marks PSINet’s entry into its 20th country. The mega ISP’s goal is to rank as in the top five ISP rankings in each […]

DLJdirect Tuesday rolled out its online brokerage service for individual investors in the UK. The DLJdirect UK service will offer online trading at a 1 percent commission for trades up to £2,500 (US$3,976.13), with a 0.5 percent rate for the next £2,500 and 0.1 percent thereafter, and at a minimum trading fee of £15 (US$23.86). […]