Financial information systems provider
FirstQuote
Monday launched of FirstQuote.net, a new business unit
that will provide browser-based investor content to
European businesses.
Using the new service, banks and brokerage institutions
will now be able to offer their clients both desktop
and wireless access to market data, news, analyses,
brokerage reports, and other services.
FirstQuote’s Chief Executive Officer Neil Gibbons noted
that industry analysts are forecasting the B2B sector in
Europe alone to be worth nearly $300 billion by 2003.
“FirstQuote.net is uniquely positioned, as an ASP (Application
Service Provider) and CSP (Content Service Provider), to
offer a complete turnkey solution to businesses seeking
a finance-based offering with transactional functionality,” said
Gibbons.
FirstQuote has joined the European stampede towards wireless
services, with wireless making up a key part of the
FirstQuote.net offering.
Gibbons commented that the use of wireless solutions, by
enhancing delivery of market data and brokerage transactions
to investors, was one of the most exciting new business
areas. He said this sector would have an estimated 500 million
wireless subscribers by the year 2001 and one billion by 2004.
“FirstQuote.net brings these applications to businesses or
service providers seeking to add value to their current
information offering,” said Gibbons.
Among the customers for FirstQuote.net web solutions are
Vodafone in Germany with Germany.net, the Pearson Group in
France with Les Echos, and Agefi in Switzerland.
To date, over 3,000 financial service companies and investment
professionals use FirstQuote solutions. The company, headquartered
in Geneva, Switzerland, operates in France, Germany, Benelux and
the U.K.