Seattle-based Go2Net Inc., a network of branded,
technology and community-driven Web sites, said it plans to launch an e-
commerce software solution for HyperMart, the company’s free hosting site for small- and medium-sized businesses.
HyperMart currently hosts more than 148,000 businesses and is adding more than
15,000 new member businesses per month, the company said.
The HyperMart e-commerce plan, which will be introduced in stages over the
next six months, is intended to create one of the largest collections of
storefronts on the Web as well as an auction operation, Go2Net said.
HyperMart will offer member businesses the opportunity to commerce-enable
their Web sites and to market their goods and services to the Go2Net Network’s
user base as part of a searchable catalog of stores.
In a recent survey of HyperMart member businesses, more than 75 percent indicated
that they have products/services that can be sold online and more than 40 percent
indicated that they
plan to be selling products/services online within the next 12 months.
The e-commerce plan consists of the following elements:
- Introduction soon of an “add-on” shopping cart software solution
for HyperMart member businesses that will allow them to commerce-enable their
existing sites, and accept real-time credit card payment. - The introduction of a turnkey storefront software solution that will
allow HyperMart member businesses to create professional looking online stores
via their Web browser. Features will include administrative and inventory
management services. - Launch of a sophisticated catalog of merchants consisting of HyperMart
member businesses and select vendor partners, which will be searchable by both
product and
vendor. This catalog will include a “universal shopping cart” that will
streamline the buying process for HyperMart and Go2Net purchasers. - Introduction of an auction area for both business-to-business and business-
to-consumer
transactions that will draw upon HyperMart member businesses, select vendor
partners and the Go2Net Network user base.
The Go2Net Network’s properties also include: Silicon Investor, a financial discussion site; StockSite, which offers proprietary
articles, portfolio
tracking tools, company research and news relating to business and finance;
MetaCrawler, a metasearch service that
combines various existing search/index guides into one service; 100hot, a category-by-category ranking index
of Web sites; WebMarket, a one-stop comparison shopping
service; and PlaySite, a Java-based multi-player games
site.
