Report back: Internet World 2002

The annual Internet World trade show is generally one of the most highly anticipated every year. More than 300 exhibitors took to the floor this year, and though official figures haven`t been released, the organisers have trumpeted success on the Internet World Web site, declaring the show a phenomenal success.

One of the new products that caused a stir is Agent Mole, a business intelligence solution created by HB Internet

Basheera Khan, UK correspondent, ITWeb

The show drew thousands of visitors, and while some of the exhibitors seemed less than pleased with the floor arrangements (one section of the show was neatly tucked behind a massive escalator), the new products and business trends didn`t fail to intrigue.

One of the new products that caused a stir at Internet World is Agent Mole, a business intelligence solution created by HB Internet. It`s a search tool that can be integrated into existing corporate intranets and extranets, potentially providing increased productivity and cost savings. It does this by focusing users` perspective of the Net, which as many companies find to their chagrin, can be just as distracting as it is functional.

Agent Mole is powered by Autonomy Server, and its makers believe it to be the most intelligent and adaptable search software package currently available. The application enables users to set up a number of online 'agents`, which then spider either a selected number of URLs or the entire Internet. These agents can then be retrained to drill down specific search criteria, which removes casual browsing from the equation.

Search results are delivered back to the user via a Java-based ticker. Users can view their search results immediately, or cache them for later use. The application can also be customised to send e-mail or SMS alerts if particular search results are found.

HB Internet provides business intelligence applications to the likes of British Telecom, Canon Europe and the United Nations.

A smaller but no less funky piece of technology on display was Eye-D-Me, a software package launched by developer CybaHous earlier this year. The package is available in two flavours; Eye-D Consumer, for home and SOHO use, and Eye-D-B2B, which is tailored for businesses ranging from small and medium enterprises to blue chip size.

The product allows users to create a secure video conference chat room using landlines, and can link up to 200 people at a time. The product has piqued the interest of Vivendi, Vodafone and France Telecom among others, and is being adapted for mobile device platforms. It`s also being aggressively marketed as 'protection` for the youth market, with the spin being on allowing children to know exactly whom they`re chatting with online. The most attractive selling point is the price; the entry-level software package retails for about ₤24.99.

The UK is one of the hottest markets for mobile applications, and the vendors at Internet World didn`t disappoint.

The Finnish company WapOneline announced partnerships with the three largest mobile phone operators in the UK - Vodafone, O₂ and Orange - and plans to expand across Western Europe and into Asia this year.

The company is already one of the world`s largest providers of SMS-based mobile entertainment and information products, providing ringtones, logos, icons, games and dating services to consumers across Scandinavia, the Baltics and the US.

Its main focus now is marketing what it calls a "turnkey, white-labelled mobile entertainment service" - which bears the somewhat unwieldy name, the Mobilenator - to UK media groups and content providers. The Mobilenator automates the entire SMS-based content provision process, from connecting with mobile operators to billing consumers. It also provides marketing data on how each product is selling.

WapOneline plans to roll-out a number of new products across the Mobilenator in 2002, including secure banking and wireless e-mail services.

Ericsson was also out in full force, showcasing pilot technology such as the Cashless Parking system, developed and hosted by mobile commerce solutions provider Cellenium.

The application is currently being trialled in partnership with the Hull City Council. The scheme enables local citizens to pay for car parking in the city via mobile phone. When entering one of the 10 surface car parks within the pilot project, users contact the Cashless Parking system in one of two ways: via their mobile by contacting a spoken language command system, or via Wireless Application Protocol.

In either case, users are guided through a simple and short menu of questions, such as user number, car registration and intended duration of stay. Payment is then authorised via a third-party clearing house system and the total amount due is deducted from the user`s account.

Car park attendants carry Ericsson R380 mobile phones, enabling them to check on the validity and status of any of the cars within the scheme. Attendants can send drivers SMS messages if anything is amiss with a vehicle, or when parking time is about to expire. Drivers who need more time can extend the validity of their ticket using the same system.

One of the more vibrant stands at Internet World this year belonged to The Positive Internet Company, founded by Joachim Jellinek and Nicholas Mailer. It has a very different spin to its offerings: all its services are provided across open source platforms.

It provides Web hosting services, managed dedicated server solutions, domain name registration, hosting and parking services, and consultancy on Internet and intranet integration into company and network structures.

The company has been doing many things right if high profile customers are anything to go by. Positive`s client list includes the British Film Institute, Boddingtons, Honda F1, Ikea, and numerous other big brand names.

Another point of interest was the number of regions represented at the show, aiming to entice businesses to set up shop in their particular locale. The West-Holland Foreign Investment Agency, the Guernsey e-Business Team and Scottish Development International were all on hand to plug the business benefits of their geographies.

Also coming into the spotlight this year were companies and organisations that aim to make the Net more user-friendly. The National Library for the Blind punted its Visionary Design project, which works with Web site owners and designers to help them design with blind and partially-sighted users` requirements in mind.

And language management company thebigword launched tranzCentral, its Web-based translation support centre which is aimed at helping companies make their Web sites more accessible to non-English-speaking Internet users.