Comparex, VeriSign team to expand the companies` e-commerce solutions and Internet security services to Germany

Comparex Holdings and VeriSign today announced an agreement that expands the companies` e-commerce solutions and Internet security services to Germany. Comparex (previously PQ Holdings Limited) says it is now well positioned to compete on a European and global basis with representation in Germany, which is seen as the second largest digital certification technology market in the world, second only to the US.

Abraham analyses e-commerce, security options

E-commerce cannot succeed without industrial-strength security in place, says Rob Abraham, MD of Usko Communications, who reviews some of the options available on the market.

Can you bank on Internet banking?

There are still questions as to what extent online banks will be held culpable for security breaches and/or fraud occurring in an online situation. Iwan Pienaar investigates.

ABSA and M-Web business solutions in cyber commerce initiative

M-Web Business Solutions, the commercial division of M-Web, says it has signed an acquiring bank agreement with ABSA. Under the terms of the agreement, the bank handles Secure Socket Layer (SSL) and subsequently Secure Electronic Transactions (SET) credit card transactions which will be hosted on M-Web`s e-commerce network. ABSA`s spokesman said the bank believes South Africa is poised to enter a fully-fledged e-commerce environment and wants to ensure that credit card merchants can effortlessly conduct their business on the Internet.

Visa spearheads cryptography for smart card e-commerce

Visa International, Standard Chartered Bank, National University of Singapore, Privylink and Gemplus have announced a joint effort to test advanced methods for secure e-commerce on multi-application smart cards which provide the best combination of processing speed, cryptographic strength and memory size.

EDS`s Interactive Commerce Alliance highlights a tack that some e-commerce service providers are taking -- the development of repeatable Internet solutions. IDC offers an analysis.

Driving electronic business applications

A lack of viable software tools has stymied real growth in the area of electronic commerce believes Dr Erwin Königs, chairman and CEO of Software AG. Königs was speaking at yesterday`s South African launch of Software AG`s Bolero, which the company says is the first integrated environment for building and deploying robust component-based electronic business applications to the Java platform. [Local rep: SPL, part of JSE-listed Dimension Data.]

Unisys-developed ACOL recognised for excellence

Unisys says that one of its electronic business projects has been recognised for outstanding achievement in helping improve the delivery of government services in Canada. Atlantic Canada OnLine (ACOL) won a silver medal in the Distinction `98 government awards programme.

HP, Open Market offer mission-critical e-commerce services

Hewlett-Packard and Open Market have announced a joint technology agreement to certify Open Market`s Transact Internet-commerce enterprise application to work with HP`s mission-critical MC/ServiceGuard technology.

Brainware group expands with newcomer from Sanlam

Former managerial staff of Sanlam`s electronic business arm e-Biz, have partnered with the Brainware group of companies to form Brainware e-Commerce. This follows the acquisition of e-Biz by BSW last month. George Holtzhausen, MD of Brainware e-Commerce, says the restructuring of Sanlam created the opportunity for former Sanlam e-Biz staff "to show initiative and form a partnership with one of the country`s leading technology companies".

Financial institutions face e-commerce dilemma

Some 70% of financial institutions do not have an e-commerce pricing strategy and, globally, more than 40% do not have e-commerce integrated into other delivery channels, notes Ernst & Young`s Seventh Annual Report on Technology in Banking and Financial Services.

Executives` attitude bars e-commerce - Study

In a recent study of European senior executives, Andersen Consulting found that the greatest barrier to Europe`s success in the emerging electronic economy may be the surprising hesitancy among the continent`s business leaders.