Compaq outlines e-commerce products, services

Boston - Compaq Computer Corp. executives today outlined their e-commerce strategy which includes products and services to cover the online spectrum, from small companies to Internet service providers.

Along with subsidiary Tandem Computers Inc., Compaq announced integrated hardware and software options for secure e-commerce, which are being demonstrated at the Internet Commerce Expo here this week.

Among the new offerings here are the following:

• Compaq ProLiant E-commerce Servers will be available April 27 in North America, starting at US$13,969. Compaq ProSignia and ProLiant Firewall Servers also will be available then, starting at $5,860.

• Starting today, North American customers can download Inex Corp.'s Commerce Court publisher software for $35.95 at www.compaq.com/clubweb, Compaq's Internet site for Web developers, resellers, Internet service providers (ISPs) and support organizations. ClubWeb, which is free to join, now has 150 members and expects to have 1,000 by year's end.

• Customers will have the option of buying Compaq's e-commerce servers bundled with software from Inex Corp. and Mpact Immedia Corp., starting April 17. The Mpact Immedia software will enable businesses to accept credit card orders without changing applications while Inex will provide storefront-creation software.

• A variety of Tandem-produced software is available now bundled on Compaq e-commerce servers. This software includes iTP Virtual Store, which allows financial institutions, ISPs and telecommunications carriers to create e-commerce service for thousands of customer merchants. Virtual Store works with iTP Payment Solution, which lets banks and Web merchants accept secure credit card payments.

  "What we're doing is helping businesses get up and running (on the Web) quickly," said John Hampton, director of applications and enterprise marketing for Compaq.

  He and other company officials said that Compaq will announce additional e-commerce options, including software from other companies, in the coming months.