HotNews Briefs

CONSUMER TRUST IS MAIN TOPIC AT ISP SAFETY GROUP'S FIRST MEETING

The Internet Service Providers Security Consortium will hold its first meeting during the second week of July in Washington, D.C. The meeting participants will address the issue of data processing over public and private networks and industry growth based on the building of consumer trust. (NCSA, Barbara O Rose, 717, 241-3233) AOL CLAIMS 750,000 MEMBERS OUTSIDE U.S.

After a year and a half of providiing international service, America Online {AOL} surpassed the 750,000 member mark. AOL Europe, which began as a joint venture between America Online Inc. and Bertelsmann AG in 1995, claims 600,000 subscribers, AOL Canada has 100,000 and AOL Japan was launched on April 15.

AOL provides globally linked service in France, the UK, Germany, Canada and Japan. Consumers in Austria, Switzerland and Sweden can also access AOL service. (America Online, Wendy Goldberg, 703/448- 8700, http://www.aol.com) ZIPLINK EXPANDS NATIONWIDE

ZipLink, an ISP based in Lowell, Mass., installed new lines in New York, Boston and Dallas. ZipLink, whose network spans 154 cities and towns nationwide, is also working on a Point of Presence in Atlanta, that will be available in mid-summer. (ZipLink, http://www.ziplink.net) ISP DEVELOPS ANTI-SPAM POLICY

PSINet UK, one of many ISPs taking a stand against unsolicited mail on the 'Net, adopted an anti-spamming policy. The policy prohibits using any PSI Net server or account to send or collect spam. Violations will be investigated by its Net Abuse team in New York. (PSI Net UK, Dorothy Briggs, [phone]) CHECKFREE, KEYCORP IN BANKING, BILL AGREEMENT

CheckFree Corp. {CKFR} will provide home banking and bill payment for KeyCorp {KEY}, a financial services company. CheckFree, an ecommerce concern, now provides services for 13 of the 15 largest financial institutions in the country and has increased its members from 45 to 249 since January 1996. (CheckFree Corp, Matt Lewis, 770-734-3404) OPEN FINANCIAL EXCHANGE SUPPORTS BILL PRESENTMENT

The Open Financial Exchange, a unified specification for electronic financial data between financial institutions, business and consumers on the 'Net, now includes a uniform method of billing consumers. The draft Exchange, published by Microsoft {MSFT}, Intuit {INTU} and CheckFree {CKFR}, is being discussed this week at the Billing '97 Conference. (Checkfree Corp, Matt Lewis, 770/734-3404; Intuit, Robert Schettino, 415/596-2700) EUROPEAN COMMISSION WILL NOT REGULATE ISP TELEPHONY

The European Commission sees no regulatory or licensing problems for ISPs carrying voice telephony, according to Convergence Europe. However, in the EU's Official Journal, there are several conditions mentioned requiring ISPs to license themseves as voice telephone providers. The EU says that voice telephony differs from voice on the Internet and claims that many ISPs are unaware that they offer the service. COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY BEGINS GLOBAL ATM SERVICE

Cable &Wireless, a communications company, launched its Global ATM service, a broadband and multiplexing technology to support multiple traffic. The service provides a transatlantic link between the U.S. and the U.K. and will be followed by a roll-out across the rest of Europe and the Far East. The service claims to provide faster information dissemination because it eliminates distance and barrier problems (Cable & Wireless, Sara Deeks, 0171-528-2556, http:/www.cwplc.com) UUNET USES CHECK POINT'S FIREWALL

ISP UUNET Technologies Inc. {WCOM} will use Check Point Software's {CHKPF} FireWall-1 for security. The security software provides advanced content verification, authentication, encryption, management capabilities and application support. (Emily Cohen, 415- 562-0400 x228) ISPs GATHER AT SUMMIT

More than 50 telcos, national ISPs, data networks and other companies in the industry will meet this week at a three-day summit to discuss remote access security, issues for tomorrow's ISP marketplace, dial-up VPNs, intranet access solutions and customer management and billing for ISPs.

iPass Summit '97, in Mountain View, Calif., is sponsored by, among others, Microsoft {MSFT}, Ascend {ASCD}, Cisco Systems {CSCO}, Digital Equipment Corp. {DEC} and HomeGate, and includes more than 40% foreign participants. (iPass Inc., Karen Chakmakian, 415/237-7300) ISP SOLUTIONS INC. MERGES WITH TEXAS COMPANIES Solutions Inc. {SRRO}, an international ISP in California, merged with Internet Consolidation Group Inc. {ICG}, a private corporation, its subsidiary, Networks Online Inc., and ICOM Inc., all Houston-based companies. Since the merger, Solutions has changed its name to ComTech Consolidation Group Inc. {CCGI}, appointed new management and relocated to Houston. (ComTech Consolidation Group, Richard Behlmann, 713/467-7281) EARTHLINK, ADOBE, VENTANA INTRODUCE WEB SITE PACKAGE

EarthLink Network {ELNK}, Adobe Systems {ADBE} and Ventana Communications Group unveiled Website Inc., an integrated, plug-and- play retail Web site solution for the home or small office at PC Expo in New York. The Web site package, geared to the estimated 40 percent of small businesses planning to open Web sites, retails for $199 and includes: online registration, EarthLink network access, Adobe PageMill 2.0, Totally Hip WebPainter, CyberSpyder.Big Brother, Macromedia AppletAce, Web Explosion Sampler and CGI Scripts. (Earthlink Network, Kirsten Kappos, 818/296-2467, http://wwwhttp://www.earthlink.net) WEBTV PROVIDES UPGRADE

WebTV Networks Inc. introduced a free upgrade to its WebTV service. Subscribers will get an electronic program guide, the option to choose any compatible ISP, the ability to visit more sites, receive improved audio and printing capability. (WebTV Networks Inc, Kristy Lepley, 415/614-2729) MICROSOFT, NETSCAPE INK AGREEMENT ON STANDARDS

Microsoft {MSFT} and Netscape {NSC} have crafted a preliminary agreement supporting the final "Web Interoperability Pledge" language. The text is broken into two pledges, one for Web publishers that agrees to support recommended HTML tags as defined by The World Wide Web Consortium, and one for Web vendors that pledges use of recommended tags. The agreement was prompted by ZDNet's Jesse Berst. (Reed, Revell-Pechr PR, Ann Revell-Pechar, 425/462-4777) ISP OFFERS MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE

Network Intensive, an affiliate of national ISP Verio Inc. that serves the business community, will offer a money-back guarantee on its network service. In a move to promote customer service, the company will settle with disgruntled users who experience interrupted service. (Network Intensive, Vikki Holmes, 714/450-8400) ISPS JOIN NSI'S REGISTRATION SERVICE

Twelve ISPs and other Internet-based corporations joined Network Solutions Inc.'s registration service, providing them with Internet name registration in.com,.org,.net,.edu and.gov domains and allocating Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for the Americas. NSI guarantees all new registrations and updates within one business day, global updates in two days and 24-hour account services. (Network Solutions, Christopher Clough, 703/742-4706) CONCENTRIC, JAPAN'S NTT PC INTEGRATE NETWORKS

Concentric Network Corp. {CNCX}, a California-based IP service provider, signed a roaming agreement with NTT PC Communications Inc., a Japanese IP service provider. The integration will allow traveling members access to accounts, using the same ID and password, throughout Japan, the U.S. and Canada without making an international call. (Concentric Network, Katie Greene, 408/342-2885, http://www.concentric.net ) MCI INTRODUCES ONLINE GAMING SERVICE AOL NETWORKS, 3COM TEAM TO SPEED SERVICE

AOL Networks, a subsidiary of America Online Inc. {AOL}, has allied with 3Com/U.S. Robotics {to use its technology in AOLnet. AOL claims that the x2 technology will allow customers in 120 cities to access service at a faster speed by Aug. 31. By the end of the year, approximately 65 percent of AOLnet is expected to be based on 3Com's remote access equipment. (America Online, Wendy Goldberg, 703/448- 8700, http://www.aol.com; 3Com, Sara Powers, 847/982-5066) GTECH ACQUIRES NTN TO BOOST ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES

GTECH {GTK}, an online service and product supplier in Rhode Island, acquired NTN Communications Inc {NTN}, an online entertainment producer and programmer in California. GTECH will gain NTN's service in more than 2,900 hospitality locations, its games and players as well as its production and broadcast abilities. The acquisition is subject to approval by boards of directors of both companies, NTN shareholders and regulatory approvals. (NTN Communications Inc, Judy Piercey, 760/930-3099; GTECH Corp, Robert Rendine, 401/392-7452) GTE, KEYWITNESS PROVIDE 'NET SECURITY IN CANADA

GTE and Keywitness Corp., an Internet security provider in Canada, will provide digital certificates and certificate authority services to businesses and consumers in Canada. The certificates are electronic credentials that provide security to network-based transactions, including ecommerce. The security is based on public key encryption and digital signature techniques. (GTE, Erica Vanderhoof, 617/455-5180) BANK OF HAWAII TAPS SECURITY FIRST'S ONLINE BANKING SERVICE

Bank of Hawaii, a subsidiary of Pacific Century Financial Corp. {BOH}, will license the Virtual Financial Manager (VFM) Internet banking service from Security First Technologies, a subsidiary of Security First Network Bank {SFNB}. The VFM banking service provides Virtual Bank Manager, Virtual Credit Card Manager, data processing and 24-hour customer service in Atlanta. (Security First Technologies, Kim Humphreys, 404/812-6775) BANDAI, 4TH NETWORK PROVIDE HOTEL ROOM INTERNET ACCESS

Bandai Digital Entertainment and Fourth Communications Network Inc. will provide in-room Internet access on TV and network terminals in 250,000 hotels worldwide. Bandai unveiled the system, which includes Pippin@World units and 4th Network's Traveler Browser, yesterday at E3 in Atlanta. Hotel guests will get access to the 'Net from their rooms beginning in July at the San Jose, Calif., Hyatt St. Claire Hotel. (The Weber Group, Shannon J. Yost, 415/463-8629) COMPUSERVE REPORTS $120M 1997 LOSS

CompuServe Corp. {CSRV} reported a Q4 $.13 loss per share before a $9.2m special charge on $208m in revenue. The special charge included the cost of consolidating Columbus, Ohio, office facilities and the sale or write-down of equity investments in content and technology providers. CompuServe lost $120m, or $1.29 per share, for the fiscal year ending April 30, compared to 1996 when it earned $49m, or $.66 per share. The Q4 loss, CompuServe said, resulted from declining U.S. subscribers to its 'Net service. CompuServe lost 127,000 subscribers during the quarter, putting its rolls at 1,527,000. (CompuServe, Steve Conway, 614/538-3829, http://wwwworld.compuserve.com) ISPS TEAM WITH WHOWHERE? TO INCREASE ADVERTISING REVENUES

WhoWhere? Inc. partnered with ISPs NETCOM {NETC}, Concentric Network Corp.{CNCX} and @Home Network {6487Z} to employ WhoWhere?'s search directory service that provides users with the ability to locate people and businesses around the world. The People Search database holds 11m e-mail addresses, 80m home addresses and phone numbers and a collection of personal home pages. (Antenna Group for WhoWhere?, Jennifer Weisssman, 415-977-1911) SPRINT OFFERS INTERNET CONFERENCE CALL

Sprint Internet Passport {FON} has integrated its Internet and conference services to produce Internet Conference Call Center, which will connect up to eight people on a call. The service is available to Sprint and non-Sprint users, but subscribers will pay $.10 a minute for a limited time. The service requires no reservation and operates 24 hours a day. (Sprint, Jeff Shafer, 913/624-4887, http://www.sprintsec.com) PRODIGY REVAMPS SERVICE, OFFERINGS

ISP Prodigy Internet is reinventing itself as a "Super ISP" with the launch of its revamped service in mid-July. The new service includes real-time voice capabilities on its chat client, a shopping search engine including The NBA Shop, World Beer and Cigar Direct, Music Style and Health Oasis, plus a redisigned look. (, http://www.prodigy.com) ORION LINKS U.S., EUROPEAN BACKBONE

Orion Network Systems Inc. {ONSI}, an international satellite communications and network services company, will provide 8 Mbps of Internet access to the Central and Eastern European Internet backbone linking the U.S. and Ebone Inc.'s node in Vienna, Austria. Ebone, a backbone service in Europe, links 31 countries with more than 75 ISPs and has Points of Presence in Paris, Stockholm, Vienna, London, Frankfurt, Geneva, Munich and Amsterdam. (Orion Network Systems, Geoff Kuck, 301/258-8101) BY LAW, TEXAS ISPS MUST LINK TO FILTER SITE

Texas ISPs must comply with a new law that forces them to provide a link to site-filtering programs for state residents. The law was supported by Texas ISPs, who feared more restrictive legislation, according to a report by ZDNet. The Texas law was closely followed by other states, who may adopt it to apply to ISPs in their own regions. ISPs who serve Texas customers have until Sept. 1 to comply and until Jan 1 before the $1,000-a-day fine is imposed. UUNET OFFERS CHAT HOSTING SERVICE

UUNet Technologies Inc., {UUNT} the large Virginia-based ISP, will offer its customers the ability to host chat sessions and discussion forums on the 'Net. UUNet will use eShare Technologies' Expressions' chat server and bulletin board for Web hosting. The service operates behind most firewalls and supports banner advertising. (UUNet Technologies Inc,) WEBTV, HITACHI PROVIDE 'NET TERMINALS TO U.S. CUSTOMERS

WebTV Networks and Hitachi Home Electronics agreed to license and ship WebTV's Internet terminals and provide WebTV's service to U.S. customers. There is no set price for the terminals, but it is safe to say they will compete with Sony and Phillips boxes, which have been reduced to $250. The network service, which claims more than 85,000 subscribers, charges $19.95 a month. (WebtTV Networks Inc, Kristy Lepley, 415/614-2729; Hitachi Home Electronics, Lee Woodring, 770/279-5617)