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News About The Netpreneur Program

1. MINE THE MINDS OF TODAY'S LEADING NETPRENEURS AND FUNDERS
Did you miss "Networking With The Netpreneurs" at the Smithsonian last week? Not to worry. We've put the complete transcript up at the Netpreneur Exchange Web site, featuring the comments of Susan DeFife of Women's Connection Online, Raul Fernandez of Proxicom, Nat Kannan of UOL Publishing, Rob McGovern of CareerBuilder and closing remarks by Mario Morino of the Morino Institute.

http://netpreneur.org/events/smithsonian/transcript.html

You can find the transcripts of a number of previous Netpreneur Program events at the site as well, including:

Positioning Your Company For Early Stage Financing, featuring David Gladstone, author of Venture Capital Handbook and Venture Capital Investing; John Burton of Updata; Charles Heller of the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship; John May of the Private Investor's Network; and Chuck Stein, former Chairman and CEO of Netrix. http://netpreneur.org/funding/earlystage/transcript.html

Maximizing Public Relations For The Start-Up Netpreneur, featuring Gene Austin of NetStart, Randy Barrett of Interactive Week Magazine, Rajiv Chandrasekaran of The Washington Post, Susan Williams DeFife of WCO, and Pam McGraw of AOL. http://netpreneur.org/events/pr/trans.html

Venture Investment Opportunities In The Digital Age, featuring Robert Pittman of AOL Networks, John Sidgmore of UUNET and WorldCom, Alan Spoon of The Washington Post Company and Mark Warner of Columbia Capital. http://netpreneur.org/events/mava/transcript.html

An Evening With The Barons, featuring the comments of Jim Kimsey, founder of AOL; Bill Melton of CyberCash; Mario Morino; and Russ Ramsey of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co. http://netpreneur.org/events/barons/transcript.html

An Evening With The Stars Of Telecom, featuring Morgan O'Brien of Nextel, John Puente of Orion Network Systems, Brian Thompson of LCI International, David Thompson of Orbital Sciences and Mark Warner of Columbia Capital. http://netpreneur.org/events/stars/transcript.html

2. HOW TO WIN FREINDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE
If you're an ActionNet subscriber, this week you've already seen postings by a telecom systems integration firm interested in acquiring a small company with Microsoft Exchange expertise (to serve as the nucleus for a new division); a European Web-based email service looking for strategic US partners; and a workshop developer looking for joint venture partners or capital to develop a series on Web site design.

Subscribe to ActionNet: http://netpreneur.org/connect/actionnet
ActionNet Archives: http://listserv.morino.org/archives/action-net

3. NEWLY ASSEMBLED AT THE FAQtory
Look for new FAQs on "Web Translation Services" in the Marketing area and "Extranet Scheduling Software" in the Technology area. You'll also find updates to the "Credit Card Processing" FAQ in the Technology area. The usual FAQtory caveat applies: these are not necessarily complete explications. They reflect recent discussion among our netpreneur community and are added to regularly. Please contribute your comments.

FAQtory: http://netpreneur.org/netcorner/faqtory

Regional Netpreneurs

1. SKYCACHE SATELLITE CACHING SERVICE DEBUTS
(Laurel, MD) SkyCache, Inc. introduced its first service, SkyCache, which uses satellite broadcast in combination with customer-side ICP-compliant cache to constantly load the most often requested Internet Web and news traffic. SkyCache uses reporting statistics from customer-side caches to build a large cache community which is greater than the single stand-alone cache. The company says that ISPs and Fortune 1000 WAN/LANs have the potential for a 30-50% reduction in current bandwidth utilization through this combination of large cache community and satellite broadcast.

SkyCache: http://www.skycache.com

2. REALM UNVEILS HIGH-PERFORMANCE AUTHENTICATION
(Fairfax, VA) Realm Corp. introduced Realm Vector Protocol (RVP), its new authentication technology for data security and network management. RVP is a patent-pending technology that uses one-time passwords (OTPs) which reside on a token to authenticate users. Realm says that RVP is the fastest complete authentication technology produced, offering real-time authentication instead of hardware and time-based systems requiring PINs and passwords to travel through multiple channels. RVP can authenticate 2000+ users per second and serve 270 million users on 10 gigabytes. With RVP, users can access their system from any PC in the world with no software required on the client side. The Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) purchased a license for its internal use.

Realm: http://www.realm-tech.com

3. SPEX OFFERS SOFTWARE EVALUATIONS ONLINE
(Reston, VA) SPEX (Software Product Expertise) is making available samples of its SPEX Evaluation kits on the Web. SPEX is an IT research firm that provides software evaluations to help companies more quickly select critical applications. Evaluations cover more than 200 products, with some 20 samples of the kits found at the SPEX site. Samples include products in the areas of Business Applications, Collaborative Computing, Application & Information Delivery and Network & Systems. SPEX says that companies can save up to 20% of their total software acquisition costs by applying appropriate methodologies and selection strategies. SPEX kits include industry overviews, side-by-side product comparisons, product selection checklists and methodical planning guides to select and implement a software package. SPEX is a joint venture between CXP International and META Group, an IT research and advisory company.

SPEX: http://www.checkspex.com

4. INTERSOLV EXTENDS DATA ACCESS FOR DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING
(Rockville, MD) INTERSOLV, Inc. introduced DataDirect Reflector, a new OLE DB service provider that extends traditional database processing functions, such as SQL-based query and reporting, to non-relational data like email, Lotus Notes, Microsoft Exchange and spreadsheets. Available for Microsoft's ActiveX Data Objects (ADO), the high-level programming interface for OLE DB, Reflector's component-based architecture enables organizations to incrementally add query processing functionality across client, server and Internet environments. It fits between applications and OLE DB data providers or ODBC drivers for consistent, integrated, standards-based access to previously unavailable data.

INTERSOLV: http://www.intersolv.com

5. STUDY EXAMINES INTERNET PAYMENT SYSTEMS
(Washington, DC) The Strategis Group's newest publication, Electronic Commerce: Internet Payment Systems, explores primary Internet commerce initiatives, including digital cash, electronic checking and credit card transaction systems. The 183-page report also discusses general Internet usage and examines consumer purchasing habits with regard to online content and hard goods. An appendix examines the impact of increasing Internet penetration of American households on future market opportunities for consumer Internet commerce. The study is based on primary and secondary industry research and a national survey of 1,000 households. The Strategis Group publishes market research reports and provides consulting services to the multichannel video, satellite, Internet, competitive telephony and wireless communications industries.

Strategis: http://www.strategisgroup.com

6. NETRESPONSE BRINGS PRESIDENT CLINTON TO THE WEB
(Arlington, VA) President Clinton will discuss the future of Social Security via the Internet this Saturday, March 21, as part of a 10-city interactive video teleconference developed by NetResponse, a strategic Internet consultancy. The event is sponsored by the Washington-based public education group, Americans Discuss Social Security (ADSS). ADSS will host the national public dialogue, linking individuals across the country and town hall meetings in 10 U.S. cities in a live video teleconference discussion. NetResponse planned, developed and implemented the program's Internet portion. To enable a real-time exchange of views over the Internet, NetResponse integrated chat technology and a range of custom interfaces into a teleconference system that will be linked to the live video teleconference via an Internet moderator in Washington, DC. To participate, register prior to the event at: http://www.americansdiscuss.org.

NetResponse: http://www.netresponse.com

Partnerships

1. MUSICMAKER PASSES 100,000 SONGS WITH KOCH LABELS
(Herndon, VA) Musicmaker has added songs from seven labels distributed by Koch International, the largest independent producer and distributor of recorded music. The new music--in such genres as alternative rock, blues, jazz, reggae and classical-- brings Musicmaker to well over 100,000 songs, which the company says is the largest library for custom compilation and direct digital downloading on the Web.

Musicmaker: http://www.musicmaker.com

2. e-NET SIGNS IP TELEPHONY DEALS
(Germantown, MD) e-Net, Inc. announced that its Telecom 2000 gateway product will be used to provide Internet telephony to key cities in Brazil through an agreement with Diamond Telecom of Rio de Janeiro, working in partnership with three of Brazil's largest ISPs. Gateways will also be installed at POPs (Points of Presence) in Florida, enabling IP Telephony Service between the US and Brazil with anticipated growth into other Latin American countries. The network is expected to be fully operational within approximately 60 days. e-Net also announced a deal with PC manufacturer and solutions provider Unicent Technologies to provide gateways for a planned network across the Midwest into Northern California.

e-Net: http://www.datatelephony.com

3. TV ONTHE WEB AND VIDEOSPORT PRESENT LIVE SOCCER
(Reston, VA) TV onthe WEB and Videosport presented a live webcast of the second leg of the UEFA Cup Quarterfinals International Soccer match. The match between SPARTAK Moscow and AJAX Amsterdam took place at the Dinamo Stadium in Moscow, Russia. Videosport produced the webcast from UEFA Sports' television broadcast signal. TV onthe WEB, in conjunction with PSINet, downlinked the live video signal to servers in Reston, VA, capturing, digitizing and broadcasting it on the Internet with a 20-minute delay. The show was the first step in the establishment of an International Soccer Match Series of webcasts.

TV onthe WEB: http://www.tvontheweblive.com
Videosport: http://www.videosport.com

4. SANGA AND TECH-PC TO IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
(Washington, DC) Sanga International Inc., a developer of component-based Java applications, and Tech-PC, a Manchester, NH-based systems integrator, are partnering to create an online solution for NH Employment Security (NHES) intended to improve customer service, reduce program administration costs and lessen the demands on department resources. Sanga will customize its government registry, commercial off-the-shelf product as the basis for the New Hampshire system. The tailored application will enable New Hampshire job seekers to complete an employment application, enter responses to human resource questions and search a dynamic database to find current and future job openings matching their skills. Employers will use the system to browse for registered applicants and to register and update their own job listings. The project represents the first phase of a multi-staged enterprise system in partnership with Tech-PC. With the system, New Hampshire will become the first state to meet the reporting requirements of the federal Department of Labor using a Web-based Internet application

Sanga: http://www.sangacorp.com

Funding & Finance News

1. COLUMBIA CAPITAL INVESTS IN NMP, INC.
(Alexandria, VA) Columbia Capital Corp. has purchased a significant minority equity stake in Falls Church, VA-based NMP, Inc, an Internet and Web solutions provider. Mark Warner, a managing director at Columbia Capital, said "NMP allows us to extend our portfolio of investments into the rapidly-growing area of performance-based Web applications development." NMP's clients include MCI, Torrent Networking Technologies, Swift/Armour, UNICEF and the World Wildlife Fund. The company has developed a set of proprietary applications that will now be refined and brought to market as solutions in areas such as investor relations, customer service, fund-raising and contact management. NMP had 1997 revenues in excess of $3 million, with approximately 30% generated outside of the US. Columbia Capital invests its own capital in emerging growth companies in the telecom and information technology industries. Columbia has a capital base of over $500 million and generally seeks to invest between $1 to $5 million in early-stage companies, as well as larger investments in later stage, consolidation or recapitalization opportunities.

Columbia Capital: http://www.colcap.com
NMP: http://www.nmpinc.com

2. CYBERCASH TO ACQUIRE ICVERIFY
(Reston, VA) CyberCash Inc. and Oakland, CA-based ICVerify Inc. have agreed to merge in a deal in which ICVerify shareholders will receive $16 million in cash and 2.3 million CyberCash common shares. The two e-commerce companies said consummation of the deal is subject to negotiation of a binding deal and certain other conditions. Based on the price of Cybercash stock at the close of trading Tuesday, the value of the deal's stock portion would be about $41.1 million, making the deal's total value worth roughly $57 million. ICVerify will become a wholly-owned unit of CyberCash. F. Thomas Aden, ICVerify's president and CEO will remain in those roles once ICVerify becomes a unit of CyberCash. He also will serve as an executive vice president of CyberCash. Steve Elefant, ICVerify co-founder and chairman, will become CyberCash vice chairman. Eric Buchbinder, the other co-founder, will become senior vice president for advanced technology. ICVerify has focused mainly on developing payment software for merchants with physical, rather than virtual, locations. Executives said the merger would focus on developing the potential of open, software-based payment systems that run on PCs and are capable of transmitting data over networks, including the Internet. CyberCash CEO, Bill Melton said the deal requires no shareholder approval and that the CyberCash board had indicated its informal backing and will be asked to vote on the final deal in May, when the merger is expected to close.

3. PRIMUS ENTERS AUSTRALIAN INTERNET MARKET VIA ACQUISITION
(McLean, VA) PRIMUS Telecommunications Group, Inc. has acquired a controlling interest in Hotkey Internet Services Pty Ltd., a privately-owned ISP in Melbourne, Australia. Hotkey began operation in March 1997 and currently has 12,000 active Internet customers. PRIMUS paid A$2.0 million (Australian dollars) in cash for a 60% ownership share of the company, which has annualized revenue of approximately A$6 million. PRIMUS is a global telecommunications company focused on providing domestic and international long-distance voice, data, private network and value-added services.

PRIMUS: http://www.primustel.com

4. NEXTEL INTERNATIONAL INVESTS IN JAPAN
(McLean, VA) Nextel Communications, Inc. announced that its wholly-owned international subsidiary, Nextel International, Inc., has purchased a 21% stake in an unnamed Japanese wireless operator for approximately $32 million in equity and shareholder loans. The operator currently provides digital specialized mobile radio services to approximately 40,000 subscriber units in the 1.5 GHz frequency band and expects to begin offering integrated services (including mobile telephone service) in Tokyo later this year.

Nextel: http://www.nextel.com

Netpreneurs Recognized

1. GR8'S NATIONAL GALLERY SITE WINS BOTI BEST SITE DESIGN
(Baltimore, MD) Web designer Gr8's site for the National Gallery of Art (NGA) won Best Site Design award at the second annual Business On The Internet (BOTI) awards. The announcement was made at Spring Internet World '98 in Los Angeles. The BOTIs (pronounced bow-tie) were created by InternetWeek and Network Computing magazines and received more then 1,200 entries this year. According to Joe Caponi of Network Computing, "The NGA site's design stands out both for its aesthetic appeal and its utility to the user." The ten BOTI Award winners are profiled at the magazines' Web site. Gr8 has also recently won an ICON award presented by Marketing Computers magazine.

Gr8: http://www.gr8.com
National Gallery of Art: http://www.nga.gov
InternetWeek article: http://techweb.cmp.com/internetwk/BOTI/boti8.htm

Regional News

1. ABOVENET TO BUILD ISX FACILITY IN VIRGINIA
(San Jose, CA) AboveNet Communications Inc., a San Jose-based Internet Service Exchange (ISX), began construction of their 16,000 sq. ft. Mae-East facility in Vienna, Virginia. The Mae-East build-out will be finished in May of this year, giving AboveNet a total of 26,000 sq. ft. of co-location space when combined with their San Jose facilities.

AboveNet: http://www.above.net