October 4, 1999

Internet Initiative

Compaq expands Web services for small- and midsize-business customers

By Aisha M. Williams

Related links:

The Next Level For Emerging Enterprises Services: Needs Grow

ompaq has been steadily pursuing small and midsize business users since November, when it launched a series of Internet services ranging from Web access to data backup. The company last week expanded these efforts with new Web offerings.

For its eBusiness Services offering, Compaq has partnered with Bigstep.com--a startup offering small-business users free E-commerce services--to provide customized Web sites, site monitoring, customer correspondence, product catalogs, and search-engine submission services through Compaq's Online Services site. Bigstep.com has enhanced its service so users can begin to accept online credit-card orders three days after setting up merchant accounts.

Through a partnership with Internet service provider Smart Online, Compaq's new Small Business Resource Center will provide users with hosted productivity tools such as market research. Both eBusiness Services and the Small Business Resource Center are available now. The Online Training Service, available later this month, will provide users with access to more than 500 online training courses that are sent to the user's browser.

But Compaq's initiative may need some ironing out, according to one user. Xtreme Gear Inc., a small Mims, Fla., business that recently began selling its sports gear online, relies on Compaq to help it maneuver through the challenges of E-commerce. One problem with its Internet services is too many other vendors are involved, says Toni Allen, principal at Xtreme Gear. "I have a hard time getting help from the online technical support desk."

Back to This Week's Issue
Send Us Your Feedback
Top of the Page

---