IDS takes the mining industry on-line
IDS Intelligent Detection Systems Inc ISD
Shares issued 22,080,901 Nov 15 close $4.65
Tue 16 Nov 99 News Release
Ms. Louise Armstrong reports
IDS Intelligent Detection Systems has launched Geo-Portal, an on-line,
e-commerce initiative designed to serve the $300-billion international
exploration and mining industry. Geo-Portal was developed using
Sun-Netscape Alliance iPlanet e-commerce software. IDS will be working with
Scotiabank and its subsidiary, e-Scotia.com to provide financial services
and security for transactions.
At a news conference this morning, Dr. Mariusz Rybak, chairman and chief
executive officer of IDS, demonstrated how two Internet portals,
MineOnline.com and GeophysicsOnline.com, will give mining, geophysics, and
exploration professionals access to the services of 2,500 companies
worldwide, over $500-million in data assets, and more than 2.5 million
products. The portals will also feature full-service, e-commerce
capabilities, specifically designed to meet the business-to-business needs
of the industry.
According to Dr. Rybak, this industry is a prime candidate for a virtual
marketplace. "This is a highly-fragmented industry, representing thousands
of people scattered all over the world -- some in very remote locations,"
he says. "Despite these obvious barriers to communication, they tend to
have a high degree of technical literacy and stand to benefit from a
centralized business and communications resource."
Initially, Geo-Portal will comprise two portals: GeophysicsOnline.com to
serve the mining and oil and gas exploration industries and MineOnline.com
for the mining production sector. Other portals aimed at the oil and gas
production sector are planned. For a preview of the portals, contact
www.GeophysicsOnline.com and www.MineOnline.com.
IDS has been providing highly-sensitive equipment, instrumentation, survey
and analysis products and services to the international exploration
industry for over 50 years. Dr. Rybak sees the launch of an on-line
marketplace as the next logical step for a company that is rooted in
technological innovation: "Our goal is to be the No. 1 source of
information, products and services for mining and exploration
professionals, no matter where they're located," he says.
The Geo-Portal infrastructure uses Sun-Netscape Alliance iPlanet
application and infrastructure software that provides the scalability,
reliability, and performance necessary to accommodate Internet-level
traffic. These multiplatform, standards-based infrastructure products
enable users to customize their desktops and deliver personalized
e-commerce capabilities and content to users around the world.
Features include a gateway to the Geo-Portal marketplace, industry-specific
content, business communications services, and geophysics survey data, as
well as popular portal services such as personalized business news updates,
stock quotes, weather and sports.
"With the launch of GeophysicsOnline and MineOnline, IDS is setting
precedent in the international mining and exploration industry, offering
e-commerce capability and two-way information exchange to users
everywhere," says Todd Finch, president, Sun-Netscape Alliance Canada. "The
Geo-Portal is an excellent demonstration of the potential of iPlanet
software and solutions."
One-stop shopping for geophysical data and mining joint venture
opportunities
Terry McConnell, vice-president, eCommerce Enterprise, IDS, expects the
DataCentre of GeophysicsOnline.com and the joint venture exchange forum of
MineOnline.com to be two of the portal's main attractions: "We are
providing a one-stop shopping service for geophysical data and for mining
joint venture opportunities, gathered from every corner of the world,"
explains Mr. McConnell. "Before an exploration company spends millions of
dollars evaluating a new area, it can search for comparable data from the
region -- either to eliminate the need for a survey or to refocus it."
IDS will act as a broker on these portals, bringing buyers and sellers
together, providing key information about the products, services, data sets
and land options available, and finalizing transactions with full billing,
credit and banking capabilities. To deliver this, IDS is working with
Scotiabank and its subsidiary, e-Scotia.com to provide a complete range of
electronic payment options and security services.
"Scotiabank is committed to helping Canadians on the Web, and we are proud
to be here today to support another Canadian industry to get established
on-line," said Drew Brown, Scotiabank's senior vice-president of corporate
and commercial electronic banking. "Scotiabank will supply the Geo-Portal
with the latest in e-commerce products and services. Through our new
subsidiary, e-Scotia.com, we will also offer this portal the most advanced
Internet security available in the marketplace today for on-line
transactions," said Mr. Brown.
Widespread industry support
Dr. Rybak is confident in Geo-Portal's ability to attract and retain users
and customers: "We already have extensive sales, rentals and leasing
inventory committed by future vendors on both sites," he says.
"We also intend to serve as a catalyst for joint ventures in the industry.
Postings and credential verification and intermediation services will be
provided on-line to facilitate project partnerships around the world."
CAMESE, the Canadian Association of Mining Equipment and Services for
Export, which represents over 250 mining supply companies in Canada from
its offices in Markham, Ont., is committing its full support for this
venture. Jon Baird, managing director, CAMESE, is excited about the
opportunities that these portals bring to his members: "CAMESE welcomes
IDS' plan to establish a dominant position in e-commerce focusing on the
mining industry," says Mr. Baird. "This initiative, benefiting exploration
and mining companies as well as their suppliers, will complement Canada's
role as one of the world's leading mining countries."
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