TECHNOLOGY CORNER
June 12, 1998
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RETAIL DELIVERY NEWS via NewsEdge Corporation -- CyberCash Links Billers To Customers
Reston, Va.-based CyberCash Inc. [CYCH] and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) have made available secure Internet payment services to EEI's electric utility industry members at a discount. The agreement provides EEI members with the option of incorporating the CyberCash PayNow? Secure Electronic Check Service into their Internet strategies. The CyberCash program gives billers direct access to consumers without a third-party billing intermediary. " Electronic bill payment is a strategic decision for our utility membership, " says Jon Arnold, chief technology officer for EEI. "They are all looking at it." "More than 37 percent of all households in America use some form of direct payment, accounting for approximately 1 billion electronic payments that are completely controlled and branded by billers, " says Nancy Goldberg, vice president of the Internet bill payment services division of CyberCash. Billers may work with a CyberCash partner, choose their own partner or build their own presentment engine. (Richard Crone, CyberCash, 650/413-0165; cybercash.com.)
Oracle, IBM Team For Service.
Redwood Shores, Calif.-based Oracle Corp. [ORCL] and IBM Corp. [IBM] will offer Oracle8 database server software as a trial license for 60 days with IBM Netfinity servers. IBM's line of Intel processor-based servers are designed to run the Windows NT network operating system. The Oracle8 enterprise edition software will ship immediately with IBM Netfinity 5500 servers. Oracle and IBM will introduce additional programs over the next several months, including joint product offers and consulting services.
( oracle.com.)
System Reduces Maintenance Costs.
Plano, Texas-based EDS [EDS] is offering a new system architecture developed in conjunction with Sequent Computer Systems Inc. The system lowers maintenance and support costs for community banks investing in Internet banking, sales automation, customer relationship management, call centers, data warehouses and decision support. The architecture initially will support EDS mainframe applications and later will dovetail with more sophisticated client/server offerings and high-touch consumer financial services, such as Internet banking and call centers. The network model saddles slimmed-down clients to workhorse mainframe servers in a leaner, easy- to-manage alternative to PC networks. The approach cuts costs by using a bank's existing back-office system, adding new applications into the mix and extending system life. Load balancing software also is used to manage network traffic, mediating the data routed from client to server.
UMB Bank Installs Sap System.
UMB Bank, with $7 billion in assets, will install SAP America's R/3 system to boost internal productivity, enhance customer service and streamline business processes of its back-office operations. PRISM Consulting Group, based in Overland Park, Kan., will spearhead the R/3 system integration for the Kansas City-based bank. The SAP Banking system will integrate the general ledger, accounts payable, purchasing, fixed assets, capital tracking, budget accounts receivable and financial management reporting systems. (Marlene Petter, SAP America, 610/725-4023.)
NCR Wins Two New Contracts.
G&L Internet Bank of Pensacola, Fla., slated to open this fall, will use NCR Corp.'s [NCR] AUTOBANK Internet banking system for its online customers. The company expects to conduct 98 percent of its business transactions via the Internet. The five-year contract, valued at an estimated $2 million, will give G&L Bank access to key AUTOBANK components including hardware, software, Internet banking, branch automation, and remote network management services. The bank, created to service the gay and lesbian community, will begin operations with 15 employees. In other news, NCR also signed a contract with Terrell, Texas-based American National Bank of Texas for its AUTOBANK system. NCR will begin a phased implementation in June. (Greg Hanson, NCR, 937/445-4698.)
[Copyright 1998, Phillips Publishing]
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