DGLInfo: Online Commerce Moves Forward

Online Commerce Moves Forward - Netscape Payment Kit
Online Payment Transactions Made Easier

Netscape Communications Corporation announced Netscape Payment Kit, a software package for business who want to conduct Internet commerce on their Web sites.

Netscape Payment Kit lets businesses build Intranet applications and Web sites that can accept credit card payments for goods and services. Netscape Payment Kit includes the newly available Netscape LivePayment server software for online credit card processing, Netscape Enterprise Server software for building Intranets and Web sites, and Netscape LiveWire Pro visual development environment creating a full online commerce solution.

Netscape also announced the program along with First Data/Card Services Group to offer the software and consulting services to merchants. Value added resellers (VARs) from the Netscape Affiliate Plus program and the Netscape Commercial Applications Partner Program (NCAPP) who are authorized to sell, install and support a full range of Netscape commerce solutions will work with businesses to build commerce-enabled Web sites. The Netscape/First Data program matches these VARs with leading First Data Client and Merchant Bank Alliance partners to provide payment processing services.

"Netscape LivePayment is server software that is analogous to a cash register," said Mike Homer, senior vice president of marketing at Netscape. "The combination of Netscape LivePayment with Netscape Enterprise Server and Netscape LiveWire Pro in the Netscape Payment Kit provides businesses with the tools they need to build open, cross-platform Internet commerce applications and start collecting payments for the goods and services on Web sites."

Netscape LivePayment is a cross-platform software for processing payments on the Internet. It allows online transaction processing capabilities that can be added to existing Web sites.

Netscape LivePayment uses high-grade encryption to protect the privacy of transactions. The software was developed with transaction processing and security technology from the Netscape Commercial Applications line. Netscape LivePayment can receive payment information from Secure Socket Layer (SSL)-enabled Internet client software such as Netscape Navigator. Future versions of Netscape LivePayment are expected to support the emerging Secure Electronic Transactions (SET) protocol.

Netscape Payment Kit is available now and sells for US$3,490. Netscape LivePayment is also available separately for US$1,995. During a 90-day promotion, customers can receive a one-year Netscape LivePayment subscription that includes major and minor upgrades at no charge with the purchase of Netscape LivePayment. The Netscape LivePayment subscription normally costs an additional US$795. An upgrade to Netscape Payment Kit is available for Netscape Enterprise Server customers for US$2,690. Netscape LivePayment is available for immediate download and trial from Netscape's Internet site.

Netscape Communications Corporation is a leading provider of open software for linking people and information over enterprise networks and the Internet. The company offers a full line of clients, servers, development tools and commercial applications to create a complete platform for next-generation, live online applications. Traded on Nasdaq under the symbol "NSCP," Netscape Communications Corporation is based in Mountain View, California.

Here's an excerpt from Netscape Communications Corporation Website:

LIVEPAYMENT BENEFITS

LivePayment provides a number of benefits for a business planning to build an online commerce system.
LivePayment provides a low-cost solution for Internet commerce applications. Not only is the LivePayment product itself very economical, but it eliminates many of the barriers to entry for electronic commerce.
The Starter Application Set reduces time and costs in developing online applications.
Netscape's established relationships with financial institutions simplify setting up a banking relationship with an institution that enables you to accept financial transactions.
LivePayment's support for standard client interfaces means applications can be available to a large number of potential customers while allowing a wide choice of browsers.
LivePayment features immediate payment. An application can verify a customer's ability to pay (online authorization) and can transmit charges to the bank (capture) as soon as the service is performed or the product is shipped.
Communication with the merchant's credit card processing institution is done over the Internet, providing a flexible and low-cost method for transmitting transactions. This eliminates the need for dial-up modems or leased lines.
Writing an electronic commerce application using LivePayment is simple. A developer embeds JavaScript statements in HTML Web pages which communicate with the merchant's bank.

FEATURES OVERVIEW

Provides a full suite of credit card processing functions.
Performs operations in real time over the Internet.
Uses high-grade encryption technology to help ensure privacy and security.
Integrates payment functionality into Web sites using JavaScript or command-line utilities.
Simplifies communication with legacy financial systems.
Communicates with bank card gateways for clearing transactions over the Internet.
Provides administration and configuration controls with flexible logging reports.

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updated October 6, 1996
http://dgl.com/dglinfo/1996/dg961006.html