Informix to launch i.Sell

Informix, the leading database, data warehousing and e-commerce technology company, has announced a standard e-commerce solution named i.Sell. This launch will reinforce this RDBMS vendor’s position that it has created for itself as a leading solution provider for data warehousing, OLTP, or online transaction processing, and e-commerce, following its redefinition of its business.

i.Sell allows a company to implement its e-commerce plans faster, generate higher revenues, enhance online shopping features and contribute to better business on the Internet. This solution is built on Informix's world class technology and expertise in database technology.

This solution represents the next generation of online merchandising and is called analytic merchandising. Analytic merchandising enhances one-to-one marketing by delivering personalised content based on shopping behaviour analysis information which is gathered on a real time basis. This helps group customers and offer customer service based on preferences, interests, buying habits and patterns.

Wes Raffel, vice president of i.Informix, says, "traditional solutions are simply not equal to today's ever increasing requirements", stressing the need for such enhanced tools. i.Informix is a division formed to support the company’s e-commerce and web business.

Informix's global e-commerce solution partners like USWeb/CKS, France Telecom Hosting and Arthur Andersen provide this e-commerce solution. Its vendors include Active Software, Arthur Andersen, Concentric Network, Consonus, Cybercash, Fi systems, Fort Point, France Telecom Hosting, France Telecom Telecommerce, IBERSIS-CT, Planet Online, Seagate software, Sun Microsystems, Taxware, USWeb/CKS, Valtech and Viant.

iSell solution runs on Informix's powerful database transaction engine, Informix Dynamic Server. i.Sell is developed with Java technology and for the Solaris operating environment. It can run in the Sun Solaris environment and on the Windows NT platform. It consists of four application suites i.Sell Personalizer, iSell Merchandiser, iSell Application Server and iSell tools.

The architecture allows for scalability to accommodate business growth while providing for an open exchange of data which is compatible with legacy systems. i.Sell will evolve from Informix Dynamic Server to the next generation server(code named Centaur) and will be available in a few months' time.

This product is now available in North America, South America, Europe, Africa and some countries in Asia. It is due to be released in India in a few weeks' time.

The transformation at Informix
Informix, which was earlier identified as a relational database supplier, has broadened its perspective, and has articulated the future direction of its business. The company wants to be the leader in advanced database technologies for three business solution areas -- data warehousing, web and e-commerce and transaction processing.

The shift in emphasis is reflected in the new logo the company has adopted. The ‘inform’ part of the logo symbolises data warehousing, the ‘i’ after that represents web content management and e-commerce, and the ‘x’ at the end represents fast OLTP, or online transaction processing (see logos).