ISPs tap into SOHO sector

Once ignored and rejected by Internet service providers, small business owners now have several electronic commerce options designed for their needs. Last week, EarthLink and PSINet each announced new bundled packages that include a medley of e-commerce offerings. The announcements follow similar news from MindSpring in February.

EarthLink and MindSpring have created packages with Web hosting, domain name registration, site design, back-office applications, e-mail services, search engine registration, security certificates, and credit card and on-line payment processing services. PSINet's offering includes Intershop's e-commerce hosting platform, on-line credit card transactions and security components.

"The [small office/home office] market is lucrative, but it requires hand-holding," said Chris Atkins, director of product management for Web hosting at MindSpring.

MindSpring and EarthLink have created e-commerce resource pages within their Web sites to educate small business owners about the Web. "It's hard to assume a baseline of knowledge for the small business sector. You can't assume that these businesses know the Web, so educational resources are useful," said Jack Staff, chief economist and director of e-commerce at Zona Research.