The US Bay Area Companies, which joined to offer CommerceNet, the first commercial service on the Internet, have announced a new service category for small to mid-sized companies wanting to take advantage of the service. While companies that opt for the new Subscriber service category are not able to take part at a standards-making level, they get a listing in the CommerceNet directory (with a hyperlink to their home page); a starter kit said to include World Wide Web server software for Unix systems, tutorial material and templates; and money off CommerceNet Getting Started training courses, due to start this month in the San Francisco Bay Area. An annual subscription for the new service category is to cost $1,250. The grouping says that, since its introduction, 1,200 companies have indicated an interest in participating in the service. CommerceNet has also announced plans to join a new Internet publishing and communications service, MecklerWeb, which is being launched by San Jose, California-based Mecklermedia Inc. The service is designed to enable users of the Internet to access and browse information from sponsoring organisations involved in areas including technology, the law, education, medicine, and the arts.
