Software provider to the accounting profession Solution 6 yesterday launched a vertical Internet portal focused on accountants.
Called eccountancy.com, the portal offers accounting information, news feeds, and opinion from a range of accounting industry commentators.
It also features online share trading, and a Web wizard that companies can use to create their own Web site using elements from eccountancy.com, according to Solution 6. The site will generate revenue through subscriptions, advertising and sponsorship.
So far, Solution 6 has secured sponsorship support from ANZ, IBM, IPAC, travel.com.au and Seek Communications.
"The primary aim of eccountancy.com is to create a informed business community using the Internet as a vehicle," said David Maire, general manager, Internet commerce group, Solution 6. "Eccountancy.com gives the accounting profession a single point of entry, from the desktop, to state-of-the-art applications, personalised content services and worldwide research tools."
The portal will be rolled out in Australia initially, with overseas launches to follow.
It has been built using technology and services from Vignette, Sun, Oracle and Hartley Poynton.
Solution 6 plans to extend its portal strategy to its other target markets including the legal profession, Chris Tyler, chief executive officer of Solution 6, said.
He said the company's 10 acquisitions over the last 12 months had been made with its Internet-focused strategy in mind. And Solution 6 is still on the acquisition trail, on the lookout for opportunities in the financial services, tax and business applications spaces, Tyler added.
Meanwhile, Solution 6 continues to move forward with its application service provider (ASP) plans.
The company aims to increase the number of beta sites testing its SAP AG R/3 application service provider offering, before launching the service next year. It is also working to Web-enable Solution 6 applications, and bring the applications of recent acquisition Emphasys, to market via the Web.
Tyler said Telstra's recent purchase of a 15 per cent slice of the company, and its option to purchase a further 10 per cent, provides Solution 6 with a valuable distribution facility. "We extend each other's model," he said.