News

PUBEASY.COM LAUNCHES

Former BookEasy Inquiry and Ordering Service Transitions to New Name. Industry Support Grows With Addition of New Publisher and Distributor Sites. New Functionality and Re-designed Screens Introduced.

On February 21, 1999, BookEasy, the Internet inquiry and ordering service, transitions to a new name and location on the Internet, http://www.pubeasy.com/books. Booksellers who access the BookEasy service will be redirected to the new site.

As PubEasy.com launches, it adds additional web sites to its network for HarperCollins Publishers Ltd., one of the world's largest and most prestigious broad-based publishers and owned by The News Corporation, Littlehampton Book Services, distributor of many UK publishers and imprints including Andre Deutsch, and the first US Affiliate, Broadman & Holman, trade publishing subsidiary of LifeWay Christian Resources.

HarperCollins UK is a leading advocate of the use of technology to underpin supply chain advance. "PubEasy.com is an excellent example of how publishers and booksellers can use technology to their mutual advantage to supply up-to-date information and reduce lead times for the supply of books. We are delighted with the system and look forward to becoming early adopters in the near future of further PubEasy.com facilities for the mutual benefit of HarperCollins and our trading partners," says Tom Armstrong, HarperCollins IT Director.

"Together with our publisher and distributor partners around the world, we are building a web-based trading community within the book industry," says Peter Clifton, Chief Executive Officer of PubEasy.com, "dedicated to providing cutting edge, business-to-business self services that will have a positive impact on the supply chain".

All PubEasy.com web sites will reflect the upgraded screen designs. Several enhanced navigation features are introduced including a new "Global Service" page and the ability for booksellers to search for the name of any publisher or imprint represented on the service.

PubEasy.com is free to booksellers who register. The web sites all offer the ability to check for accurate price and availability, place orders and track the status of orders, seven days a week, 24 hours a day, directly to any participating "Affiliate". PubEasy.com also offers access to the Whitaker UK bibliographic database for title searching and ability to place orders through Whitaker TeleOrdering.

To access PubEasy.com, booksellers need a computer, a Web browser (Netscape or Internet Explorer 3.0 or later) and an Internet connection. Access www.pubeasy.com and click the 'Register' button to obtain a user ID and password. For more information call 1-732-563-9292 or send e-mail to info@pubeasy.com. PubEasy.com is a subsidiary of VISTA Computer Services.

BookEasy^TM PubEasy.com^TM and related services are registered trademarks of VISTA Computer Services.