Mar 7, 2003 : The webhost industry: week review

📅 March 7, 2003 - It was a big week for resellers in the Web hosting industry this week, as a number of companies announced that they had made significant enhancements to their reseller programs, part of a larger trend of companies in and around the Web hosting business making news with new and expanded services.
On Monday, hosting automation software developer Ensim announced that it has updated its partner program, the Ensim Active Reseller Network, and created a directory of solutions complementary to the hosting software. The EARN program, says Ensim, has been updated to include new tools for sales training and marketing, in-depth technical training, additional support programs and a tiered discount model.
Also on Monday, UK-based Designer Hosting announced that it has launched a new reseller hosting program designed to allow its Web site designer customers to provide their clients with hosting solutions. Designer Hosting says it was established to cater specifically to the Web site designer market, and has built its range of hosting reseller services to address the needs of the complete range of Web designers.
And on Wednesday, Web hosting giant Interland announced that it has completed an overhaul of its channel program, adding new tools and services designed to make reselling easier and more profitable for partners. The new program structure allows partners to obtain discounts more quickly, starting with their second account. Interland says its has also added a referral program, allowing hosting customers to earn credit for referring qualified customers.
Along with the developments in the reseller business this week, there was more news made by companies developing, launching and operating new products and services that complimented their core businesses.
On Monday, it was reported that Internet retail giant Amazon had quietly gained approval from ICANN to sell domain names back in December of 2002. The ICANN-accredited Amazon is now one of about 160 organizations authorized to register Internet domain addresses, specifically in the .com, .net, .org, .info and .biz domains. Amazon is not yet offering any domain registration services, but ICANN says setting up such a business frequently takes several months.
On Tuesday, Web host Inflow Inc. announced that its Datacenter Audit program had been successful in helping the National Federation of Independent Businesses to streamline its operations. Inflow evaluated critical components of the NFIB's data center infrastructure, IT systems and operational processes, recommending changes to the physical property, physical security, power infrastructure, fire protection system, HVAC and the network and data storage architecture.
Also on Tuesday, broadband service provider Covad Communications announced that it has introduced a new set of small-business broadband services, including Web hosting packages starting at less than $20 per month when bundled with access services. Covad says its hosting services include email, Webmail, an easy-to-use Web site building tool and Web reports. The company's hosting and access services also come with free anti-virus protection and spam protection.
And on Thursday, outsourced IT solutions provider Intrieve announced that it has launched a new division, DataScape, to provide colocation, hosting and managed data services. Intrieve says DataScape currently provides data services for 560 growing businesses from Intrieve's Cincinnati headquarters. DataScape's facilities include 10,000 square feet of raised floor space in an environmentally controlled site.
Finally, in addition to the new programs, new products and new services, several companies operating in the hosting business announced that they had introduced new executives into their organizations.
On Monday, hosting automation solution developer Plesk said it had re-appointed the company's co-founders to senior management positions, replacing executives who had completed their objectives in bringing the company to profitability. Former CEO George Pappas and COO Neil Condon were replaced in late February by Jamie Marraccini, who will serve as president, and Dmitri Simonenko, who has become chairman and chief executive, the positions held by the two before Pappas and Condon were brought in two years ago.
Also on Monday, Internet service technology advisory RamRate announced that it has appointed industry veteran Greg Quinn to the new position of vice president of technology advisory services. In the position, says RampRate, Quinn will be responsible for vendor recruitment services and further refinement of the company's data-driven model.
While there was certainly some variety to the news from the Web hosting industry this week, much of that news was connected by the efforts of those companies making the news to extend their reach, either through the expansion of their reseller offerings, or the addition of new products and services.