ECT secures 15 stores ahead of Oct launch
Brazil’s federal postal system ECT plans to launch an online mall dedicated to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in October, technology publication Computerworld reported.
To date the virtual mall has signed up 15 stores and has payment agreements in place with TecBan, Banco do Brasil, Caixa Economica Federal, Itau and Bradesco, ECT’s Internet business & operations director, Antonio de Paula Braquehais, was quoted as saying.
In addition, it has formed partnerships with 750 Internet companies, 15 of which account for 95% of B2C postal deliveries, and the US$18mn initiative is expected to become a new revenue maker for the postal service.
Its development was awarded to a consortium of TBA Informatica, BOL, UOL, Paradigma and long distance operator Embratel (NYSE: EMT) in 1H02.
Other ECT Internet projects include the installation of 4,790 public Internet kiosks during 2002-2003 and a tender for a contract to manage the company’s digital certification needs this year.
State-run ECT has 96,000 employees, with branches in each of the country’s 5,562 municipalities, coverage matched only by federal bank Caixa Economia Federal.
Business News Americas (BNamericas.com)
