E-COMMERCE HOSTING

The first 500 shops will be free

New site aims to be virtual Jatujak

Karnjana Karnjanatawe

Using the familiar Thai name "JJ" (which refers to Jatujak market), JJ Shop.com offers free space in its cyber-mall to both individuals and companies that want to sell products and services via the Internet.

The first 500 shops can operate free of charge for one year and the company's aim is to build up e-commerce awareness. Currently, some 200 shops have opened.

"The way to apply for our service is easy. You just visit our web site http://www.jjshop.com and click at the icon to apply. Then, you just follow our steps of building up a virtual shop," explained Somsak Sukhanindr, managing director of Gold Step Company, the owner of JJ Shop.

"You do not have to know how to make home pages or do HTML. If you can use a browser, then you can build up your virtual shop. Our software will allow you, the owner, to manage and update information anytime and any where," he said.

The software used by JJ Shop.com was developed in-house by Gold Step. It goes under the name of the "Millionaire E-commerce" solution. It allows a non-technical user to build up a shop and update information by clicking and filling in a form.

Once the user applies for the service, they will receive a code. The code and email address are needed for log-in. Once the have successfully logged-in, the user can register their own products to a maximum of 100 items. The software will allow the user to categorise products and change information in real time at the site. The package also accepts credit card payments.

However, during the trial period for the first 500 shops, JJ Shop.com will allow only money transferred via a bank or by cash payments at physical points. It expects to launch e-payments with credit cards and an option of product delivery service in December.

JJ Shop.com will work with Bank of Asia and Krung Thai Bank to offer the online payment over the Internet through the service of SiamRelay.com in the near feature.

"We want many Thais to have e-commerce web sites so we are offering the service with no cost of investment. Then, they have no risk to try it out," he noted.

JJ Shop.com aims eventually to be more than a cyber mall, and will also offer after-sale service to shop owners. To boost shoppers' confidence in shopping in the cyber mall, JJ Shop.com will also screen content and check the background of shop owners before offering them space.

JJ Shop.com will comprise two zones; a department store for company shops and a plaza zone for individuals' shops.

It comprises 20 categories such as fashion and gifts, food and tour services. The web site will be officially launched to the public next month, he noted.

Around next year, it will start monthly fee services for server space, as well as offer the Millionaire e-commerce package to others, Mr Somsak added.

Thaiecommerce.net <www.thaiecommerce.net> of the Commerce Ministry is another attempt, this time by the government, to promote e-commerce, especially in terms of business to business e-commerce.

The aim is to be a central resource of business sites in Thailand.

It claimed that during nine months of this year, the site generated incomes of around US$35,000 (1,365,000 baht) most of which were generated by a firm selling a Thai local herb.

Around 100 shops are subscribers of the site and they are divided into 17 categories. The Ministry tries to promote the products by selecting a product of the month, which show on the main page.

Those who want to participate in the site should be companies registered with the Commercial Registration Department of the Ministry. They also should have products with brand names and/or ISO international quality certification.

Thaiecommerce.net offers the service free of charge and it also offers links to other business sites.

Another site is Talad-Thai.com http://www.talad-thai.com _ an auction and classified web site for second-hand products.

It allow end-users to bid or sell their products over the Internet and is also free of charge in the initial stages.

Buyers and sellers need to register with a real address and an email address. They will receive a confirmation message from Talad-Thai.com and password in order to do activity over the web site.

A search engine is also offered within the site. Users can search by item number, users' name and keyword. However, a payment service has not yet been included.

Even though e-commerce web sites in Thailand are only just beginning, the trend has at least started. While some sites do not yet offer e-payment, they do offer other choices of payment.