Zack Systems' comprehensive ISP application suite lets ISPs market additional services such as anonymous browsing, intelligent advertising, and server-side bookmarks.

by Wayne Kawamoto [April 24, 2001]

Zack Systems recently introduced its edge solution for ISPs and virtual ISPs to drive a more profitable, productive and personalized relationship with their subscribers.

According to the company, its edge solution enables ISPs to market enhanced services, present advertising and promote its brand to all its subscribers. This software platform and full suite of applications is designed to add, extract, monitor, and modify content on any Web page in real-time.

Because Zack's servers sit at the edge of the network (the point in the Internet closest to the end-user) Zack says it can add value to Web traffic without client-side downloads. Also, the Zack edge application server is supposed to be the first solution to offer multiple applications such as anonymous browsing, server-side bookmarks, dynamic content compression, intelligent advertising, and watermark branding on one platform.

Unlike other proxy servers that exclusively offer caching or firewall protection, or provide single application solutions, the Zack edge application server is designed to offer a variety of value-added applications for easy implementation by network service providers.

The Zack edge application server operates in conjunction with existing network architecture and does not interfere with caching systems or other server networks.

The platform offers an open set of APIs for third-party application development and deployment.

"We have successfully leveraged our patent-pending technology to deliver a money-making suite of applications to network service providers," said Dave Weinstein, Zack's president and CEO. "Traditionally, subscribers turn to ISPs for just basic Internet connection service. With the introduction of the Zack edge application server, however, we have tilted the economics from the content provider back to the ISP."

"The Zack edge application server will not only help increase revenue within our retail ISP service but also aid us in building our business relationships with virtual ISPs," said Bill Rayl, vice president of strategic development for WorldShare.net. "I believe that edge applications will be an important factor in differentiating retail and virtual ISPs in today's competitive marketplace."

Availability and pricing
Zack offers several different application configurations for ISPs.

Depending on a customer's needs, prices may vary greatly.

At the base level, the company charges a CPU license fee plus a seat fee per subscriber per month (seat fee varies according to number of applications deployed).

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