The scramble for a slice of B2B

 

roundup

Everyone from technology firms and retailers to automakers, construction sites and convenience stores is angling to take part in an online marketplace. "There have been a lot of B2B announcements, but the hard part is...making the stuff actually work." - Charles Phillips, managing director, Morgan Stanley

More companies push into Net marketplaces Ariba, Ford Motor, PSINet and ePlus are among the companies rushing to jump on the business-to-business bandwagon. AmEx pushes plans for online payment American Express charges its way into the business-to-business market with new plans that could help revolutionize the way goods are ordered and bought online. Oracle, others to launch Web exchange Oracle, Chevron and a Wal-Mart unit will form an online supply exchange for the convenience store industry to help cut costs for retailers. IBM taps trend with stakes in B2B firms update IBM takes stakes in i2 Technologies and Ariba in an effort to expand its services and tap the growing business-to-business e-commerce euphoria. Regulation of B2B market sparks debate The rapid growth of the business-to-business market has raised concerns about the potential need for government regulation, an issue that could lead to bitter disputes over control of the multibillion-dollar industry.