jQuery.extend(Drupal.settings, {"basePath":"\/","CTools":{"pageId":"page-905b1b5946ad8adc43ba846490855b3e"},"googleanalytics":{"trackOutgoing":1,"trackMailto":1,"trackDownload":1,"trackDownloadExtensions":"7z|aac|avi|csv|doc|exe|flv|gif|gz|jpe?g|js|mp(3|4|e?g)|mov|pdf|phps|png|ppt|rar|sit|tar|torrent|txt|wma|wmv|xls|xml|zip"},"lightbox2":{"rtl":0,"file_path":"\/(\\w\\w\/)sites\/default\/files","default_image":"\/sites\/all\/modules\/lightbox2\/images\/brokenimage.jpg","border_size":"2","font_color":"000","box_color":"fff","top_position":"","overlay_opacity":"0.6","overlay_color":"000","disable_close_click":1,"resize_sequence":"0","resize_speed":100,"fade_in_speed":100,"slide_down_speed":100,"use_alt_layout":0,"disable_resize":0,"disable_zoom":0,"force_show_nav":0,"loop_items":1,"node_link_text":"","node_link_target":0,"image_count":"Image !current of !total","video_count":"Video !current of !total","page_count":"Page !current of !total","lite_press_x_close":"press \x3ca href=\"#\" onclick=\"hideLightbox(); return FALSE;\"\x3e\x3ckbd\x3ex\x3c\/kbd\x3e\x3c\/a\x3e to close","download_link_text":"","enable_login":false,"enable_contact":false,"keys_close":"c x 27","keys_previous":"p 37","keys_next":"n 39","keys_zoom":"z","keys_play_pause":"32","display_image_size":"","image_node_sizes":"()","trigger_lightbox_classes":"","trigger_lightbox_group_classes":"","trigger_slideshow_classes":"","trigger_lightframe_classes":"","trigger_lightframe_group_classes":"","custom_class_handler":0,"custom_trigger_classes":"","disable_for_gallery_lists":true,"disable_for_acidfree_gallery_lists":true,"enable_acidfree_videos":true,"slideshow_interval":5000,"slideshow_automatic_start":true,"slideshow_automatic_exit":true,"show_play_pause":true,"pause_on_next_click":false,"pause_on_previous_click":true,"loop_slides":false,"iframe_width":"600","iframe_height":"400","iframe_border":0,"enable_video":0},"thickbox":{"close":"Close","next":"Next \x3e","prev":"\x3c Prev","esc_key":"or Esc Key","next_close":"Next \/ Close on last","image_count":"Image !current of !total"}});
<p>Elgrande.com (<a href="http://www.elgrande.com" title="http://www.elgrande.com">http://www.elgrande.com</a>) is the first of a new e-commerce<br />
category, the first true "disintermediator". Disintermediation is the<br />
bypassing of the middle layers (distributors, brokers, warehousers and<br />
retailers) of the traditional retail supply chain and eliminating the<br />
retail markup.</p>
<p>Creating the New Model for E-commerce<br />
Information technology research firms, such as Gartner Group, Jupiter, and<br />
Forrester Research, predict that the face of e-commerce will give way to a<br />
new model based on disintermediation. They also predict the emergence of<br />
independent consumer information corporations (much like Elgrande) which<br />
will offer consumers unbiased and extensive information on products they<br />
are planning to purchase.</p>
<p>The Gartner Group has predicted that the highest growth potential in<br />
e-commerce lies in boutique or specialty sites, which Elgrande is ideally<br />
suited to service. Elgrande can take the lead in key niche markets such as<br />
textbooks, professional and technical books, foreign language, alternative<br />
music, etc.</p>
<p>More Like Yahoo Than Amazon<br />
Elgrande has invented and established a group of technologies that is<br />
collectively known as the Shop Engine. The Shop Engine is a group of<br />
software programs that enables retail consumers on the World Wide Web to<br />
purchase products directly from manufacturers without the necessity for a<br />
retail storefront. The products are provided by third party manufacturers<br />
or their primary fulfillment center, at or near wholesale pricing.</p>
<p>Elgrande shoppers will be able to keyword search according to subject,<br />
author, manufacturer, ISBN, description, price, etc., or browse through<br />
hierarchical directories logically grouped by subject (similar to Yahoo).<br />
Elgrande also will provide consumers with a wealth of buying information<br />
enabling them to make more informed purchases.</p>
<p>As an independent consumer information service that functions as a third<br />
party aggregator of product information, Elgrande will provide a virtual<br />
catalog of the world's largest product information database.</p>
<p>Eliminating Bricks & Mortar and Inventory By only handling the data and not<br />
the products themselves, the cost to Elgrande to list a product on its web<br />
site is nominal. This will enable them to have the deepest catalog of<br />
products across all sectors. No niche market will be too small for them to<br />
service.</p>
<p>Offering Limitless Virtual Shelf Space<br />
Elgrande will list products available from many thousands of suppliers who<br />
fulfill orders as they are placed at the Web site. Elgrande will provide<br />
shoppers with unbiased product information, multimedia elements, delivery<br />
options and charges, and the wholesale product prices received from<br />
suppliers. For this service Elgrande charges a flat transaction fee of US<br />
$1.50 per item, which will more than cover the costs of the transaction.</p>
<p>In the first phase of deployment, Elgrande will generate revenues through<br />
the sale of literature, music and videos. These products are shipped to a<br />
global clientele by the Company's Phase 1 primary partner, Baker and Taylor<br />
Inc. Shortly thereafter, the Company will add software and toys/games as<br />
additional product categories. Elgrande will integrate new product<br />
categories as agreements are made with major manufacturers and distributors<br />
in each of the product categories.</p>
<p>Providing Free Access For Suppliers<br />
Elgrande.com offers suppliers a free channel to e-commerce sales. There is<br />
no charge for listing products on Elgrande. Elgrande.com provides<br />
manufacturers the chance to create direct relationships with consumers of<br />
their products. Suppliers have complete control over their product<br />
information on site, including pricing and delivery options. They also<br />
receive free demographic data related to their sales.</p>
<p>Growing Fast<br />
Elgrande began selling books, music, and videos from their principle<br />
supplier/partner, Baker and Taylor Inc, on June 2, 1999. This represents<br />
the commencement of revenue streams for the Company, and sales are<br />
increasing gradually, despite extremely modest advertising. This roll out<br />
encompasses Elgrande's Phase 1 plateau.</p>
<p>Elgrande's Phase 2 rollout, scheduled for Fall, 1999, will see the<br />
initiation of its Global Brand Strategy. A sleeker look and feel for the<br />
web site will be introduced, as well as enhanced functionality for latest<br />
version browsers and higher bandwidth users. At this time, the accumulated<br />
product base of the independent publishers that have signed on will be<br />
introduced, as well as the product categories of Toys/Games and Software.</p>
<p>To date, Elgrande has established partnering relationships with more than<br />
375 suppliers in the publishing, music, video, software, and computer<br />
industries.</p>
<p>International in Scope<br />
Elgrande currently has offices in the United States and Japan, with the<br />
main operations center in Vancouver, Canada.</p>
<p>Japan represents the second largest publishing market after the U.S.<br />
Elgrande has set up a branch office in Tokyo to establish a marketing<br />
campaign for Japan. Initial response from Japanese publishers, as evidenced<br />
at the Tokyo International Book Fair this spring, was very positive since<br />
Elgrande represents a new market at a time when old markets in Japan are<br />
shrinking.</p>
<div class="links"><ul class="links inline"><li class="comment_forbidden first last"><span><a href="/user/login?destination=comment%2Freply%2F80624%23comment-form">Login</a> or <a href="/user/register?destination=comment%2Freply%2F80624%23comment-form">register</a> to post comments</span></li>
</ul></div>
</div>
<div class="left_inner_box_bottom"> </div>
</div>
<!--[if !IE]> End left box inner page <![endif]--></div>
<!--[if !IE]>End left content<![endif]--> <!--[if !IE]>Start right content<![endif]-->
<span class="field-content"><a href="http://forums.applecentral.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/537782/Analyst_sees_iPad_killers_less#Post537782" target="_blank"> Analyst sees iPad killers le...</a></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="views-row views-row-5 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field-title">
<span class="field-content"><a href="http://forums.applecentral.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/537649/Small_business_accounting_soft#Post537649" target="_blank"> Small business accounting so...</a></span>
<span class="field-content">Introducing the App Hall of Fame!</span>
</div>
<div class="views-field-body">
<div class="field-content"><div class="body-row" id="body-row-213485"><div style="background:#F5F5F5;">App discoverability continues to be a real issue. With the fast churn of apps in the App Store, an app has only a few weeks of promotional life in it before it‚Äôs largely forgotten. There are a few things developers can do to fix that, but those... | Read more »</div></div></div>
<span class="field-content">Gobliiins Are Coming</span>
</div>
<div class="views-field-body">
<div class="field-content"><div class="body-row" id="body-row-213486"><div style="background:#F5F5F5;">In the midst of the huge Q4 launch schedule, the cult classic, Gobliiins, as well as the rest of the trilogy, are being ported to the iPhone in all of their original glory. The Goblins trilogy was a quirky Atari/Amiga game series from the early 90‚Äôs... | Read more »</div></div></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field-title">
<span class="field-content">myPhoneDesktop – Chrome to iPhone Extens...</span>
</div>
<div class="views-field-body">
<div class="field-content"><div class="body-row" id="body-row-213469"><div style="background:#F5F5F5;">Anyone who has used myPhoneDesktop knows that it is a fantastic tool for streamlining your onscreen workflow. Instead of having to type line after line into your phone directly, you can use myPhoneDesktop to type from your computer directly into... | Read more »</div></div></div>
<span class="field-content">AutoVerbal Talking Soundboard Pro helps...</span>
</div>
<div class="views-field-body">
<div class="field-content"><div class="body-row" id="body-row-213471"><div style="background:#F5F5F5;">Being able to speak and communicate with others is something that many of us take for granted. It‚Äôs not so easy for many folks though, in particular for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, as well as those who have suffered various brain... | Read more »</div></div></div>
<span class="field-content">Get Your Roast Right With ‘Time To Roast...</span>
</div>
<div class="views-field-body">
<div class="field-content"><div class="body-row" id="body-row-213473"><div style="background:#F5F5F5;">Roasting meat, in the cooking world, is about as simple as it gets. The greatest roast recipe I‚Äôve ever found is from Michael Ruhlman‚Äôs website, with the recipe titled, ‚ÄúThe World‚Äôs Most Difficult Roasted Chicken Recipe.‚Äù | Read more »</div></div></div>
MacTech is a registered trademark of Xplain Corporation. Xplain, "The journal of Apple technology", Apple Expo, Explain It, MacDev, MacDev-1, THINK Reference, NetProfessional, Apple Expo, MacTech Central, MacTech Domains, MacNews, MacForge, and the MacTutorMan are trademarks or service marks of Xplain Corporation. Sprocket is a registered trademark of eSprocket Corporation. Other trademarks and copyrights appearing in this printing or software remain the property of their respective holders. Not responsible for typographical errors.
</div>
</div>
<div class="footer_bottom"></div>
</div>
<div id="bootom_foo_ter">All contents are Copyright 1984-2010 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by <a href="http://www.icreon.com">Icreon</a>.</div>
<div id="newuser-popup" style="font-size:14px">Greetings, and welcome to the new MacTech web site! Our home page is designed to be your <cite>Industry Dashboard</cite> -- so you can have a snapshot of all that's relevant in the industry in one easy location. Many readers tell us that because the information is updated so frequently, they are now checking the site multiple times a day.
Here's a quick run down of the features on the new web site, which can be subtle.
<UL><LI>We're running regular raffles. If you want free stuff make sure to register. <a href="/register">It's easy and only takes a minute!</a>
<LI>Registering for the site allows you greater functionality.
<LI>The first few blocks are original content from MacTech (for geeks) and our sister web site, MacNews (for general users)
<LI>Below that are MacTech's scanners, which scan the web and organizes it into News, Rumors, and Documentation. Updated every 15 minutes.
<LI>Our Whitepapers, Screencasts, and Videos section give you insight into great products
<LI>The Community Search narrows your search to the most relevant of Apple related sites for better results
<LI>The forums give you a place to ask questions, and share your knowledge.
<LI>Our partners at MacUpdate, MacPrices.net and the Jobs Boards keep you up to date
<LI>Want to see all the news in one big list? Check out our new <a href="/firehose">Information Firehose</a>
<LI>And, don't forget the Apple Central area, and ads throughout the site. Advertisers are what make the site possible</UL>
We truly hope you <a href="/register">register</a> so that we can keep you up to date about new features as they are implemented. And, please use the BETA button in the top right to provide us any feedback, suggestions or bugs. We love to hear from you. </div>
<!--[if !IE]>End pop_up<![endif]-->
<!-- Google Analytics now handled by Google Analytics Module in drupal -->
<!--VISISTAT SNIPPET//-->
<script type="text/javascript">
var DID=13280;
var pcheck=(window.location.protocol == "https:") ? "https://sniff.visistat.com/live.js":"http://stats.visistat.com/live.js";
