IT News in Brief - 22 January

Coopers targets e-commerce

Coopers & Lybrand has set up an alliance with US software house Intershop Communications to establish an electronic commerce practice. Based in San Francisco, Solutions Thru Technology (STT) will offer systems based on Intershop’s Online and Mall applications. KPMG’s head of electronic commerce, Paul Baker, commented: ‘this deal is basically an attempt to catch up on the part of Coopers.’ New ‘wizard’ from Sage

Sage’s new entry-level Instant Accounts 98 package introduces a Task Manager to help users navigate around the different modules. A start-up wizard guides the user through the steps involved in creating new accounts and online help instructs novices how to prepare accounts. Instant Accounts can integrate with Sage’s new Payroll package. It costs #99. Scots ICA IT guides

The Scots ICA has delayed the publication of its guide to data protection pending new UK legislation in response to the European Data Protection Directive. The guide is the sixth and final instalment in the Scots ICA’s Controlling Computers in Business series covering security, disaster recovery and system selection. Each edition costs #5 for qualified accountants, or #25 for the set of six. For details ring 0131-225 5673. Coda unveils #1.8m loss

Listed UK software house Coda reported pre-tax losses of #1.8m last week on sales which rose to #41.2m. Chief executive Robert Brown said that Coda aims to return to profit in the current financial year. CIMA gives spark to Web

CIMA has overhauled its Web site and introduced new interactive features designed by Bristol-based new media specialist Sift. Located at http://www.cima.org.uk, the site includes online directories of members and practices as well as an archive of articles.