One of the more complete e-commerce solutions on the market, TalentSoft''s
Web+Shop combines a shopping cart, storefront builder and online transaction
engine in a rich development environment. While Web+Shop can be used right out
of the box to create an attractive storefront, larger enterprises will want to
look at it as the basis of further development efforts.
Web+Shop is built on Talentsoft''s Web+ Markup Language (WML), a scripting
language based combining the BASIC programming language and HTML. With it, you
can create Internet-based client-server applications that don''t involve CGI
programs. WML is particularly strong when working with back-end data sources.
In addition to generic ODBC database connectivity, Web+ includes native drivers
for mySQL, miniSQL, and PostgreSQL databases, the leading databases in the
Linux and FreeBSD worlds and popular in the general UNIX world. Users can
download an 60-day shareware evaluation from the Talentsoft Web site.
Web+Shop integrates the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) with CyberCash Register and
NetVERIFY to manage real-time credit-card transactions. However, users need to
purchase these products and arrange for a merchant-banking account. With this
combination, merchants can accept and validate in real time a wide range of
credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, et al.
This back-end processing is also tied into Web+Shop''s support for customer
accounts. When a user enters into a purchase, they''re prompted to open a
customer account with a user name and password. At that point the customer has
the option of storing their payment information -- including credit-card
information and shipping information -- on your server via Web+Shop.
We downloaded Web+Shop, all 14 megabytes worth, and installed it on a Windows
NT server. It didn''t take long to create a storefront using the included tools,
basing our store on an existing template, although it would have been easy
enough to generate a storefront with a customized interface.
During the process, users can select a shipping method and a sales-tax
structure, both of which are automatically added to an order. We would have
preferred more flexibility in the shipping area, as we were basically limited
to a single shopping method and customers like to have the power to select from
many different shipping methods.
Web+Shop also includes a host of tools that make the shopping experience easier
for users, including a search engine and the automatic generation of online
invoices and paper invoices.
In addition, you can specify data sources either on the local server or
elsewhere on the network. The preferred method is to use Web+Shop as the front
end to the SQL or ODBC-compliant database storing inventory data. Supported
databases include Microsoft Access and SQL Server, mySQL, miniSQL, PostgreSQL
or any other ODBC-compliant database.
After a storefront is built and placed on the server, Web+Shop is administered
via a browser-based administration tool, which means it can be administered
from anywhere on the Internet.
Web+Shop is an easy and relatively inexpensive way to launch an online store on
your Web site. While it''s not especially suited toward larger enterprise sites
or ISPs wishing to host multiple stores, it''s an excellent tool for a business
that wants to control in-house e-commerce while not putting a ton of
development money into a custom solution.
Pros: Excellent back-end integration with SQL and ODBC databases; easy
to install and set up a store; good support for online transactions; relatively
inexpensive.
Cons: Limitations in the selection of shipping methods.
Web sites using Web+Shop: Red Roof Inns
Reviewed by: Kevin Reichard
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