CABLE & WIRELESS OPTUS PERFORMS FIRST LIVE ONLINE B2B AUCTION

Cable & Wireless Optus today launched its new online business-to-business 'live' auction service, net Auctions. The service hosted its first live auction to purchase office supplies from suppliers in a competitive online environment.

Cable & Wireless Optus sought requests for proposals from three suppliers for $300,000 worth of office supplies. The successful bidder was National 1 Ltd, an Australia-wide office products company. At the close of the auction, Cable & Wireless Optus secured goods for up to 13 per cent less than the current purchase price.

David Stokes-McKeon, Director E-Solutions, Cable & Wireless Optus said net Auctions extends the capability of CWO MarketSite.

"net Auctions will help Australian businesses improve efficiency by eliminating paperwork and simplifying processes. Businesses will generate additional revenue streams because net Auctions provides a dynamic channel to liquidate capital goods and reduce purchase prices by establishing true market prices for goods and services.

"A key differentiator of our auction service is that it is hosted and supported in Australia. This means businesses can originate and participate in auctions without capital investment and have local expertise and support on hand," said Mr Stokes-McKeon.

"We are very excited at having the opportunity to bid at the auction. This represents new business for National 1 and the process was much simpler and much faster than the usual paper-based tendering process," said Mark Moffett, Business Development Manager, National 1 Ltd.

Cable & Wireless Optus net Auctions is a complete browser-based auction solution for businesses based on the Commerce One platform. The solution allows businesses to initiate auctions where they purchase goods and services online by seeking bids from a range of suppliers (reverse auction). Business can also sell goods and services online by accepting bids from prospective buyers (forward auction).

Cable & Wireless Optus net Auctions is now available to businesses in Australia and New Zealand. Businesses can originate auctions on an 'as needs' basis without any ongoing fees.

For more information:
Melissa Favero
Cable & Wireless Optus
Phone: (02) 9342 5030